Rumors From the German Front

Rumors From the German Front

ROUNDUP

A SHAKE-UP IN THE TOP management of BMW’s motorcycle division has given impetus to rumors about plans for new models from the venerable German manufacturer.

Eberhard Seifert, boss of BMW's motorcycle division since 1979, was replaced in the top job by Hans Glas, former director of the BMW motorcycle factory in Berlin’s Spandau neighborhood, provoking a series of other promotions further down the executive ladder. In some ways the most significant of those was the naming of Burkhard Göschei to head up BMW’s motorcycle research-and-development department, which is charged with the responsibility of planning the new models that will carry BMW into the next century.

Göschei has been transferred into motorcycledom from BMW’s automotive division, where he was responsible for the development of the 60-degree, V-12 engine powering the 750i luxury sedan launched two years ago as the company’s top-of-the-line model.

He is, indeed, an engine man, and may thus be expected to place considerable emphasis on the development of the several alternative prototype engines currently under evaluation by BMW’s R&D engineers. These include the longawaited eight-valve version of the Boxer flat-Twin. This is likely to be fitted with Bosch fuel-injection in order to meet future emissions regulations, and will probably have oilor liquid-cooling to reduce noise levels. Additionally, a new 600cc Twin is under development, but this is thought to be half a KlOO rather than a modern version of the smallcapacity Boxer which was launched on the market in air-cooled form some years ago without notable success.

But speculation in European bike circles in the wake of Göschel's appointment has centered on various ways in which he could adapt the basic design of his V-12 car engine to motorcycle use. With cylinders measuring 84 x 75mm, four valves per cylinder, liquid-cooling and a narrow, 60-degree cylinder angle, that engine has fascinating possibilities in a motorcycle application. Among the ideas mentioned are an 830cc V-Twin retaining the original 750i cylinder dimensions, or a 1000-I200cc V-Four fitted in the chassis longitudinally to make a potent German response to the Honda attempt to muscle in on traditional BMW territory with its new ST l 100. This engine would retain the general architecture of one-third of the car engine, but would use scaled-down cylinder dimensions.

Rob Mitchell, spokesman at BMW’s American operation, told CW he’s heard nothing of any Vmotor, but notes that the engineers who designed the K-bike’s motor all had experience in the design of the firm’s auto engines. He said he’s heard nothing of a twocylindered K-motor, but confirmed that engineers charged with developing a replacement for the Boxer Twin are looking at a number of options, though he added, “It’s too early to say what that engine’s going to look like.’’

—Alan Cathcart