Originally Posted by Translated

from http://motociclismo.es/Noticias/bmw-...37;3Fid%3D3397

BMW K46
The new German Superbike

We catch in exclusive BMW testers working with his new superbike, the K46, destined to revolutionize the German brand. For what little we have seen promises to be a highly competitive sport bike.

Coincidentally we found a team that worked frantically, mechanics, testers, engineers with laptops ... we get to see a GSX-R 1000 filled with cables. The group began to look bad on us, are we bothering? they made it clear that we were not welcome. We saw also a Honda Fireblade, a Kawasaki ZX-10 and two black motorbikes without any identification. The body was from an R6, but it was clear that this was not a Yamaha, what the hell were watching?

When he saw that the drivers of these mysterious black motorbikes, one thing was clear, they were BMW testers, but they had to take some precautionary discrete leathers, with nothing to identify. We were in front of the BMW superbike for 2009/2010! With a Bavarian four in line engine under Asian bodywork. The motorcycle was not yet ready to be brought to the series as it was clear to see some pieces closely, but the degree of sophistication was surprising.

The engine is very compact, with the cylinders lean forward, reminds a little to the engine of the Yamaha R1. Although it must be borne in mind that a propeller R1 does not fit a fairing of R6, so the German four online will be very compact.

Change in course
BMW has decided to change course and break its own rules to make a truly competitive bike. What we were witnessing has nothing to do with what we know so far as BMW's philosophy, no cardán, no Telelever, even getting first gear does not sound anything… almost looks like a Japanese motorcycle: dual beam aluminum chassis, inverted fork , four-in-one escape. The final design we can only speculate, but one thing is clear, it will be radical. We imagine that the series intermediate can will be less visible in the final model. The crankcase has been designed to leave room for this system that incorporates a large catalyst. The wheels are ultralight. Recall that the goal for this model is 190/190, ie 190 kg to 190 hp. The purpose is that the new model reaches 312 km / h. Almost nothing…

The motorcycle you see is the future model series, not the SBK racing bike being developed by the German team Alpha Technik. In 2009 and may even next year, we will see this motorcycle circuits.

This bike came out of the boxes with force, cleaning and firmness. In the track it moved with surprising agility and stability, the tires stuck to the asphalt as leeches, conveying a great deal of power to the ground without anything failing. Had this bike a racing ABS? traction control? Only one fact, laps were done one and a half seconds faster than those made with similar Japanese motorcycles …