Morning Reads: 29 December 2006

[mika]

The motorcycling world viewed from the saddle of a BMW. A daily look at all things BMW, Euro-bike, products and things I find interesting on the internet. With links to news, reviews, events, riding skills, maintenance and racing series updates. Morning Reads is a one stop for motorcycling information.

TodayÔÇÖs Birthdays / Calendar

BMW MOA Chartered Club:

International Order of Rolling Broccoli

Founded:
1/1/1995

Contact:
Helmut Haus (brockais@grey-bruce.net)
484044 Cape Road
Wiarton, ON N0H 2T0 Canada

Meetings:
Broccoli Campout

Events:
Broccoli in Utopia
ValentineÔÇÖs Day Campout


UPDATE: On the 24th of December I featured the Veteran BMW Riders as the Chartered Club of the day. At that time there club information on the home page was not current. Michael and Vince were able to clear up the problem and I want to point you in their direction of their new website once again.

Veteran BMW Riders

Founded:
2/18/2006

Contact:
Michael Johnston (mjohnston3@wi.rr.com)
8057 N. 53rd St.
Brown Deer, WI 53223 USA
http://www.veteranbmwriders.org/

Meetings:
Online and concurrent with the BMW MOA annual rally.

Events:
Meeting at BMW MOA annual rally.
Online chat rooms and virtual meetings.


Thank you Michael for your kind e-mail and to Vince with help in updating this information.



Gem??tlichkeit is the warm, comfortable feeling
one receives from pleasant surroundings and atmosphere.
I think you will find that when you come here.



JSonline.com Elected posts will be up for grabs. MOA is not the only group going through elections in the spring.

Ozaukee ÔÇô Washington Daily News

Fond Du Lac Reporter

The Sheboygan Press

Daily Citizen, Beaver Dam

Weather

West Bend WI
Current

10 Day Forcast

United States
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Canada
Meteorological Service of Canada




News:

Autospies.com: Proof anyone get a drivers license in some states.

Windingroad.com: The Blackjack Zero.

Beer News:

TheBrewsite.com: Flying DogÔÇÖs beer naming contest.

Feature:

loc.gov: Library of CongressÔÇÖ tribute to Gerald Ford

Blog Update:

Dark Roasted Blend: Mystery photo ÔÇô one seriously empowered scooter!

Photography:

DPS.com: Black and White Landscape ÔÇô Case study

AppleInsider: New Sony Cyber-shot S- series digital cams revealed. Are these tankbag friendly?

Technology:

Bikes in the Fast Lane.com: Passing the message. This could be interesting in the wrong hands.

Manufacturer of the Day:

ARIEL

Ariel Motorcycle Club ÔÇô North America
Ariel Owners Motor Cycle Club - UK

Woot

Todays Woot

The Blog

Bike Candy:

1910 Ariel 482cc Outfit

1928 Ariel Side Valve

1937 Ariel Square Four

1945 Ariel VG500

1958 Ariel Square Four ÔÇô Bushman Combination

1961 Ariel Leader

Ariel Trials

1973 Ariel 3

From Vintagebike.co.uk


The Pit Crew View: Racing News:

All things BMW

egmcartech.com: BMW calls Jaguar a Scardey Cat

Dakar 2007

Trucks at prelim for Dakar.
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Now some bikes
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HqGFm1umx5o"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HqGFm1umx5o" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Las Vegas driver gears up for Dakar

Scotsman.com: Blindness no problem for Dakar mechanic.

The official Dakar 2007 website.

Versus: Now that you too are hooked on the event here is the TV schedule for your 2007 Dakar viewing pleasure.

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h1h-4WRhpGg"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h1h-4WRhpGg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Dakar Rally News via topix.net

Mobileindustry.biz: EA launches Dakar 2007 for mobiles.

NORTH AMERICAN ENTRANTS:

Here are the entrants from NA and their websites when available. This undoubtedly is an incomplete list and I will continue to refine it up to race time.

MOTORCYCLE

Chris Blais: Red Bull / KTM

Paul Broome: Honda

Terry Curtis - Team Rally Raid Mexico / Yamaha

James Embro: Team SSC / JJE Constructors

Timothy Hall: Heatland Dakar 2007 / KTM

Sunny Irvine - Team Rally Raid Mexico / Yamaha

Christopher Jones: KTM

Mike Kary: Team RallySoCal / Husqvarna

Steve Laroza: Team JJE Construcors / KTM

Casey McCoy: Rally Pan America / KTM

Brian Schumckle: Team RallySoCal / Husqvarna


Elmer Symons: Team SSC/JJE Constructors / KTM

Jonah Street: Pai-Rally Pan America / KTM

CARS

Ron Bailey Motorsports

Team Gordon

Volkswagen Motosport: Drivers Mark Miller / Ralf Pitchford

Team SMG: Divers ÔÇô Michael Peterson / Matthew Stevensen

TRUCKS

Thomas Geviss / Paul Mitchell: Team Gordon

Darren Skilton / Jose Grijalva / Hecotr Camachof

Here is another chance for you to do the digging: Google Directory: Dakar 2007, approximately 598 sites to mine. Have fun.

Dakar Motorcycle Entrants as of 5 OCT 2007 This appears to be a complete list of the motorcycle entrants.

AMA

AMAdirectlink.com: AMA Sports Rule books are online.

MotorcycleUSA.com: AMA SX - Preview to air on CBS

F-1

WJDX.com: F-1 year in review ÔÇô End of an Era

PAGE 2: A Link to Events and Racing Calendars
Last update: December 17, 2006


Unless noted otherwise, I have no known commercial interest in any products, retailers or manufactures discussed in the Morning Reads. The links used in the Morning Reads are for informational use only. The use of all links is subject to the terms of use of the originating site.

 

[mika]

Page 2

BMW C1: Part II

Marketers will use various terms to describe a design. They may include words such as aerodynamic fluid, sculpted and curvatious. When these donÔÇÖt seem to apply they bring out the big gun. This is the design dictum of design follows function. This is where we are taken with the C1. Engineers and lovers of exposed frames are strangely drawn to it. The design school members of the audience lament the lack of modeling clay used to prepare it for production. What functions did they have in mind that resulted in the form we see?

The goals were simple. Combine the city driving advantages of a scooter with the protection of a car. Protection was defined both as safety and comfort. Safety was always stressed first. The emphasis on rider safety had some interesting implications for the C1.
The safety concept starts with the chassis or should I say frame.

The rider sits inside surrounded by the frame. In the front the BMW beak hides the Telelever front suspension shared with the motorcycles. From a safety standpoint this creates a crumple zone similar to a car. The side wings of the frame provide additional protection from side impact for the drivers head and shoulders. The double roll cage construction protects from overhead in case of roll over accidents along with providing structural rigidity.

The seat adds features we are not accustomed to on a bike. The base of the seat is a broad saddle. The addition of the back and headrest provide comfort and protection for the rider. They also allow the unique passive belt system on a scooter. The rider/driver has a lap belt and crossing chest belts to restrain him in case of an accident.

BMW emphasized these elements of safety. The C1 was claimed to have crash test results showing it protected the rider.

The frame design allowed for the next element in protectionprotection from the elements.

Protection from the elements came in the form of a windshield mounted to the double roll cage frame, complete with windshield wiper. Overhead, a removable roof panel made it something of a cabriolet. Combine these two items with the rest of the body work and the rider/driver would have little use for special rain gear. At least that was BMWÔÇÖs sales pitch and hope.

With the emphasis on safety ABS made it into the design. However; to keep costs down on the base model this was listed as an option.

The power plant for this rolling micro fortress was an engine built by Rotax. This was a water cooled 125cc, 4 valve, DOHC single which purportedly produced 15bhp. With a 13.0 to 1 compression ratio the C1 would require premium but the cost was offset by mileage figures claimed at 97.4 mpg.

Those 15 powerful ponies were channeled to the rear wheel through an interesting drive train. The transmission was an automatic and the drive provided by a toothed belt.

Management functions for the C1 were provided by the BMW BMS system.

The end result of all this function was a form that perhaps only a mother could love. Finishing a scathing review of the C1 for the The Sunday Times of London, Jeremy Clarkson wrote in April of 2000,

ÔÇ£Trying to mate a bike with a car is like trying to mate a dog with a fish. You end up with something that wonÔÇÖt do as itÔÇÖs told and makes you wet every time you take it out for a walk.ÔÇØ

In Part III we will look at the total concept.

C1
Engine:
Capacity
cc
125
Bore / stroke mm 56.4 x 50
Max output / rpm kW / bhp / rpm 11 / 15 / 9250
Max torque / rpm Nm / lb-ft / rpm 12 / 8.8 / 6500
Cooling system Water
No of cylinders One, 4-stroke / fully-controlled catalytic converter
Compression ratio / fuel grade 13.0:1 / premium unleaded, 95 RON
Valve / gas cycle control DOHC
Valves per cylinder 4
Intake / outlet dia mm 21.2 / 19.0
Fuel supply BMW engine controller (BMS)
No / outlet dia mm 1 / 28
Service interval km 7.500
Electrical system:
Ignition BMS
Alternator W 400
Battery V / Ah 12 / 14
Headlight (H4) W 60 / 55
Starter kW 0.6
Power transmission:
Transmission Automatic
Secondary drive Belt transmission
Rear-wheel drive Two-stage spur gear layshaft
Chassis:
Frame Aluminium space frame
Suspension front Telelever
rear Drive unit swinging arm
Spring travel, front / rear mm 75 / 85
Castor mm 113
Wheelbase mm 1488
Brakes : front, disc brake mm dia 220
rear, disc brake mm dia 220
optional ABS
Wheel front 3.5 J x 13
rear 3.5 J x 12
Tyres front 120 / 70 - 13
rear 140 / 70 - 12
Dimensions and weights:
Length, overall mm 2075
Width (without mirrors) mm 850
Width (with mirrors) mm 1026
Height mm 1766 -
Seat height mm 701 -
Ground clearance mm 180 -
Unladen weight, DIN kg 185 -
Max permissible weight kg 360 -
Tank capacity ltr 9.7 -
Driving data:
Fuel consumption at 56mph llmpg 97.4 88.3
Theoretical range km 250 plus 190
Acceleration 0-50 km / h sec 5.9 3.9
Top speed mph 64 70
CO2 emission g/km 64 66
Payload:
Passenger seat kg 85 -
Luggage bridge kg 30 -
Topcase kg 20 -
Attach?® case kg 5 -

 

[REBECCAV]

I am really enjoying all of the Dakar info, video and pictures. Do those trucks really compete?

 

[MCMXCIVRS]

I think if you combined that French artillery scooter and the C1, you'd have the perfect city commuter vehicle. No one would dare cut you off, and clearing traffic jams would be.....


a blast.

 

[kbasa]

Thanks for the tip on the Milwaukee Art Museum.

I will absolutely be attending. Interesting building, too!

 

[Voni]

I am really enjoying all of the Dakar info, video and pictures. Do those trucks really compete?

Oh, yes! If you think it's a pain to pick up a bike that's tipped over in the sand you have to see the effort it takes to right a truck!

They started in the Dakar carrying supplies, but soon were joining the race.

Voni
sMiling cause Dakar 2007 is just about to begin

 

[REBECCAV]

Oh, yes! If you think it's a pain to pick up a bike that's tipped over in the sand you have to see the effort it takes to right a truck!

They started in the Dakar carrying supplies, but soon were joining the race.

Voni
sMiling cause Dakar 2007 is just about to begin

Wow. That is crazy! I hope to be able to watch some of the footage this year.