BMW R20 Concept Shown

[exgman]

BMW's website has more on this bike, including some video of It being ridden at night and in some daylight: https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/e...0concept.html#/section-more-for-heritage-fans

 

[lee]

BMW's website has more on this bike, including some video of It being ridden at night and in some daylight: https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/e...0concept.html#/section-more-for-heritage-fans

I don't understand videos like that. It probably costs a lot to make the video and there's only a couple seconds where you can see what the bike looks like.

 

[GTRider]

Beside the point.

Without wanting to offend anyone, and I know there are many dedicated owners, the R1200C was the ugliest BMW, and possibly the ugliest motorcycle, ever made.

But…but...it’s a cruuuuiser…and James Bond rode one!

Best,
DeVern

 

[bc1100s]

But…but...it’s a cruuuuiser…and James Bond rode one!

Best,
DeVern

Ok fine.....it made a good movie stunt bike.

 

[kbasa]

Beside the point.

Without wanting to offend anyone, and I know there are many dedicated owners, the R1200C was the ugliest BMW, and possibly the ugliest motorcycle, ever made.

The Suzuki Madura wins, but just barely.

 

[bc1100s]

The Suzuki Madura wins, but just barely.

Certainly in the running on my Ugliest Bikes Ever Made list.

 

[classicvw]

Beside the point.

Without wanting to offend anyone, and I know there are many dedicated owners, the R1200C was the ugliest BMW, and possibly the ugliest motorcycle, ever made.

1. Not beside the point. It IS the point
2. Says who?

 

[kbasa]

1. Not beside the point. It IS the point
2. Says who?

Sales numbers are what matters to a company making and selling bikes.

I don’t think either bikes have been terribly successful. I rarely see R18s. I haven’t seen an R12C in a couple years, at least.

 

[classicvw]

Sales numbers are what matters to a company making and selling bikes.

I don’t think either bikes have been terribly successful. I rarely see R18s. I haven’t seen an R12C in a couple years, at least.

I thought the R1200C did OK while in production (40,200 units) but even though they haven't been made since 2004, I still see them for sale on websites. Asking pretty good money too.
When you see a dealer blowing out a year and a half leftover R18 with a sticker of $23,000 for $9995, that tells me all I need to know.

 

[lee]

I thought the R1200C did OK while in production (40,200 units) but even though they haven't been made since 2004, I still see them for sale on websites.

That's a lot higher than I would have guessed. I would have guessed 5,000 to 10,000. Is that 40,200 units sold in the US or Worldwide?

 

[pauls1150]

"Those are some big jugs." (PG) - From an electrical engineering viewpoint, it's not how big they are, it's how they're wired in.

 

[classicvw]

That's a lot higher than I would have guessed. I would have guessed 5,000 to 10,000. Is that 40,200 units sold in the US or Worldwide?

That’s worldwide AFAIK.

 

[motorhead1977]

Ummm, in a word NO!

 

[omega man]

It’s a good thing BMW (corporate) doesn’t pay any attention to the forum.
OM

 

[oldcamper]

It’s a good thing BMW (corporate) doesn’t pay any attention to the forum.
OM

I’m guessing they probably hire social media “influencers” to perform that task for them, but even then their presence is probably more focused on high traffic multi brand sites like advrider and Facebook.

 

[kbasa]

It’s a good thing BMW (corporate) doesn’t pay any attention to the forum.
OM

If you asked BMW members in 1993 what they wanted, they'd say a faster airhead.

As a person working in software for most of the last couple decades, we like to say that if you asked people what they wanted prior to the invention of the automobile, they'd say a faster horse.

It may be hard to believe, but when the GS was originally introduced it got completely panned by reviewers as "too big for a dirt bike, not a touring bike, not a sporting motorcycle, so what is it?"

The R20 is, I think, kinda like that. Others may have a different opinion, but I've seen this sort of "not getting the idea because all we see is what we know" with the GS, the X6 (which kicked off SUV "sedans"), the bustle trunk of the 7 series courtesy of Chris Bangle, etc. Same for the i3/i8, which are EVs with range extenders that mimic the larger EV capacity of modern hybrids, but put to market ten years ago.

 

[r0ckrat]

If you asked BMW members in 1993 what they wanted, they'd say a faster airhead.

On ADVRider, there's a long running thread "What bike do you want today?"

The most frequent answer is "Something with 120+ HP that weighs less than 350 lbs, has a long travel suspension, and no electronic aids."

 

[classicvw]

Am I the only one who can recall (probably 15-20 years ago) one of the top dogs of BMW Germany tell his interviewer a definite no, who asked if they could develop the boxer engine beyond 1200 ccs? He said the heads would be too large, lean angle compromised, etc. I wonder what company he’s running today?

 

[r0ckrat]

Am I the only one who can recall (probably 15-20 years ago) one of the top dogs of BMW Germany tell his interviewer a definite no, who asked if they could develop the boxer engine beyond 1200 ccs? He said the heads would be too large, lean angle compromised, etc. I wonder what company he’s running today?

Well, based on the tech available at the time, he was correct... But tech has changed a lot since then...

 

[classicvw]

Well, based on the tech available at the time, he was correct... But tech has changed a lot since then...

I agree, but he was basing his belief solely on size, they couldn’t make the heads bigger because of size limitations. I haven’t done any engine comparisons, so what was the solving of the problem, do the heads sit higher in the engine and frame? Or was he just making **** up?