Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today I would like to present you a very special motorcycle
– the HP2 Sport - the street version of our racing boxer.
With racing prototypes of the HP2 Sport at international racing
events, we seek to prove the competitiveness of this motorcycle at
an early point in time, showing the world what kind of performance
our Boxer is able to offer.
At the same time such racing activities were also an integral
and essential part of our development process.
According to our definition of HP, high performance stands for
the sporting performance, spirit and capability of the entire
motorcycle in all its features, and not primarily just for maximum
engine power.
It is of course well-known that an air-cooled concept reaches
its natural limits here, and cannot offer the same specific output
as a water-cooled engine.
Precisely this is why this motorcycle – both the series
model and the racing version – comes with an overall concept
tailored directly to its specific purpose.
The HP2 Sport offers its outstanding performance through the
overall configuration of the motorcycle.
That is its weight, the power characteristics of the engine in
combination with the excellent running gear and perfect brakes.
With the excellent racing results we achieved in Le Mans,
Oschersleben and Magny Cours, we have already proven what our
concept is able to offer.
We are offering the HP2 Sport, the street-legal version of our
racing boxer, for the customer who wishes to experience this kind
of performance himself.
This truly outstanding motorcycle will be built in a small and
exclusive series with virtually all the high-quality and
sophisticated components to be admired on the racing version.
There are five features I would like to highlight in
particular:
- The self-supporting rear subframe made of carbon-fibre
- The high-performance brake system with its radially bolted
monobloc brake callipers
- The dashboard featured only in MotoGP
- The power shifter
- The new DOHC cylinder heads with direct operation of the
valves
The rider’s seat is integrated into the structure of the
self-supporting rear subframe made of carbon-fibre. The rear
section is absolutely unique in the production of series
motorcycles and is featured in this technology for the first time
on a series motorcycle.
The entire unit weighs just 2.5 kilos.
Compared with a conventional aluminium rear frame, this reduces
the weight of this component alone by 2.1 kilos or 46 per cent.
The other components on the running gear are modified series
parts carried over from the R 1200 S. Examples are the light and
torsionally stiff tubular spaceframe, the Paralever swinging arm,
and the Telelever further developed to an even higher standard.
Both wheel mounting points incorporate top-quality Öhlins
components.
The Telelever is modified in its connection to the radially
bolted brake callipers.
The high-performance monobloc brake callipers come from Brembo
and feature four brake pistons.
Brake disc diameter at the front is 320 millimetres.
The rear wheel features the single-disc brake system carried
over from the R 1200 S, with brake disc diameter of 265
millimetres.
As an option, the HP2 Sport is also available with our light
Sport ABS from our R 1200 S appropriately modified for sports
riding.
You naturally have the opportunity to switch off ABS when racing
on the race track.
Two other features we have carried over from motorsport are the
dashboard and the power shifter:
Focusing on the dashboard, we have chosen a unit from 2D
Systems, the manufacturer that also supplies its components to
teams in the MotoGP.
Apart from the usual displays for road use, this dashboard also
gives the rider a wide choice of information he is able to save on
the race track for subsequent evaluation.
The gearshift assistant enables the rider to shift up quickly
without using the clutch and with hardly the slightest interruption
in the flow of power. It does this by briefly taking back the
ignition angle and cancelling out the injection in order to shift
gears.
The power shifter can also be converted into inverse shifting
order.
So far the cylinder heads of our racing bikes were a strict
secret. But now I can tell you that for the first time since the
legendary vertical drive shaft racing engines on the RS 54 back in
the 1950s we now have a Boxer – the HP2 Sport –
featuring a cylinder head with two overhead camshafts.
Our engineers have found a very intelligent technical solution
for direct operation of the valves: Positioned horizontally, the
camshafts act, respectively, on one intake and one exhaust valve
each.
The valves are operated by means of the light and stiff cam
followers already well-known from the K 1200 S.
Conically polished cams and radial arrangement of the valves in
the cylinder head serve to optimise intake ports while maintaining
the horizontal flow of gas in the cylinder head.
Both camshafts are driven by a chain with fine links.
We are particularly proud of the fact that despite DOHC control
of the valves, the cylinder head is 10 millimetres smaller than on
our current boxer engines.
This new valve drive system allows a higher cylinder charge and
provides a higher standard of mechanical strength and stiffness,
enabling the Boxer to rev reliably beyond 9,000 rpm. The speed
limit is 9,500 rpm and the engine reaches maximum power at 8,750
revs.
The further modifications on the engine versus the existing
1200-cc engines involve the chain guide leading to the cylinder
heads and modifications in the crankcase, taking the extra power of
the engine and the higher engine speed into account.
For reasons of weight, we use light cylinder head covers made of
carbon-fibre with exchangeable skid pads for the first time on a
series motorcycle.
The engine's periphery, that is the Digital Motor Electronics
with new mapping, the throttle butterflies and intake system all
come straight from the R 1200 S.
The intake funnel has been modified and the intake ducts
carefully machined to provide the air throughout required for this
kind of power.
The manifold of the exhaust system has been moved underneath the
oil sump for aerodynamics and leaning angle reasons.
The rear muffler has been integrated in its looks and appearance
in the self-supporting carbon-fibre rear section.
The exhaust system comes with a flap system to optimise both
engine power and sound.
It almost goes without saying that the exhaust system on
our new HP2 Sport comes complete with a three-way catalytic
converter and easily outperforms the EU 3 standard required by
law.
Maximum output of the production machine is 98 kW or 133 hp.
This ensures the right kind of performance without requiring any
concessions in terms of the reliability of the air-cooled power
unit.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'm afraid we don't have enough time to look at the many other
refined details on this new motorcycle.
I would however like to highlight the milled fork bridge, the
adjustable, short and dynamic handlebar, the milled and adjustable
footrests as well as the extremely light fairing made completely of
carbon-fibre.
Take your time afterwards to check out the motorcycle from close
up and look at all the details.
Naturally, we are at your disposal for any questions.
But before you take a look at the HP2 Sport, let me make an
important announcement regarding the future road racing activities
of BMW Motorrad.
There has already been a lot of speculation on this point from
your side.
Today I am happy to tell you that in 2008 we will be entering
the HP2 Sport in further classic endurance races.
In 2009 we will then be opening up a new chapter in the road
racing activities of BMW Motorrad, entering the World Super Bike
Championship with our own team!
We will inform you of further details such as the motorcycle
concept and the structure of the team in good time.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for your attention.
For further press/media information
contact:
Alexander Corne
Communications and Specialist Media Manager
BMW Group Australia
Phone: 03 9264 4150
Fax: 03 9562 2799
Mobile: 0439 568 819
Email: alexander.corne@bmw.com.au