Road-testing the BMW K 1200 S This machine is a radical departure for BMW. Until now, they have never produced a high-performance, super or hypersports machine up there with the very best.
Right now this bike is the fastest motorcycle in production - both in terms of its top speed and its 0-100 km/h time. Not just fast, it lapped the famous North Loop of the Nuerburgring, known as the Green Hell, in 7 mins 57 secs; that's just 8 seconds slower than the 10 year record.
It was launched September of last year but just as we were due to test ride it it was quietly withdrawn. Apparently problems had arisen because a sub-contractor followed an incorrect sequence in case-hardening the camshafts - resulting in what has unflatteringly been referred to as the "chocolate camshaft syndrome".
Now completely solved, the machine is performing as it was meant to.
By any accepted standards this is a "supersports" machine but, unlike the vast majority which lay claim to such a description, this one comes with a pleasant surprise; it is at least as comfortable, if not more so, than many so-called "sports tourer".
And, not only that, in terms of roadholding in all conditions and with superb power delivery and impeccable braking it is almost in a league of its own.
Put another way, the first time I was given the loan of an Aston Martin in the 1960s, I realised that there were cars and then there were a select few that were on so much higher a plane that, maybe, this was as good as ever it could be.
I'd be the first to admit that a supersports machine would not be my first choice of bike.
This K 1200 S is enough to demand a re-think. But until you've been lucky enough to take one through the Wicklow Gap on a free-of-traffic weekday, you haven't lived. It's that good.
The revolutionary Duolever front suspension, which separates the steering effort from the suspension, enables this long-wheelbase, quite heavy machine (248kg) to be both surefooted at mind-blowing speeds (280 km/h) on the straight and nimble on the twistiest of roads.
This is the only supersports machine to use shaft drive, until now regarded as being too heavy for sporting use. BMW's ingenious sealed-for-life, maintenance-free Paralever system means that it weighs less than, for example, the swinging arm, chain and sprokets on Honda's VFR 800.
BMW's EVO braking system, with part-Integral ABS is so well proven on other models that it needs no introduction. On this machine it is in its rightful environment and as good as ever.
The K-type engine now owes a huge amount to experience gained in Formula One - especially in terms of lubrication and surface coating.
The compression ratio of 13:1 is unprecedented in a standard-production petrol engine. In this application the engine is tilted forward 55 degrees. This is to keep the centre of gravity low and well-forward, and to enhance air-flow over the cylinder heads.
Thanks to the complex wizardry of digital engine management and fuel-injection systems, these days it is possible, more or less, to tune an engine to do pretty much whatever you want. Here managing to combine a 123 kW (167hp) power output with 130Nm (96 lb-ft) of torque is at the heart of what makes this bike something of a landmark for BMW.
For the ultimate in comfort and suspension adjustment, BMW's ESA Electronic Suspension Adjustment is available, as an option.
Our test machine lacked this facility although we have experienced it on their R 1200 RT where it works well. We would regard it as a "desirable" rather than an "essential" option. The fairing is highly efficient, resulting in a degree of protection from the elements not often found on sports machines. The three-lamp headlight cluster provides near "eye-of-God" illumination at night.
The standard seat height is 820mm but a lower 790mm seat height is available as a no-cost option. For those who feel they can do without the benefit of ABS, a non-ABS model is available.
If anything detracted from the pleasure I derived from riding this machine, it was handing it back.
I would have preferred slightly less downswept handlebar grips and the replacement of the gear lever rubber which was missing when we collected the machine!