BMW is going offroad racing in the US!!!

[Jeff@TheQuadShop]

Its now official!

BMW has officially announced that it will be entering the 2008 Grand National Cross Country series with a two bike team managed by Kentucky's own, Scott Summers. BMW will be using the new G450 sport enduro that it has been developing in Europe this past year.
The two team riders have yet to be signed, but they will be top rate competitors.
BMW entered a G450 in this past weekend's Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, IN. Finnish rider Simo Kirssi, team manager Wolfgang Fischer and mechanic Juho Kirssi and the G450 came to Louisville to set up for the race and I acted as team driver to haul the group to the race. Joel Smets, the other half of the European race team had a schedule conflict and could not make the trip. This turned out to be unfortunate as Simo took a high speed tumble on the first lap and was unable to continue.
BMW had several top American and European riders riding the bike after the event as part of their team selection process. We can probably expect an announcement about the riders in the next few weeks.
Scott Summers will also act as BMW's off road ambassador and will be participating in other off-road events and, hopefully, some AMA dual sport rides. He think he may ride a G650 X-Challenge on some occasions.
By the way, Jimmy Lewis, editor of Dirt Rider magazine and a some-time BMW race rider, rode a stock R1200GS HP2, yes, that big blue BMW that we took to eastern KY last spring, in the event and finished the two hours to the amazement of all.
The new 450 will be introduced as a street legal sport enduro machine later in 2008. It will be fuel injected and will weigh a few kilos less than its European and Japanese competitors.
It looks like the off road world will be getting more exciting in 2008.

[JimC]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TheQuadShop

......By the way, Jimmy Lewis, editor of Dirt Rider magazine and a some-time BMW race rider, rode a stock R1200GS HP2, yes, that big blue BMW that we took to eastern KY last spring, in the event and finished the two hours to the amazement of all.

Nothing Jimmy Lewis does anymore amazes me, he is one of the great off road riders of his generation and doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves.

Thanks for the inside scoop on BMW's plans for racing next year. Should be exciting. The more manufacturers in the mix the better for all of us. Getting Scott Summers is certainly a great way to start a team.

Jim in Sacramento

[Zen Slug]

pictures... we want pictures!

[Jeff@TheQuadShop]

No problem...

[Trey650]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TheQuadShop

No problem...

OMG!! That is a piece of art. And it's STREET LEGAL??!!. I see a BMW in my future.

[Ladder106]

I really like the idea of having the swingarm pivot and the CS sprocket on the same center.

Makes chain slack a no brainer and makes all the other bikes look a bit "shade-tree".

With all the chain guides on todays bikes throwing chains into too much of a problem but when we started cutting frames and laying down shocks in the 70s it was realy easy to pitch a chain into the cases. This solves that problem for keeps.

[thebleakness]

O-M-G! I want that bike! That rear shock setup looks interesting. For some reason I was under the impression they were going with a linkage.

I'm going to have to hit up the German BMW motorcycle shop owning uncle I have...

[Hoder]

Neat bike but that motor's gonna have a hole in it the size of Kansas if that's all the better they can protect it.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by thebleakness

O-M-G! I want that bike! That rear shock setup looks interesting. For some reason I was under the impression they were going with a linkage.

I'm going to have to hit up the German BMW motorcycle shop owning uncle I have...

Wow! BMW must have some new leadership. Superbike racing in 2009 and GNCC in 2008. Two really tough types of racing too. What's next, SX?

I love the swinger axle points. I didn't know the traditional designs were a problem looking to be solved, though. Also, it looks like the shock link is upside down (or is it inside out).

[Stobie]

Originally Posted by Ladder106

I really like the idea of having the swingarm pivot and the CS sprocket on the same center.

How do you re-gear? Drop the engine?

[Stobie]

Originally Posted by cmwoodys

Yes, thats true. It'll be a PIA to swap countershaft sprockets but the silver lining is that since BMW seals all leak, the chain will always stay lubed

Damn a Scottoiler!

[JDLuke]

Oh hell, I want that.

[JayBo1]

The sponsors will love the slab sided swingarms too. Perfect sticker spot for good exposure. Note Pro series double stamped Xcel rims.

[xlcr]

Originally Posted by Stobie

How do you re-gear? Drop the engine?

There's also a sprocket on the wheel.

[stk0308]

Originally Posted by Pantah

Wow! BMW must have some new leadership. Superbike racing in 2009 and GNCC in 2008. Two really tough types of racing too. What's next, SX?.

KTMs entry into the streetbike market seems to has spooked BMW. They're loosing overall market share to the little Austrian company. As well as someone at BMW has finally realized they need to do something to get the small pool of younger riders interested in their product, or loose out even more.