Friday, October 20, 2006 - World of BMW Press Release
Visitors to this year's International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the NEC in Birmingham will be spoilt for choice when they visit the BMW Motorrad stand. A new single-cylinder model series will be making its debut, along with the latest four-cylinder sports bike to be introduced and a second offering from BMW Motorrad's High Performance (HP) line.
Not content with already launching six machines so far in 2006 (R 1200 GS Adventure, K 1200 GT, F 800 S and ST, R 1200 S and R 1200 R) BMW Motorrad's product offensive continues apace with its new G Series of motorcycles.
After their unveiling at the Intermot show in Cologne on 11 October this will be the first UK showing of the three new lightweight single-cylinder bikes. They are designed to attract new riders to the brand and will also see BMW Motorrad represented in entirely new model segments.
The Xmoto (supermoto), Xcountry (dual-sport) and Xchallenge (enduro) models offer young (and young at heart) riders a choice of machines to suit their preferred style of motorcycling. All three are based around the revised and improved 650cc single-cylinder engine from the F 650 GS, but that's where the similarities end. Each has been designed to perform faultlessly in its chosen environment, whether it's on the dirt, tarmac or a mixture of both.
A welcome surprise to four-cylinder BMW fans will be the introduction of the new K 1200 R Sport. Based on the world's most powerful naked bike (the 163 hp K 1200 R) but with additional weather protection and styling from its ergonomically designed and wind-tunnel developed half-fairing, this new version offers the same levels of performance and excitement as the naked roadster but with increased rider comfort and long-distance capability.
The final exciting addition to the range is the awesome HP2 Megamoto. Weighing in at just 174kg, the second member of BMW Motorrad's High Performance range of motorcycles uses a 110 hp Boxer twin engine in a stripped down, lightweight Supermoto chassis designed to give razor-sharp handling and class-leading performance in this category.
The stand will include a presentation of the incredible Race to Dakar TV series, with a display of the modified Touratech F 650 GS Dakar bike as ridden by Charley Boorman in the 2006 Lisbon-Dakar rally. As Show Ambassador, Charley will be present at the show and will visit BMW Motorrad stand on Friday 27, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October between 12-3pm each day.
On 2 November at 2.30pm and 3 November at 12pm the BMW Motorrad UK stand will have another special guest. The four-times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty will be signing autographs and promoting his new DVD, Phileas Fogarty, which documents his journey with wife Michaela as they rode across the amazing landscape of New Zealand aboard a BMW R 1200 GS and F 650 GS.
Hot off the press will be the new World of BMW Activity Brochure, which visitors can collect free of charge from the stand. As well as information, dates and prices for all the World of BMW Off-Road Skills courses and tours all over the world, details of BMW's new Rider Training programme are also included. A selection of courses cover tuition for beginners all the way through Direct Access and advanced riding, and all are conducted at the dedicated World of BMW rider training facility in South Wales.
With its ever-expanding range of products and experiences there truly is something for everyone on the BMW Motorrad stand this year, which can be found in Hall 19 at stand number T228. For more information on the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show, including ticket sales, please visit www.motorcycleshow.co.uk or call 0870 352 2006.