Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ ~ ,r-- II C(") 00 0") ..... ~ 0") ..... $., (\,) ~ 0 ..... u 0 (left) The K100 engine viewed from the front-a water-cooled 987cc in-line four laid on its side and mounted longitudinally in the frame. (Right) The non-faired. "standard-issue" K1 00 and the more-sporty RS at rest in West Germany. It will be a year before the new BMWs are available in the U.S. The rear suspension package is straight from the R 80 GIS and like that twin model, features include a single shock on the right-hand side and a swing arm BMW refers to as a monolever. The monolever arm is made of light metal and is supported by an inclined spring strut (spring travel 4.4 inches). The spring has three possible adjustments. Like the R 80 GIS, rear wheel removal can be performed in just a few minutes. Light alloy cast wheels for the KIOO series have been produced in a new casting process. V-rated tubeless tires are mounted on the 18-inch front wheel and the 17-inch rear wheel. Fuel is carried in a 5.8-gallon al uminurn tank with 1.8 gallons of that being the reserve. The electrical fuel pump is hidden in the tank, but is easily accesible via a large opening around the filler cap. The four-into-one exhaust system is made of stainless steel which quickly "blues." so fans of the BMW marque will feel right at home. A single key works the ignition, steering lock, gas tank cap and the seat lock. Once unlocked and swung p, the seat reveals a 16-piece tool kit, a.fbreakdown" kit, a first aid kit and storage compartment. Instrumentation features both analog dials and digital indicators. Speed Mld revs are displayed on easy-to-read alog dials. The models on display d available for test riding in France d speedometers which read up to .2tt0 kilometers per hour (148.8 mph). ,The tachometer reads up to 10,000 «pm, but as mentioned earlier the automatic ignition cutoff occurs at RPproximately 8750 rpm. Redline is iJtdicated at 8500 rpm with a "warnjng zone" of approximately 200 rpm marked prior to the 8500 rpm line. Digital liquid crystal indicators are used for a clock (standard on the RS and RT, optional on the basic model) and a gear indicator. Turn signals are quite different in that the left-turn signal is operated by the left hand and the right-turn signal by the right hand. The signals are turned off automatically after 12 seconds or approximately 250 yards. The signals can also be turned off by a separate switch controlled by the right hand. Fiberglass fairings are mounted on the RS and RT models. The "sporty" RS model's fairing is centrally fastened to the head lug by means of a multi-arm support and is mounted on bearings to reduce vibration. The aerodynamically designed rear view mir.ror housings provide wind protection for the hands and the front tum signal lamps are integrated within the mirror housing. An adjustable spoiler in front of the upper ridge of the RS fairing permits direction of the airflow over the helmet of the rider. The fairing is sealed where the fork tubes pass through itand hot air outlets with vents are found on each side. The RT fairing is similar to the RS unit, but the turn signals are integrated in the fairing body rather than in the mirror housings. Lower leg protection is provided by the larger side panels. The RTcome with luggage cases which complement the overall styling of the touring bike. Impression Throwing a leg over the Kloo and scanning the instruments, one felt right at home. Checking out the hand operated controls made one feel he was lost. The turn signal controls in particular received criticism. Operating the right-hand turn signal lever while your right hand is busy with the throttle is akin to a car driver being required to use his throttle foot for the same purpose. According to BMW, the new design of the switches was developed in cooperation with "scientists" of the Technical University of Aachen: "The scientists came to the logical conclusion that when flashing on the left, the button to be pressed should also be on the lefthand side and vice versa." Logical? Clutch lever pull is easy and smooth. and depressing the gear shift lever finds you smoothly slipping the gearbox into first gear. The first indication of the broad and strong powerband comes when you let out the clutch and glide away. TheKIOOwill roll away from a stop with little more than idle revs indicated on the tachometer. No shudder, no slipping of the clutch, JUSt smooth acceleration. Once on the road, grabbing a handful of throttle brings a smile to one's face. This is an all-new BMW. No it doesn'thaveGPzlIOOorGSlloopower, but the twin lOoos produced by Bayerische Motoren Werke pale in comparison, and so do a lot of other manufacturers' bikes. Grabbing second gear reveals that the old familiar BMW "crunch" is gone - the KIOO's gearbox is as smooth as any on the market today. Third, fourth and then fifth gear all reveal one thing: Power is available from 1000 rpm to redline. "I had to look at the gear indicator to find out what gear I was in," was an often heard statement [rom those who rode the KIOO. BMW had laid out a circular route that was half "twisties" and half "freeway." Again, the ride through the Alps on the Boxers the previous four days caused one to compare the new bike to the twins, which are celebrating their 60th anniversary. As well as BMW twins handle, the KlOOs handle better. Gone is the lurchingor pogo stick effect one encounters with the twin when the throttle i snapped shut and then open in a turn. The broad powerband and butter-smooth delivery of power enables one to enter, negotiate and exit turns with a smoothness matched only by twin BMW riders with many, many miles under their belts. The Brembo brakes provide excellent stopping power and none of the bikes available [or test riding produced any brake squeal, even after days of thrashing in the hands of groups of motojournalists. Unlike Germany's autobahns which have no speed limit, France's "autobahns" do. But some very casual supplying of brochures, stickies, etc. to southern France's finest upon arriving on the Riviera allowed BMW personnel to inform us that "you won't be bothered." And we weren't. In fact, one motojournalist reported being saluted by a gendarme as he blasted by him at over 120 mph! The claimed top speeds of the KI 00 (133 mph) and the KIOO R (136 mph) are not exaggerations. They're fact. Having spent nearly five decades on this pLanet and wishing to pend a couple of more influenced me to be satisfied with seeing the speedometer hitthe 200-kmh mark (125 mph), but several of the youngsters in our group reported they had reached an indicated 133 and 136 mph on the KIOO and KlOO RS, respectively. RT (T for touring) models were on display but not available for test ride. Aside from the aforementioned dislike of the turn signal switches, the only complaint heard more than once from the group of riders concerned engine heat on the lower legs. Temperatures on the day of the tesuides were quite warm (we were on the French Riviera, don't forget), but not up to American summer levels. Personally, the amount of heat thrown off by the engine was never noticed. Summary In his address to the world's motosport press, Herr Gerlinger pulled no punches as concerns the state of the industry: "The motorcycle boom of recent years has been slackening off for some time. The industry has shifted, to all appearances, into re verse... Excessive stocks and declining prices even caused problems [or the large japanese manufactueres.. .The principal cause of this development, apart from the general economic situation, is the irresponsible activity of the japanese manufacturers. Absurd, cut-throat competition with shortsighted production and sales goals re ulted in an uncongenial atmosphere within the indu try and bene fitted no one. A plethora of models and ruinous pricing policies are beginning to make the joys of motorcycling turn sour. The last two years' glut of motorcycles has further detracted from the aura of individuality so closely associated with motorcycling. A dubious development. "One might certainly think that these were ill omens for the introduction of the Kloo... but we are convinced that exactly the opposite is true. It has become apparent that motorcyclists are reacting against the confusion caused by japanese model policies and are becoming increasingly interested in products which set themselves apart [rom japanese conformity and lack of individuality. As a contrast to the "universal japanese motorcycle," BMW has excellent prospects as an exclusive manufacturer with a well-defined range of products and a readily comprehensible sales policy...BMW's success depends to a certain extent on its exclusiveness. It is also clearly true that one is no longer exclusive with a trasversely mounted, four-cylinder, in-line engine, or a four-cylinder V-engine. These designs are among the mass producer's standard offering... Our goal with the KIOO is to satisfy customers whose requirements the flat twin, in the nature of things, cannot meet. Most importantly we want to offer an alternative to those potential customers who are now buying [rom the competition only because the flat twin does not provide enough sportiness, styling, smooth running, and performance. " When asked if they thought the release of the four-cylinder Kloo series would lower twin sales, BMW representatives echoed one another with a resounding" o!" That remains to be seen. Marketing goals for the KIOO are ambitious to say the least. "We want to increase the number of new registrations from the current level of approximately 12,000 £Jat twins to 22,000 KlOOs by 1986...a growth rate of 83 percent within three years...!n the long term, we have set ourselves a sales goal of 45,000 units, taking the flat twin and the K series together," said Herr GerIinger. "We reckon that 60 percent of the KIOO buyers will come from the ranks of previous BMW customers. The other 40 percent will consist of those weaned away from the competition and of those taking up motorcycling anew." Whether or not the forecasted sales figures are achieved, initial impressions of the KIOO series reveal that the four-cylinder bikes are impressive pieces of machinery. As Stefan Pachernegg, director or product development on the board of BMW Motorrad BMGH,putit, "The KIOOhas become one thing in particular: a real BMW.. I 7

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