BajaNomad

BMW Unveils 450cc Enduro Bike

TMW - 5-1-2007 at 06:02 PM

Now could this make it's way into the Baja racing scene? More factory involvement!!!!!!

From Cycle News:

OFF-ROAD - BMW Unveils 450cc Sports Enduro Bike
press release
Successful Debut 5/1/2007

The following is a release from BMW:

BMW Motorrad Motorsport officially unveiled their new 450cc sports enduro bike at the second round of the ’07 World Enduro Championship staged in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain, April 28-29, where the team continued the development of the new bike with official riders Sascha Eckert and former five-time world motocross champion Joel Smets competing in the event. With much anticipation surrounding BMW’s first outing in the World Enduro Championship, and with a large number of specialist off-road motorcycling press gathering to see the new bike, the event proved to be extremely successful, as both team riders scored world championship points on day one. With the continued development of the bike key to the team’s participation in the Puerto Lumbreras day two saw Sascha Eckert again score points in the Enduro 2 class. Disappointingly Joel Smets retired from the event on day two due to electrical problems.

With the bike having appeared on several occasions at enduro events within Germany prior to the second round of the WEC series, the 450 sports enduro bike was seen for the first time in Spain in its official team BMW Motorrad Motorsport colors. Using the competitive racing environment of the World Enduro Championship to give the bike the toughest possible test BMW’s goal of developing the bike while taking part in high level competition saw the team’s engineers gather a vast amount of information and data, all of which will be used to further develop the bike ahead of its next World Enduro Championship outing in Italy on May 26-27.

With Sascha returning to WEC competition for the first time in several years having stopped his participation in serious enduro competitions following his appointment as a member of the testing and development team responsible for the new 450cc project, and with Joel Smets competing in his very first WEC event, neither rider was 100 percent sure of what to expect before the start of the second round of the WEC series. As it turned out both riders thoroughly enjoyed the event despite the tough conditions brought about largely because of an extreme downpour on Friday evening.

Day one proved to be an extremely challenging one for both Joel and Sascha as the slippery conditions required absolute focus. With both riders well aware of the fact that their participation would be a baptism of fire for the new bike, as well as for themselves, and that racing success was far from the minds of any the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team staff, the two riders did exactly what they hoped to do and finished the day without problems. Having plunged themselves, metaphorically speaking, into the deep end of the competitive international enduro scene, both Joel and Sascha were extremely pleased with the performance of their bikes and the fact that the first stage of the bike’s international sporting development ended successfully.

With the opening day’s competition having produced extremely pleasing results with Joel placing 13th and Sascha 15th in the competitive Enduro 2 class both riders started day two looking forward to clocking up yet more development hours. No longer faced with mud and slippery special test conditions day two was to be extremely dry and dusty.

Again focusing on simply learning as much as possible about the bike within a competitive environment, Joel and Sascha completed the opening lap of the event without problems. Disappointingly, having reached the service point at the end of the first lap an electrical problem resulted in Joel taking no further part in the event. Meanwhile, Sascha completed the second day in much the same way he did day one placing in 17th position in the Enduro 2 class.

Competing in the second round of the ’07 World Enduro Championship in order to further develop the new 450cc sports enduro bike the entire BMW Motorrad Motorsport team were encouraged and pleased with the way the two bikes performed in Spain. The team will return to the World Enduro Championship at round four in Italy.

Sascha Eckert: “I’m so happy with the way the weekend went. This is my first World Enduro Championship race in a long, long time, and of course BMW’s first WEC event as well. To finish both days is great. I haven’t raced full-time for well over a year due to being busy with the development of the new bike so I couldn’t be happier. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport team came here to see how the bike would perform in high level competition and to continue the development of the bike. We have learned so much.

“I didn’t have any problems with my bike, it ran perfectly all weekend. The track was difficult for me, especially on the second day. Four laps on both days was tough. I didn’t crash on either day, which I’m pleased with. I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend really.”

Joel Smets: “Obviously I am a little disappointed not to have finished the second day but racing in the WEC was always a continuation of the development program of the new bike, so I knew that we might run into some troubles. I really enjoyed the first day, though. It was tough like I expected but finishing in 13th and inside the points was great. Basically, the reason I stopped on day two was because of an electrical problem at the end of the first lap.

“I found the start of day one really tough because of the water holes on the enduro test and the rocks in some of the transfer sections. Like I said I was expecting things to be tough for me and it was. The rocks were hard on the first lap because I was riding really tense, but after the first lap I relaxed and things were much better. I really started to enjoy myself after the first lap.

“I never looked too closely at my times in the special tests during the first day because I wasn’t here to try and win. I had to learn what the WEC is like as well as riding the new bike in competition for the first time, so I was never aiming to produce spectacular results. My job is to develop the bike and give the engineers detailed feedback. Everyone at BMW is really pleased with the way the weekend went, and having scored world championship points first time out made things even better.

“Technical issues are all part of the development process. The most important thing for me is that we stepped forward into the enduro world with the new bike and on the whole things went really well. We will learn from this race and return in Italy, like we planned.”

jack - 5-1-2007 at 06:43 PM

Sounds like an interesting bike. I have a Honda XR650L. It's a good bike except for one thing, at only 35 HP its just too gutless, especially when its packing my 260 lbs around. KTM is coming out with a new 690 Adventure that looks very interesting. I have been drooling over KTM's 950 Super Enduro but at 420 lbs dry its one heavy bike for the dirt, but doesn't a 95 HP dirt bike sound like fun?

k1w1 - 5-1-2007 at 07:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jack
I have a Honda XR650L. It's a good bike except for one thing, at only 35 HP its just too gutless, especially when its packing my 260 lbs around.


?? quit luggin' it and lay off the twinkies!!:lol:

Von - 5-1-2007 at 08:33 PM

Got a picture we can see? thanks

AmoPescar - 5-1-2007 at 09:10 PM

BMW 450 SPORTS ENDURO CYCLE PICTURES…

You wanted to see some pictures…well her you go.

It’s a VERY GOOD LOOKING bike. Maybe good looking enough that I would give up my 4 wheeler ATV for one…NOT!! I like the stability and comfort of my Polaris 500 Sportsman.


Miguelamo :no: ;D :tumble: :lol:



vgabndo - 5-1-2007 at 09:43 PM

For a dirt Beemer, I always thought this one looked awefully sexy.

I imagine the 450 is going to be very successful. It IS an all new engine for them, I think, but I'll bet they've tested the oil out of it.

dual sport bmw reduced.JPG - 48kB

JACK

vgabndo - 5-1-2007 at 09:55 PM

Cash in your KLR for a Suzuki DR 650. Even my pre '96 has ten more HP and remarkable handling for an ancient dirt bike. You can save about ten grand off the price of the new monsters and save it for doctor's bills. :lol:

Saturday we blundered into several miles of STEEP rocky single track through the trees, and even with the 6.6 gallon tank full, the DR made me proud.

IMG_0027 reduced.JPG - 34kB

jack - 5-2-2007 at 02:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by k1w1
Quote:
Originally posted by jack
I have a Honda XR650L. It's a good bike except for one thing, at only 35 HP its just too gutless, especially when its packing my 260 lbs around.


?? quit luggin' it and lay off the twinkies!!:lol:


Why buy a thumper if your not going to lug it. :saint: What's life without a pocket full of twinkies. :lol:

jack - 5-2-2007 at 03:17 PM

Here's the last BMW I went riding with...

[Edited on 5-2-2007 by jack]

[Edited on 5-2-2007 by jack]

Spences Bridge ride5.JPG - 47kB

jack - 5-2-2007 at 03:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vgabndo
Cash in your KLR for a Suzuki DR 650. Even my pre '96 has ten more HP and remarkable handling for an ancient dirt bike. You can save about ten grand off the price of the new monsters and save it for doctor's bills. :lol:

Saturday we blundered into several miles of STEEP rocky single track through the trees, and even with the 6.6 gallon tank full, the DR made me proud.


vgabndo, I used to own a Suzuki 600 Dakar. It was a good bike but my Honda XR650L is far better. The new 650 Suzuki's and Honda's are using 15 year old engine technology. My Honda is a 2005, it is miles behind the European bikes. I have 35 HP at the rear wheel, I would bet that your HP figure is off the crank.

[Edited on 5-2-2007 by jack]

Adams Lake (Custom).JPG - 40kB

ok

k1w1 - 5-2-2007 at 03:52 PM

Quote:
[quote
Why buy a thumper if your not going to lug it. :saint: What's life without a pocket full of twinkies. :lol:


got me there! (nice ride)

vgabndo - 5-2-2007 at 05:44 PM

Jack

Ford Chevy Honda Suzuki, there'll never be an agreement. I'm 63 years old and don't weigh 200 lbs. I've got all the HP an old gas bag like me needs. :lol:

This is my first dirt bike that isn't a two smoke, and I'm really lovin' being a THUMPER guy.

I'd love to have the new technology, but I can't carry a stepladder for when I need to dab a foot!!!

As it was, I went after a brand new Corbin with an electric carving knife to get ONE foot on the ground. :mad:

Be safe

TMW - 5-2-2007 at 06:09 PM

On my 2004 XR250 I installed a lowering link and had a spare seat lowered with with a griper seat cover put on. I kept the stock seat cause it is more comfortable. All together the seat is about 2 inches lower.

jack - 5-3-2007 at 12:34 PM

I have to agree with you guys. It seems all new bikes have extremely high seat highs. I can see this on motocross bikes and other racing bikes, but it just doesn't make since on a dual sport or adventure bike. Most of these bikes are ridden on roads 95% of the time. My Honda seat height is 37". I'm over 6' tall and for the type of riding I do it is higher than I would like. My riding buddy is a lot shorter then me and he has spent hundreds of dollars lowering his last two bikes. I managed to get mine a little lower by softening the rear suspension a bit and by buying rear tires that are low profile. If you're not careful with tire sizes you can actually increase the seat height by an inch or so. Suzuki has done it rite on their 650, they have two settings on their rear shock mounting link, normal and lower.

vgabndo - 5-3-2007 at 12:56 PM

Jack, you are right about the DR 650 height options, but as I found out the hard way, that is for the '96 and later models.

I also have a Larry Roeseler rear shock that costs me an inch even with zero pre-load.

I got 1/2" by shaving all the rubber bumpers under the Corbin until it just cleared the battery, and as you see in the photo, cut the seat by about 2". I also have the fork tubes raised about 1 1/8" in the triple clamps. I see that there is a "stock" seat for the KLR that looks just like the one I created.

Even with the changes noted, the side stand still works. When I get the rear end down where I want it, the side stand SHOULDN'T work.

The Roeseler is so stiff that I'm thinking of buying someone's stock shock and trying it. I didn't put the Roeseler on this bike, it came with it, and I don't think it is the shortened version...shucks...:mad:

I just paid SEVENTY-FIVE BUCKS for the factory service manual, so if anyone needs specific information, I'd be happy to scan the pages for them. Mutual rip-offs are OK in my book. (Well, sort of.:P)