BMW R1200S

The BMW R1200S is a sports motorcycle produced by BMW Motorrad from 2006 to 2007.

Compared to the BMW R1100S which it succeeded, the R1200S was 13 kg (29 lb) lighter, and (with a compression ratio raised from 11.3:1 to 12.5:1) it was 25% more powerful with 122 horsepower (91 kW). Much of the weight saving was due to a new trellis-type frame which replaced the massive alloy frame of the R1100S.

Despite these refinements, overall the R1100S was perhaps the more successful design. Motor Cycle News said of the R1200S: "As an oddball track motorcycle it works, but as an accomplished all-rounder it falls short of the standards set by the R1100S that preceded it."

HP2 Sport

In 2008 the R1200S was superseded by the double overhead camshaft HP2 Sport. At 178 kg (dry) and 128 hp, the HP2 is even lighter and more powerful than the R1200S upon which it is based; (and compared to the R1100S, the HP2 is 30 kg lighter and 30 hp more powerful). The HP2's dohc engine was the most powerful "oilhead" design before BMW adopted liquid cooling for some of its flat twins in 2014.

BMW

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (German pronunciation: [baˈjɛɐ̯ɪʃə mɔˈtɔʁn̩ ˈvɛɐ̯kə]; German for Bavarian Motor Works), usually known under its abbreviation BMW, is a German luxury automobile, motorcycle, and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. Headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, it also owns and produces Mini cars and serves as the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad, and plug-in electric cars under the BMW i sub-brand. It is one of the best-selling luxury automakers in the world. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index.

History

BMW was established as a business entity following a restructuring of the Rapp Motorenwerke aircraft manufacturing firm in 1917. After the end of World War I in 1918, BMW was forced to cease aircraft-engine production by the terms of the Versailles Armistice Treaty. The company consequently shifted to motorcycle production as the restrictions of the treaty started to be lifted in 1923, followed by automobiles in 1928–29.