BMW K1

BMW K1

Manufacturer	BMW
Production	1988–1993 (6,921 units)
Predecessor	K100
Successor	none
Class	Sport touring
Engine	Type: 987 cc liquid-cooled longitudinal four-cylinder Valve Train: DOHC; four valves per cylinder Carburetion: Bosch electronic fuel injection Ignition: Hy Computer-controlled digital with three-dimensional mapping
Bore / stroke	67 mm × 70 mm (2.6 in × 2.8 in)
Compression ratio	11.0:1
Power	Standard 100 hp (75 kW) @ 8,000 rpm USA 95 hp (71 kW) @ 8,000 rpm
Torque	74 lb·ft (100 N·m) @ 6,750 rpm
Transmission	Close-ratio five-speed; Shaft drive
Brakes	Front: Twin 305 mm disc with four-piston Brembo callipers Rear: Single 285 mm disc Optional ABS
Wheelbase	1,565 mm (61.6 in)
Dimensions	L 2,160 mm (85 in) W 720 mm (28 in) H 1,170 mm (46 in)
Seat height	780 mm (31 in)
Weight	234 kg (516 lb) (dry)
Fuel capacity	22 l (4.8 imp gal; 5.8 US gal) (including the 4 l (0.88 imp gal; 1.1 US gal) reserve)
Fuel consumption	44 mpg-imp (6.4 L/100 km; 37 mpg-US) to 55 mpg-imp (5.1 L/100 km; 46 mpg-US)

The BMW K1 is a motorcycle that was designed by BMW as a high-speed sports-tourer, designed to change the motorcycle media and buying public's mind of BMW as only a manufacturer of flat-twin tourers.

Based on the previously introduced BMW K100, the K1 was designed for comfortable high-speed autobahn cruising at speeds of up to 150 mph (240 km/h). The radical aerodynamic design was a seven piece glass fibre structure, creating a world class leading drag coefficient of 0.38. It was mated with a stiffened chassis, that included a single sided Paralever swingarm, design to stop shaft drive induced pitch and dive under heavy acceleration and braking,^[1] the first use of this on a K-series bike.

Although expensive and either loved or hated, and with some of its early technology either working in use or not—the enclosure created excess heat buildup, while the long wheelbase created a 22 ft (6.7 m) turning circle—the short production run created the result that the motorcycling press and public never had the same view of BMW motorcycles again.^[1]

Background: solution to a marketing problem

Through the need to meet proposed European Union legislation on emissions regulation, BMW had started to develop an alternate technology to its traditional flat-twin engines with the introduction of the 1,000 cc BMW K100 from 1983 to 1992. Led by Josef Fritzenwenger and Stefan Pachernegg, the team developed a design based on a liquid-cooled Peugeot car engine. In the base design of the K100, the engine was laid on its side in-line with the motorcycle frame, known as a longitudinal four, with the crankshaft on the right-hand side of the motorcycle, with the cylinders, pistons, camshafts, injectors and spark plugs on the left-hand side. This arrangement keeps the centre of gravity relatively low, which benefits handling.

Design

The K100 was still a cruiser/tourer design in bias, and BMW marketing wanted a sports oriented tourer to appeal to a more youth oriented market perception, and compete with the Japanese factories. BMW was committed to the manufacturer imposed 100 bhp (75 kW) limit for motorcycles sold in Germany, so decided that to address both issues it needed to turn to aerodynamics to solve the problem.^[1]

In 1984 at the Cologne Motor Show, BMW design created the aerodynamic "Racer" mockup, based on a standard K100 chassis.^[2] At the 1988 Cologne show, the production K1 used the same large and all enveloping two-piece front mud guard mated closely to a seven-piece main fairing, that included two small panniers (lids made by Zanussi ZCP (Zanussi Componenti Plastica)). The resultant drag coefficient was 0.34 with the rider prone, the lowest of any production motorcycle in 1988.^[1]

Adding to the "different to traditional BMW" nature of the bike, the colour scheme of bright red or blue with yellow graphics and highlighting was bold, and hence seen as so different to normal BMW, bizarre.^[1]

Engineering

The K1 differed from the K100 in engineering terms, being designed for high speed and hence with many components either replaced or upgraded.

Retaining the K100’s engines dimensions of 67 mm × 70 mm (2.6 in × 2.8 in), the K1 was BMW's first 16-valve engine,^[3] using four valves per cylinder, with the camshafts acting directly on the bucket tappets. Other improvements over the K100 included higher compression pistons, lighter conrods and a 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) lighter crankshaft.^[3] This combined with digital Motronic engine management system resulted in a 10 hp (7.5 kW) gain over the K100, producing 100 hp (75 kW) at the crankshaft at 8,000 rpm;^[1] and increased torque of 74 lb·ft (100 N·m) versus the K100’s 64 lb·ft (87 N·m).

The stronger tubular steel chassis was mounted on wide 17-inch (430 mm) FPS front wheels, 18s in the back, with low profile radial tyres. The rear suspension was a Bilstein shock absorber acting on a single-sided Paralever swingarm, which pushed the wheelbase out to 1,565 mm (61.6 in). On the front were twin 41.7 mm (1.64 in) Marzocchi forks.^[4] The brakes were four-pot Brembo over two-pot on the K100, with a pair of 305 mm (12.0 in) drilled discs.^[4] An Anti-lock braking system was optional in all markets except North America, where it was standard.^[1]

Marketing, sales and usage

By the time the K1 was launched, it was quick but not fast. The result of the addition of the aerodynamic bodywork and general upgrading of engineering and components added to the weight, which as a result came in as heavy for a sports bike at 234 kg (516 lb). Combined with the extended wheelbase which created a 22-foot (6.7 m) turning circle, it made the bike an economical and comfortable sports tourer. But the engine was not powerful enough against the weight to make the bike quick accelerating, and hence sports-competitive.^[1]

The all over fairing was found in early press road tests to retain excess heat below 50 mph (80 km/h), and in some cases burn riders. BMW eventually offered an under-fairing heat blanket which reduced this considerably, but it was always a problem.^[5] However, as BMW knew weight was a problem, the panels were well engineered but thin and subject to cracking. Resultantly panel fit was poor on early models, and combined with panel cracking earned the bike the nickname "yoghurt carton" in Germany. The design and manufacture of the panels never changed in the bikes production, but the colouring schemes were toned down from a ketchup red and metallic blue with yellow details, to a metallic black.

The engine, although well developed, suffered from secondary vibration. This was minimal in the three-cylinder K100 derived K75, and minimised in the K100 through introduction of well designed vibration suppression. On the sporting inspired K1, the engine was directly mounted onto the frame, which led to secondary vibrations problems at certain mid-range engine revolutions.^[5]

In the important United States market, emissions regulations dragged the power out down to 95 horsepower (71 kW). At almost US$13,000 it was also expensive, and when compared to the competition the excess price did not offer a sufficient performance or quality gap for volume sales.^[5] In comparison, the Honda CBR600F was as fast and lighter, yet was almost two thirds of the price.^[5]

By 1993, the market had changed and developed considerably, with the introduction of sports bikes like the Tadao Baba designed Honda Fireblade, brought about the end of production. However, although it only sold 6,921 units, the K1 helped BMW change its persona forever with the press and market perception as simply a touring motorcycle manufacturer. It remains one of their most memorable machines.^[1][6]

References

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BMW K1.

• Micapeak BMW K1 Registry
• BMW K1 specifications