Steve Parker Motoring / The Car Nut: BMW's HP2 BIKE; GRAND TRADITIONS OF ENGINEERING, STYLING AND HORSEPOWER IN SEVERAL MARKETPLACES COMBINED

BMW began as an aircraft engine and auto parts builder; motorcycles and then, complete cars, all came a bit later. In fact, following the use of various colors and images as a corporate logo, the blue and white BMW logo (or "roundel", which is also the name of the BMW Car Club of America magazine) is a representation of a plane's rotating propeller and was registered in December, 1917 (all of that info is always good for winning a bar bet). BMW counts for a lot of motorcycle 'firsts', perhaps the most-important of the modern age was being first to offer anti-lock brakes on a two-wheeler (in 1987 on the K100 Mark II), followed-up with ASC, Automatic Stability Control, in K- and R-series bikes in 2007. With all the excitement about the high-horsepower BMW 1-series coming into the US, a lot of people forget that, while the company makes, for the most part, truly fantastic, if heavily-priced, automobiles, they have often used their motorcycle division as a 'test bed' for engine and suspension parts which eventually found their way into the four-wheeled versions of BMW (the same can be said for Yamaha, whose "Genesis" cylinder heads have found their way in some form or another into Toyota and other engines, as well as Honda using their bike-developed engine tech in their automotive division). In fact, BMW spent many of its earliest years as a parts-maker for the then-new aircraft and automobile industries. One of the company's founders, Gustav Otto, was the son of Nikolaus August Otto, inventor of the four-stroke internal combustion engine. Let us remind you to 'double click' on the photos to really appreciate them. (Photo - 2008 BMW HP2).

BMW motorcycles have always been highly-appreciated by customers who value reliability, top-end horsepower mated with big low-end torque, liquid-cooling, interesting and even, lately, outrageous styling, and aficionados aren't afraid to reach deep into their pockets (and pocketbooks) to bring one home. For instance, BMW was the first motorcycle manufacturer to offer a cockpit fairing as standard equipment in 1973 on the R 90 S, today considered a revolutionary sport bike. In 1976, BMW's R 100 RS was the first production motorcycle fitted with a wind tunnel developed fairing. That worldwide BMW bike audience enjoys the theory and the reality of a "Boxer" horizontally-opposed engine; used by BMW (in their motorcycles, only), Porsche and Subaru cars, the engines have proven tough and extremely dependable. (Photo - 1973 Kawasaki Z1; I road-tested one when they were new!).

Starting in 1996, the California Department of General Services selected BMW motorcycles for use by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). That state purchases about 200 BMW motorcycles every two years to fill their state-wide fleet of about 600 bikes, total. The then-CHP commissioner said that the company's anti-lock brakes explained his decision to purchase motorcycles not made in the USA; traditionally, most American police agencies had used US-made Harley-Davidson bikes, but, starting in the 1970s, US police agencies started buying Japanese motorcycles, especially when Kawasaki broke past the 750cc engine size with their then-revolutionary (1973) 903cc Z1 model. (Photo - 2008 BMW 1-series coupe).

To see BMW's thought-process at work in both their car and bike divisions, just look at BMW's all-new "entry-level" automobile model, the new 1-series. The 135i coupe offers a 300-horsepower twin-turbo'd 3.0 liter V6 ... And, yes, this is a model in their "entry level" series, starting at $35,675. Why, that's only $10K more than the company's all-new HP2 Sport motorcycle (full info below). (Photo - 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom with an "articulated roof" engineered and installed by EDAG of Fulda, Germany and the Mini Clubman).

Keep in mind that BMW also engineers and manufactures Rolls-Royce and Mini; that's quite a range of vehicles ... We wonder what early GM executives, who set-up that company to provide a car priced right (they thought) for every strata of American society, would think of a company which makes motorcycles and cars ranging in price from around $25,000 to well over $1 million.

By the way, the Mini Clubman, that new "shooting brake" of theirs (that's what they call station wagons in the UK) starts at $19,950; the turbo Clubman S will go for $23,450. And now, we'll let the BMW factory PR people have their say about their new two-wheeler:

"Boxer Fans - Reach for Your Checkbooks

The BMW HP2 Sport, arriving soon at US BMW Motorrad retailers, will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $25,375 (excluding taxes, license, options, and handling charge) and a destination charge of $495. The high-performance (HP) two (2)-cylinder Boxer is the third motorcycle in the HP model range customized to meet the requirements of the ambitious sport rider. (Photos below - 2008 BMW HP2; and check out those blue wheels, the single monoshock, gold-colored reservoir and yellow spring system under the seat controlling the swing arm).

The sportiest, most powerful and lightest Boxer ever manufactured, the HP2 Sport follows in the footsteps of the HP2 Enduro and the HP2 Megamoto. It features numerous exclusive details, previously restricted to racing, that were never before seen in series production BMWs. Technology such as the self-supporting and aerodynamically optimized fairings made completely of CFK, the gear shift assistant, a dashboard similar to that used in the MotoGP, the forged aluminum wheels and brakes with radially mounted calipers make the HP2 unmistakably athletic on both country roads and race tracks.

The most striking difference between the BMW HP2 Sport from the endurance racing Boxer is the brand new cylinder heads: each of the double overhead camshafts (DOHC) uses a drag lever to actuate the valves that are larger than those on the BMW R 1200 S. Further modifications, such as the flow-optimized intake and outlet, new forged pistons and adapted connecting rod, help the engine to achieve the necessary higher output compared to the basic engine. A new stainless steel exhaust system is placed below the engine for the first time, keeping the lower area of the motorcycle extremely slim for greater freedom of movement for a "hanging off" riding position. Although designed for racing prowess, the BMW HP2 Sport does not forego the safety benefits of ABS. A sophisticated antilock brake system, specially adapted to the HP2 Sport, is available as an option and is configured so that it can be deactivated for the racetrack.

Following the BMW Motorrad Motorsport design, the carbon-fiber bodywork of the HP2 Sport is partially painted Alpine White, while the engine spoiler carries the two-tone "HP2" lettering and the lattice frame and wheels are painted in the BMW Motorrad color of Motorsport Blue." (end of release)

Now, with BMW's factory folks having had their say above, let me ask a question: Who of you out there, upon first seeing BMW's (then and still) revolutionary R1200C, did not immediately start saving-up to make that purchase?

Maybe you saw it in the 1997 James Bond movie, "Tomorrow Never Dies", maybe at a motorcycle show, maybe in one of the bike magazines. No matter where, we all understood instinctively that something new was upon us, that a new level had been reached, there was a new measure of motorcycle design out there ... and it was all for the best.

Even people who did not immediately like the design had to at least admit that BMW deserved nothing if not our respect for trying something new, and putting it out there in front of the entire world. (Photo - BMW R1200C).

Our feeling is that if BMW had not designed and brought the R1200C and other R12 series bikes to market, then Harley-Davidson would never have had the courage to contract with Porsche to help with the engine and other design aspects of their machines, and the HD VRod would never have been made. (Photo - Harley-Davidson VRod).

BMW has carried with it, perhaps because of its Teutonic background, something of a staid, even at times boring, reputation. At least in my mind ... But think of the M1, or those first 2002ti cars, the first cars the factory road-raced in the US (with the BRE team taking a lot of wins, BRE stands for Brock Racing Enterprises) and on and on to the latest 6-series; then there were some losers, especially the most-recent 7-series, which has taken a lot of heat for its rear-deck design, and which the company changed in mid-production. Another loser, not as small, though, was the 318i, the last "entry level" car BMW tried to sell in the US. It was a great, great small car, slightly overpriced for the times, but peppy enough to be fun and with that almost-patented terrific tight, BMW handling.

In any event, BMW has made its mark, first in aircraft and motorcycles, eventually in automobiles, with sometimes radical designs which have questioned everything which came before it, which oversees cars from Mini to BMW to Rolls-Royce -- And of course designing, engineering and building some of the best motorcycles the world has ever seen ... or ridden!