Daily news about motorcycleshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/en-usTue, 21 May 2013 18:00:00 +0200 Fri, 3 May 2013 14:00:00 +0200

#BMW #BMWMotorrad #Books - When someone reaches the ripe age of 90 years, family & friends gather to celebrate. Although humans are reaching older and older ages, 90 is still a real milestone. But for companies, it can be that they are still very young.

This is the case for BMW Motorcycles. They have reached 90, and are still very young. And to celebrate, they are publishing a book on their history, all 90 years worth...........

...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/books-bmw-motorcycles-and-90-years-of-history.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/books-bmw-motorcycles-and-90-years-of-history.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/books-bmw-motorcycles-and-90-years-of-history.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/books-bmw-motorcycles-and-90-years-of-history.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/books-bmw-motorcycles-and-90-years-of-history.htm?opendocument&comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0200

#TVS #BMW #Venture #India - A lot has been written recently in the press about the TVS Motor / BMW Motorrad deal. The rumors had been circulating since last year that the two motorcycle manufacturers were looking at some kind of a joint-venture, possibly like the one between KTM and Bajaj. But is it the same deal, and will both parties benefit from it?

TVS used to be India's third largest motorcycle manufacturer, today it's been pushed into the fourth spot. Bajaj and Hero MotoCorp both dominate the local and export scene. TVS had a link-up with Suzuki, but since both sell independently, it hasn't done much to increase TVS market share...........

...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-who-wins-in-the-tvs-bmw-deal.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-who-wins-in-the-tvs-bmw-deal.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-who-wins-in-the-tvs-bmw-deal.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/india-who-wins-in-the-tvs-bmw-deal.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-who-wins-in-the-tvs-bmw-deal.htm?opendocument&comments Mon, 8 Apr 2013 09:30:00 +0200

#India #BMW #TVS - TVS Motor, India's fourth motorcycle manufacturer, is looking at an expected tie-up with German BMW. KTM are heavy into Bajaj (actually, it's Bajaj who is into KTM), and the partnership/relationship is working fine, so it makes sense for BMW to look for a partner in India.

The alliance would call for a technology collaboration, manufacturing of motorcycles and distribution.

TVS have a range of small displacement motorcycles, typically in the 160 to 180 cc range and are looking to produce more premium motorcycles, while BMW needs better access to the blossoming Indian market...........

...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-tvs-motor-and-bmw-to-make-joint-venture.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-tvs-motor-and-bmw-to-make-joint-venture.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-tvs-motor-and-bmw-to-make-joint-venture.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/india-tvs-motor-and-bmw-to-make-joint-venture.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/india-tvs-motor-and-bmw-to-make-joint-venture.htm?opendocument&comments Thu, 4 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0200

#BMW #Snow #Review #R1200GS - Somehow the guys at the Czech motorcycle site Motodenik.cz managed to talk BMW into loaning them their brand-new R1200GS for a test ride. Little did BMW know that they would be taking the motorcycle out on an extreme test ride.

What these nutty Czechs did was ride the Beemer up a mountain in thick ice and snowy conditions. The video below is that of the test drive. The first minute is pretty normal, the roads have been cleared, but then the road is iced up. This not only doesn't deter them, they are still riding with throttle open. At one stage they get to a slope that is too high and need to be pushed since the rear wheel is spinning like crazy. But they manage to get to the top without falling, and at high speed. Amazing...........

...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/video-watch-these-nutty-czechs-do-an-original-bmw-r1200gs-test-ride.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/video-watch-these-nutty-czechs-do-an-original-bmw-r1200gs-test-ride.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/video-watch-these-nutty-czechs-do-an-original-bmw-r1200gs-test-ride.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/video-watch-these-nutty-czechs-do-an-original-bmw-r1200gs-test-ride.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/video-watch-these-nutty-czechs-do-an-original-bmw-r1200gs-test-ride.htm?opendocument&comments Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0200

Usually when I go out to make photos for an article, it involves packing up my motorcycle with all my cameras, computers, sleeping gear, toothbrush, etc, or it might involve planes, trains and automobiles. But whatever the mode of transportation, it'll mean it's going to take a while before I get there, and even longer before I get back. That's because I live in the real countryside, in a small (186 inhabitants) village in Upper Normandy. My next door neighbors are cows, and I mean the animals.

Once or twice I've had something as a source for an article close-by, usually 15 to 30 minutes ride from my house, and that made me happy, but last weekend on Sunday, in the closest town to me, Cany-Barville, was a exhibition called "100 Years of Motorcycles". Cany-Barville is almost at walking distance from my house, a little over 5 kilometers, so the expo got marked in big black marker in my agenda (something my iPad did not like), since it was going to be one I was not going to miss.

The only thing that troubled me, and I never got a response, was why "100 years". Motorcycles have existed for more than 100 years. Anyway, it didn't spoil my fun. So off I went to the exhibition. Now do remember, we're in the middle of "shit-kicker" country, so whatever it was going to be was small but done with gusto. ..........

...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-100-year-celebration-of-the-motorcycle.htm?opendocument&comments Wed, 3 Oct 2012 14:00:00 +0200

BMW are on their home turf, and had therefore the most anticipated press conference of the Intermot motorcycle exhibition. We all knew BMW had a lot of new stuff, so there was a lot of interest in their press conference.

I managed to arrive early and score a good place to enjoy the show, since that was what it was. The main part of the BMW dog & pony show was the launch of the water-cooled R1200GS motorcycle. To do that, they put up a real show, with live music and "stunts" performed on the new motorcycle.

Here's a video of what I saw. I apologize in advance for a) some of the sound, since the music at times was sooo loud it deformed the sound on the video and b) a bit shaky at times, since I did not know where things were going to happen .. you'll see in the video.

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/intermot2012-bmw-press-conference.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/intermot2012-bmw-press-conference.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/intermot2012-bmw-press-conference.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/intermot2012-bmw-press-conference.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/intermot2012-bmw-press-conference.htm?opendocument&comments Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:00:00 +0200

Several years ago, BMW lost the contract of supplying the Gendarmes, National Police and Customs officers with Bavarian-made (Berlin actually) motorcycles. Instead, the authorities decided to buy their officers Yamaha FJR1300 motorcycles.

Now, BMW France announced that they will be supplying the Law Enforcement Officers from the different units with BMW R1200RT "Special Administration", or better "Police" version. BMW's contract is for 3 years.

So now the big question is why are they going back to BMW. Did the Yamaha not fulfill it's role, was it too expensive (doubtful), or what was the reason BMW got the contract back???

No numbers were announced, only that the contract is for 3 years.

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-police-allowed-to-get-bmw-motorcycles-again-finally.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-police-allowed-to-get-bmw-motorcycles-again-finally.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-police-allowed-to-get-bmw-motorcycles-again-finally.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/france-police-allowed-to-get-bmw-motorcycles-again-finally.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-police-allowed-to-get-bmw-motorcycles-again-finally.htm?opendocument&comments Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0200

BMW Motorcycles has associated itself with the upmarket department store Bloomingdale. Throughout USA, in all Bloomingdale's stores, a BMW R1200R Classic will be featured in the store window, and in the store's fall catalog, you'll get to see the naked motorcycle in all its glory. But since they're featured in the men's department, you'll get to see guys on it... nice for the women for a change.

The men's catalog is featuring a new "On the Road" shop, targeted for guys on-the-go. It'll be the "motorcycle trend", with items like leather fingerless gloves, hoods, and other leather products.....

....Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-motorcycles-and-bloomingdale---shop-for-your-bike.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-motorcycles-and-bloomingdale---shop-for-your-bike.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-motorcycles-and-bloomingdale---shop-for-your-bike.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/bmw-motorcycles-and-bloomingdale---shop-for-your-bike.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-motorcycles-and-bloomingdale---shop-for-your-bike.htm?opendocument&comments Mon, 9 Jul 2012 14:00:00 +0200

India's 4th motorcycle manufacturer, TVS Motors, is looking into a tie-up with the German giant BMW.

After KTM and Bajaj, is it now the turn of BMW and TVS?

Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......

]]>http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-motorcycles-to-marry-tvs.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-motorcycles-to-marry-tvs.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-motorcycles-to-marry-tvs.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dxcomments/bmw-motorcycles-to-marry-tvs.htm http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-motorcycles-to-marry-tvs.htm?opendocument&comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0200

For those of you who aren't on Facebook, a "Timeline" is Facebook's attempt to show your history, starting at a date in the past whenever you decide. You can show the day you came into this crazy world, the day you went to jail, or when your company got created. Posting photos and articles, matched with a date, will create a timeline on your Facebook page.

BMW have done exactly that, and it looks great. You can go back to 1932 and move yourself upwards through their timeline, looking at BMW's colorful history. Articles, photos and video illustrate their history.

Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......

]]>http://192.168.1.4/Testblogs.nsfdx/bmw-new-facebook-timeline.htmBMWMike Wernerhttp://192.168.1.4/Testblogs.nsfdx/bmw-new-facebook-timeline.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://192.168.1.4/Testblogs.nsfdx/bmw-new-facebook-timeline.htm http://192.168.1.4/Testblogs.nsfdxcomments/bmw-new-facebook-timeline.htm http://192.168.1.4/Testblogs.nsfdx/bmw-new-facebook-timeline.htm?opendocument&comments