BMW Boxer engine..

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Grootseun

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BMW Boxer - out for the count?
03/04/2007

BMW's Boxer engine is the foundation on which legends like the R80 and more recently R1150GS Adventure was built.

Will it stand the test of time to become compliant to emission regulations?

Right now Bayerische Motoren Werk is in its biggest struggle - both internally and externally.

The Boxer engine is perhaps an even more characteristic trademark than Harley's V45.

After a long and exclusive conversation with Markus Biebricher at the BMW-Motorrad factory we know that BMW have several options to replace the air-cooled Boxer engine.

But inside the 100 000 motorcycles-sold-a-year firm, the opinion is divided.

To make the current 1200cc Boxer engine compliant with future emission and noise regulations it will have to be dropped from the line-up for a completely new design.

If BMW is to continue with its traditional Boxer design there are several problems.

The major problem is that a liquid cooled DOHC version of the Boxer engine would simply be too wide. You wouldn't be able to corner such a motorcycle without ploughing up the tar with the cylinder heads.

"It would be too wide and would not corner properly," Markus said.

BMW also stated in our phone interview that without the Boxer engine BMW is afraid it will loose some of its uniqueness and be left with engines that are more similar to other manufacturers.

As we all know BMW have their in-line four, parallel twin and single cylinder engines in addition to the Boxer. So one of the alternatives to replace the Boxer line-up would be to use parallel twin engines rather than the Boxer.

But then again, that would dramatically change the look of the large BMW GS's. Can you imagine a BMW R1200 GS without the two cylinder heads sticking out on each side? Neither can we and this is a big dilemma for the BMW engineers at the moment.

The Boxer engine is the jewel in the crown and centre of attention for BMW. Biebricher said that 1 or 2 years is not enough for BMW to find a solution and that there are not even drawings of such a replacement for the R-series.

At the same time, BMW is a company in growth and a huge changing process is taking place right now. They are sharpening their image with more and more sporty models.

But the company is still finding its way in a market bound to change dramatically. Harley-Davidson, Buell, Moto Guzzi and Ducati are in the same situation. Who will find the best solutions?

Whaddya think esteemed members?
 
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