Doesnt look like much changed. Stroked engine for more HP and a speed limiter on the GT? A little counter intuitive. Why add HP only to slow it down.

I never thought the 1200's were slow.. I guess BMW has to keep up with the competitors.

Anything new on the next generation LT?

 

I wonder if they paid anymore attention to that final drive design?

 

I wonder if they paid anymore attention to that final drive design?

Nobody is forcing them to make a change to the FD design, Why should they,
It would cut down on repair sales.

John

 

Is there some sort of problem with the Final Drive on BMW scoots? :histerica


When I was a kid I had a 60 Dodge Seneca with an in-line six. It was my first car and I can remember my dad test driving it. Seemed to have okay acceleration for a Sherman Tank with a hamster for a motor, but when I got my license and started driving it I couldn't get above 70 mph, which was the speed limit back then and almost got me killed. Took shop class and my teacher opened the hood and showed me the problem. My dad had slapped a govener on it. After some mods it was running like it should again, or maybe even a little better, and my dad was never aware.

With all that said, what the hell is a "Speed Limiter" and why is it on a GT? I am just wondering if my dad went to work for BMW and I didn't know it.

 

With all that said, what the hell is a "Speed Limiter" and why is it on a GT?

Growing up, I drove my Mom's Buick Park Avenue a lot. That car had a little needle that you could set inside of the speedo that would sound an alarm when you reached that speed. I really liked that feature as it kept me aware of when I was reaching "the ticket zone". I'm hoping that this "Speed Limiter" is the modern version of that feature. It might be kinda cool to be able to manually set a speed limit so that you don't have to watch your speed every two seconds.

If it is a true speed limiter ... I don't know WHAT they are thinking!

 

If it is a true speed limiter ... I don't know WHAT they are thinking!

With what the new prices are going to be due to the weak dollar, BMW needs to make sure that you can make the payments and not have to spend all of your money on performance awards and higher insurance costs.

Just my 4 cents.

 

Anything new on the next generation LT?

Same question - any rumors, spy shots, hallucinations, etc. about a new LT?!

 

I see they have changed the pots for the brake and clutch fluids and also the turn signal is now the traditional way and not the BMW way.

Personally, with the economy in Europe and the US the way they are, I can´t see BMW introducing any new expensive bikes for quite a while yet.

I hope I am wrong.

 

Growing up, I drove my Mom's Buick Park Avenue a lot. That car had a little needle that you could set inside of the speedo that would sound an alarm when you reached that speed. I really liked that feature as it kept me aware of when I was reaching "the ticket zone". I'm hoping that this "Speed Limiter" is the modern version of that feature. It might be kinda cool to be able to manually set a speed limit so that you don't have to watch your speed every two seconds.

If it is a true speed limiter ... I don't know WHAT they are thinking!

Our '69 Buick LeSabre had the same thing. That's funny -- I haven't thought of that gadget in many years. It was strictly an audible speed warning, not a cruise control. So with the GT, would it be "on" as soon as the bike is put in gear? :histerica

If the GT does have a speed limiter I predict a future Hall of Wisdom contribution from some techno-capable folks.

 

I wonder if they paid anymore attention to that final drive design?

:histerica :histerica :histerica Don't count on it. :histerica :histerica :histerica

I'm glad to say that my GT survived the LOE/1000 Rally this weekend. Some friends of mine weren't so lucky. Their '07 GT came back on a flatbed with the cam chain making a huge racket. They were on track with a top-three score, too. And this after they were forced to drop out of another rally last month with a Final Drive failure. They are not pleased, and I think they have drunk their last Kool-Aid.

 

:histerica :histerica :histerica Don't count on it. :histerica :histerica :histerica

I'm glad to say that my GT survived the LOE/1000 Rally this weekend. Some friends of mine weren't so lucky. Their '07 GT came back on a flatbed with the cam chain making a huge racket. They were on track with a top-three score, too. And this after they were forced to drop out of another rally last month with a Final Drive failure. They are not pleased, and I think they have drunk their last Kool-Aid.

Congrats on your high finish Ken!

Sorry about your friends problems.

I keep telling myself this but next year I'm really going to put the LOE on my damn schedule...

 

With all that said, what the hell is a "Speed Limiter" and why is it on a GT?

Perhaps the same limiter that has been on the Hayabusa since 2000 and installed on many other big bore sportbikes since. It kicks in @ 186 mph help keep things sane. As if 186 on the street could be considered sane. :histerica

 

Frankly, I don't care for the "vent" on the side of the fairing for the new K1300GT. Butt-ugly and just ruins the lines of the bike. But, maybe it'll grow on me?

I'm VERY satisfied with my 1200.

 

Frankly, I don't care for the "vent" on the side of the fairing for the new K1300GT. Butt-ugly and just ruins the lines of the bike. But, maybe it'll grow on me?

I'm VERY satisfied with my 1200.

Speculation on my part, but I'm guessing the designers had to give K1300GT owners some way to have their new models stand out - visually - from the previous GT.

 

As these pictures show, the K1300 is a radical change from the K1200. The final drive is on the wrong side for one thing.

 

As these pictures show, the K1300 is a radical change from the K1200. The final drive is on the wrong side for one thing.

Is that so? The final drive on my '07 K1200GT was on the LEFT side (same as the pics) the last time I looked. :histerica

 

Perhaps the same limiter that has been on the Hayabusa since 2000 and installed on many other big bore sportbikes since. It kicks in @ 186 mph help keep things sane. As if 186 on the street could be considered sane. :histerica

If I'm not mistaken, Japan has a "top speed limit" of 300 kph (186 MPH) on all the sportbikes by law. The speed limiter is easily defeated if so desired.

Why anyone feels the need to go over 186MPH without being on a track is beyond me.....

 

What's an electric fairing?

 

What's an electric fairing?

Just another term for an electric windscreen - same stuff as yours.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Japan has a "top speed limit" of 300 kph (186 MPH) on all the sportbikes by law. The speed limiter is easily defeated if so desired.

Why anyone feels the need to go over 186MPH without being on a track is beyond me.....

BMW electronically limits the speed on their automobiles depending on the tires. The top speed of the M series is limited to 155 mph - the X3 is limited at either 130 or 142 depending on the tires. The 3-series sedans are limited to 130 or 150 depending on the tires. I think you will see the speed limiter on the bikes in the 130-160mph region.

 

Hmmm - nothing there I'd walk accross the street to look at, let alone pay $0.05 for...

 

BMW electronically limits the speed on their automobiles depending on the tires. The top speed of the M series is limited to 155 mph...

I have generally thought all this speed limiting stuff was silly and a moot point for U.S. driving, i.e., who on earth would actually get going that fast on U.S. streets/highways anyway?

That was until I got an M5 last year. I seldom get a chance to stomp on it, but when I do (e.g., passing someone on a two lane highway), I suddenly find myself at 120 or 130 before I know what's happened. If I had the limiter removed (which tuners can apparently do quite easily) and kept my foot on the gas, I've no doubt I could be at 200 a few seconds later (top speed when not limited is 205mph). That has given me a new perspective on this issue.

With some of these new bikes (which are even quicker than the M5!), if you put a kid on them who is TRYING to see how fast he can go, he'll get it up to max speed in "no time!" And since he won't be doing it on a track, but on public roads, where those speeds are insanely dangerous, you're just asking for trouble (and hurting/killing other people, not just himself). Hence, I actually think a speed limiter of some sort is perfectly reasonable. Relatively few people are going to pay to have it removed, so it will keep lots of speed freaks from endangering the rest of us.

 

Growing up, I drove my Mom's Buick Park Avenue a lot. That car had a little needle that you could set inside of the speedo that would sound an alarm when you reached that speed. I really liked that feature as it kept me aware of when I was reaching "the ticket zone". I'm hoping that this "Speed Limiter" is the modern version of that feature. It might be kinda cool to be able to manually set a speed limit so that you don't have to watch your speed every two seconds.

If it is a true speed limiter ... I don't know WHAT they are thinking!

Yep. My '61 LeSabre had that too. Along with a very trick mirror image speedo that you read in a mirror on the dash that was adjustable for angle. Loved that old girl...

 

Quote from an Australian BMW news release

"A new shaft drive system is claimed to improve durability and in conjunction with a newly optimised Duolever front suspension offer a much smoother ride than ever before. "

Site - http://www.mcnews.com.au/2009_Bikes/BMW/K1300GT/Intro_1.htm

Click late breaking news - Lots of pictures as well.

Steve
Olympia

I wonder if they paid anymore attention to that final drive design?

 

Speculation on my part, but I'm guessing the designers had to give K1300GT owners some way to have their new models stand out - visually - from the previous GT.

Agreed, the same as they did with the '05 LTs. Apparently, there are a few snobbish BMW owners out there that care about such things. Who knew? :rotf: