Ben i must defend BMW

it is their first season so problems and lack of pace are to be expected. Corser is one of the best development riders on the circuit. Aprilia are doing better, but have years of experience with previous racing, this beemer is new and they've only participated in endurance racing in the past with the boxer twin, a different style entirely.

if i was still well enough to ride i may well have a BMW GS of some sort. i've had loads of big trail bikes including a 1989 R100GS, 10 gallon Ascerbic tank, single seat/extended rack conversion and panniers. i learnt a lesson. they are capable of doing the sahara desert, but never buy one thats done it as they fall apart

i had an Aprilia pegaso 650 single, same as the F650 in all but a few details, fun and handles well.

nearly bought an F650 Dakar, but went for a triumph tiger 900i instead. havent been able to ride since 2002 so a bit out of touch, but an 800GS sounds like a good balance. not too heavy, but with good power for off road excursions.

i'm now banned from bikes by my wife as my neck wont turn enough to see anything and my shoulder and right arm cant hold it like it would need so i follow the wsbk and motogp religiously.

best

Graham

Picking up on the post below...ANOTHER very special BMW

By: boa2 : May 19th, 2009-07:41

Motorcycle, that is. My wife and I used to manage a BMW motorcycle dealership in Seattle. I love motorcycles...Harleys, Hondas, Ducatis, Triumphs.... I was stunned to see that as of last week, BMW has entered the superbike realm. The S1000RR weighs in at ...

Boa2, Great BMW's!

By: DRMW : May 19th, 2009-09:47

It's exciting to see BMW back into superbike with Troy Corser and Rueben Xaus! Unfortunately Corser crashed and will sit out Kylami circuit in South Africa. I have been traveling and haven't been able to keep up with WSBK so maybe Graham aka gmhutton can ...

Hmmm...that's a tough one

By: boa2 : May 19th, 2009-12:33

If I had only one bike, I'd say a BMW F800GS or a K1200R (photo below). That's because I do on occasion like to load up the bags and go for a weekend (or cross country trip ) away. I find the BMWs really comfortable at high speed, all day, and I like the ...

The BMW superbike

By: BDLJ : May 19th, 2009-16:47

..is doing embarrassingly badly in SBK. I believe their best result thus far is a 7th place. I had a chance to look over the bike at the Phillip Island round: the finish of the bike is incredible and the team is huge. All of which means nothing when you a...

Hello BDLJ!

By: DRMW : May 19th, 2009-22:42

Hello BDLJ, As you are our PuristSPro TimeOut motorcycle expert it's great to hear about your insights on WSBK. Any more cool videos to share with the rest of us? That last one from the paddock was awesome! -MW

Nothing for a while..

By: BDLJ : May 19th, 2009-22:53

...being on the other side of the earth to where most of the racing takes place makes it difficult. The two main international races I attend are the Australian SBK round at the start of the season and the GP at the end. In between, usually means late nig...

I'm jealous! :)

By: DRMW : May 19th, 2009-22:59

BDLJ, I'm jealous you get to attend the MotoGP race! You get to go to Sepang too? Make sure you get us some good pics and vids on the next trips!!!! Two stroke is music to my ears. BTW, what's your opinion on Ben Spies? I know he's down on points from Hag...

Spies

By: BDLJ : May 19th, 2009-23:58

You won't like my opinion... Spies is immensely talented and in SBK has shown that he can really ride after being in the 2 horse race of AMA. (I think the Yoshimura team lost it's first race in 50-odd recently...) To be in a new team, on a new bike, on un...

do u have some pics???

By: kkhazen : May 19th, 2009-12:15

I would not say their effort has been bad at all

By: tourbillon001 : May 19th, 2009-18:47

for a company that has never built a true sport bike before. I would say this first year is a huge success for them with top 10 finishes. I'm not a BMW bike fan but I respect what they have done by going directly at the Japanese using their formula and su...

Yes and No....

By: BDLJ : May 19th, 2009-22:43

As I wrote, I'd really like them to do well. The more competitive bikes in the field, the better. Nothing like a bit of corporate pride being at stake. The issue is that this bike has been around for a while in various forms, it began as their aborted eff...

Ben i must defend BMW

By: G99 : May 23rd, 2009-06:56

Maybe I...

By: BDLJ : May 25th, 2009-00:24

...worded that original post a little harshly. As I said, I do hope they do well, but they are definitely not getting the results they want nor expected. Corser is a good development rider (my personal opinion of him is another matter!) so hopefully they ...

Ben, your a racer so...

By: G99 : May 25th, 2009-03:22

Ben, your a racer so probably get more info from inside the trade, i just see what i see on TV. Corser does seem to have Foggy 'blame the bike' disease, rather than just say 'i was crap and fell off' :) i'm very surprised BMW didnt bring out a nice 1200cc...

WAS...

By: BDLJ : May 26th, 2009-04:38

...a racer. And only a clubbie at that. Still take out the little bike for track/open days to buzz the sportsbikes. Getting much harder as I have just started to rebuild the motor to run on unleaded (which sucks in a 2-stroke) and then will probably seize...