MotorBikes: BMW HP2 Herewith, one lean, mean, extreme machine best suited to well-heeled, long-legged riders. It is BMW's enduro style, uncompromising HP2.
This is yet another example, and there are more to come, of BMW's high performance strategy. It is quite unlike anything they have produced before and is very much orientated towards a small niche market.
Essentially, it is an exceptionally light, Boxer-engined machine aimed at the off-road enthusiast and designed for the most demanding tracks in the world.
It is not intended to be a world tourer, though right now a Portuguese rider is doing just that.
Rather it is the sort of machine that should be at home in the likes of the Hafren Rally or European Enduros. It will be making an appearance in both the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 in California and in the prologue of the Erzberg Race in Austria. And one has just been used for an ascent of Ben Nevis!
BMW say of it that it offers supreme pleasure on road, that it is the most powerful Boxer of all times, and that it will remain relatively rare in the market. They say it is for the toughest off-road conditions all the way to permanent full throttle on the autobahn, from freezing cold all the way to the most extreme temperatures encountered in the desert.
They add that the price of these special machines, in turn, results from their outstanding range of features, the much higher level of production substance, and the comparatively small production volume. And, if all that is not enough to tempt you to part with €19,300 how about the promise of "exclusive" training offers and fascinating off road tours for customers buying the HP2, that is for "enthusiasts with particular riding skill and demands?"
Technically it is an interesting machine. It benefits from the lightness at all costs approach first seen in the R 1200 GS and then carried onto the R 1200 RT.
Tipping the scales at a 195kg kerb weight, only 20kg heavier than its 650cc, F650GS stablemate, which for a 77kW (105bhp) machine is impressive. The fully adjustable, highly tunable for every condition suspension, especially the unique rear air/spring/damper system gives it a "go anyplace" capability. The front forks are traditional USD telescopics because BMW's Telelever system cannot give sufficient travel. Paralever suspension is retained at the rear now with high-strength, forged alloy shells designed to cope with the toughest requirements.
The frame is based on the BMW works R 900R machines as used in the 1999-2001 Dakar Rallies. Because it is mainly intended for use in rough terrain, and in order to save weight, the engine does not have a balance shaft. But it is so sweet running that you would never notice the omission. There is no provision for carrying luggage and the fuel tank's modest 13 L capacity confirms its primarily recreational intent.
There is no fuel gauge but an ingenious sight glass system to facilitate filling up from jerry cans with the bike on the side stand.
The seat height is 920mm, there is a no extra charge 900mm low seat option but even so those much less than six foot tall need not apply. Such a seat height, the consequence of huge ground clearance, does very much restrict its appeal. In low speed conditions it is superb no matter what the surface. Even with so specialised a bike one has, from time to time, to ride in traffic if only to get to the wild places. We were much surprised to experience the rev limiter cutting in at a mere 40 km/h in first and 80 km/h in second, speeds at which this smooth sophisticated engine is merely loafing about.
We were not exactly impressed to find that the sidestand cutout switch is anything but proof against mud and muck such as is the daily diet of this machine. Frequent and liberal doses of WD40 proved to be the only way of keeping it in order.
Hugely capable as it is, and certainly fit for the purpose, it is hampered in some respects thanks to the Boxer engine layout. Passing between tree stumps, boulders and the like or riding along narrow gullies can prove distinctly "interesting" when you find the cylinder heads have brought you to an abrupt stop.
The test machine had done only 1,400kms yet was on its second set of Metzeler Karoo tyres and already heading for its third rear one. Such mere details are not likely to deter any of those for whom this rare machine will be a "must have".
The mere fact that it is a BMW, that it is very much at the cutting edge, that it is certainly expensive to buy and high maintenance thereafter puts it in quite a different class where there is no risk of it being confused with pale imitations. None of which detracts from the fact that this is one impressive machine and enormous fun if you can get to ride it in the conditions in which it thrives.
TECH SPEC
ENGINE: 1,170cc horizontally opposed (Boxer) air-cooled twin-cylinder, 4 valves per cylinder, producing 77kW @ 7000rpm & 115Nm @ 5500rpm. 47mm throttles, BMS-K fuel management, 600w alternator, six-speed gearbox, shaft drive.
CHASSIS: Steel tubular space frame, non-load bearing engine. 45mm USD forks 270mm travel, rear BMW Paralever 250mm travel. Brakes, front Single 305mm disk, rear single 265mm disk. Cross spoked wheels 1.85 X 21 front, 2.5 x 17 rear. Tyres Metzleler Karoo.
DIMENSIONS: Seat Height: 920mm, Kerb weight: 195kg. Fuel: 13 L
PERFORMANCE: 4.1 L/100km @ 90 km/h, 5.5 L/100km @ 120 km/h.. 0-100km/h in 3.2 secs. SS 1/4 mile: 22.3secs.
Top Speed: 200 km/h.
PRICE: €19,300