beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted December 31, 2005 02:17 PM
 Edited By: beansbaxter on 31 Dec 2005 14:19
BMW K1200S Sets 'World Speed Record'!
BMW K1200S Sets 'World Speed Record'!
A 2006 production model BMW K1200S has set a world land speed record in the 1000-1350cc stock,partially streamlined, naturally aspirated motorcycle class at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats.
The K1200S is the most powerful motorcycle ever produced by BMW with 167hp at the engine, delivering 0-60 times of 2.8 seconds.
Piloted by Andy Sills, '56', of Sanfrancisco, Ca., the bike reached an average
speed of 173.57 mph and top speeds of176.89 mph after two runs on the vast white Salt Flats.
Sills an avid rider, has amassed over 300,000 miles on four BMW's in the last 'Four Years'!
He and a 'Passenger' also clocked a record speed of 169mph, riding the K1200S two-up with passenger Erin Hunter.
Another Record at Bonneville was acheved by Brain Parriott and San Jose BMW. Fielding the shops BMW K1200R Power Cup bike, setting an AMA speed record for unstreamlined bikes in the 1300cc Class at an average speed of
164.490mph.
Source: BMW Owners News 01/06
   
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trenace
Needs a job
Posts: 3056
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posted December 31, 2005 02:30 PM
Edited By: trenace on 31 Dec 2005 14:30
Wow! 173.57 mph stock! That's faster than a ZX-12R or Busa ever did!
(Or was this a record due to being in one of those weird categories, such as, "with half-Albanian / half Eskimo rider between the ages of 56 and 57" ?)
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tinhead
Expert Class
Posts: 203
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posted January 01, 2006 12:40 AM
I don't think either category is a particularly "strange" category, although I have a feeling that partially streamlined may have suited the BMW particularly well. While I'm sure there's a lot of effort and preperation behind those records, one thing that is getting a lot of attention, especially at the non-paved Land Speed Record areas (Bonneville, Muroc) is the frontal area of the bike, and the BMW is somewhat smallish, is it not?
Because traction, the driving force, is so limited at these places, and aerodynamic drag increases as the cube of speed, getting that frontal area down yeilds huge benefits, way past what seems intuitively obvious. It's the main reason that top speed wars in the unstreamlined/ partially streamlined classes have begun to move from the 1300+cc classes to the 1000cc classes. There's lots of other variables, but it's entirely possible that, on a given day, the smaller bikes like ZX-10's and GSXR-1000's, given around 500 RWHP (sound like a familiar number?  ) can be faster than ZX-12's or Hayabusas with 700HP just because they present less bike to the wind.
Last but not least, congratulations to the owners and shops involved in those records.
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trenace
Needs a job
Posts: 3056
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posted January 01, 2006 07:23 AM
Edited By: trenace on 1 Jan 2006 07:40
Tinhead, the ZX-12R and Hayabusa are "partially streamlined" as well, and in the same displacement category.
It's difficult to see why the Bimmer's fairings would be in a different category, regardless of the Bonneville vs Maxton difference.
Nor do I think the BMW has smaller frontal area than the ZX-12R or Hayabusa.
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted January 01, 2006 12:30 PM
reading it with a lawyer's eye (or a marketing BS eye) i believe the record is for 2 up, in which case the category is somewhat "strange". the release doesnt actaully say that the 173/176mph 1 up passes were records. it only mentions record on the 2 up and non-streamlined class. if i am correct, then i'm dissapointed at the attempt at pulling the wool over people's eyes by the press release author.
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trenace
Needs a job
Posts: 3056
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posted January 01, 2006 12:48 PM
Edited By: trenace on 1 Jan 2006 13:11
I believe you're right, frEEk, you've spotted it.
They claim only "a" record. That must be the two-up figure.
And deceitfully, they throw in far-from-record solo speeds, and hope the reader will think the K1200R set Bonneville speed records solo, perhaps applying reasoning similar to Tinhead's to justify why maybe the ZX-12R or Busa might never have gone 173.57 at Bonneville stock (however, myself I am sure either would if ever run stock there, that is the only room for question IMO) and actually believing the Bimmer is the stock 1000-1350cc Bonneville land speed record holder.
And no doubt IMO that the intent was to deceive, because when the headline reads that the K1200S set a world record, if being honest the discussion would clearly be of the two-up nature of the record. Instead, it immediately announces the one-up speed, so the reader would think that that is the record. It then refers to the two-up speed as "also," and of course "also" tends to imply that the thing is in addition, rather than being the main story.
Maybe not quite as deceitful as Yamaha and their at-15,900-shows-18,000 tach needle and 17,500/18,000 rpm press releases and ads, but not on the up-and-up, either.
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