BMW Concept 6

[spyderbret]

I looked but could not find a similiar post on this one....

Autoblog link

Saw it on Autoblog today..... Discuss...

Edit: I think it's pretty intersting. Especially if they use the engine to compete with the likes of the Gold Wing.... A straight 6 in a motorcycle is a switch. I wanna say it's been done before but I am drawing a blank... Honda maybe?

Anyway, should be fun to watch the developement....

 

[Wild72]

Both Honda (CBX1000) and Kawasaki (Z1300) produced inline six-cylinder motors as far back as 1979.

I had a 1982 CBX, and it was one of the smoothest motors I have ever owned, but the handling was abysmal.

I agree it should be interesting to see how this one develops.

 

[BrunDog]

Oh, that is hot!

Which bank to I have to rob to get one?

-BD

 

[MotorToad]

The first production bike, always forgotten, was the Sei. (And, yes, I knew this before the latest Cycle World came out)

Another -6

 

[johnny80s]

cool

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

The CBX had a reputation for expensive upkeep. Lots of valves, ya know. The forks in those days weren't too stout either. The Z1 and other sport bikes had better lean angles and weighed less. I never saw the Sei but knew of it. Since the gold Wing was mentioned, many don't know it was originally marketed as a liter sport bike.

Now that BMW makes me drool. But more moving parts for no appreciable gains in power, weight, handling (all assumptions on my part) make me nervous.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

The CBX had a reputation for expensive upkeep. Lots of valves, ya know.

'Struth... But, then, the heads were air-cooled (4-valve) and, with all the hardware in the way, (and, if you were making sufficient 'heat'?) cooling could be compromised. Also -- that was 'back-in-the-day' before manufacturers really got a handle on hardened valve seats and durable valve-head-faces (just after the loss of leaded gas).

Still..., it was a wonderfully powerful 'lusty' six -- and a joy to ride.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Another -6

Honda GP sixes of the '60s were the predecesors of the Irimajiri CBX and had almost no (zero) flywheel effect -- they didn't need a flwheel to smooth-out power-pulses (they were already smooth). Consequently it was very easy to kill the engine starting off with a CBX if you weren't prepared for the light/no flywheel effect. When the key was turned off -- the engine stopped immediately.

On the plus side, the lack of flywheel allowed instantaneous engine/crankshaft acceleration. So much so that when the 250 six and (more so) the 125cc five were revved in the paddock, for warm-up, they were referred to as "the barking dog."