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Here are the details on this from BMW...
BMW Motorrad Concept 6
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Fascination, Supremacy and Riding Comfort with Six
Cylinders.
Munich. Six-cylinder power units have always had particular
appeal, offering not only supreme smoothness and refinement, but
also superior power and performance as well as a truly emotional
driving - or, in this case, riding - experience. A further point is
that the typical sound of a straight-six almost like a turbine is
absolutely incomparable, with straight-six power units at BMW
having stood for fascinating engine technology in BMW cars for more
than seven decades.
Looking at motorcycles, inventive engineers have also tried time
and again to offer the enthusiast the thrilling concept of a
straight-six power unit. But while a few engines in straight-six
configuration have indeed been fitted in motorcycles both
lengthwise and crosswise, the straight-six has never really made a
genuine breakthrough neither on production models nor in motorcycle
racing.
Depending on the way the engine was fitted, six cylinders
in-line inevitably made the engine either very long or very wide,
creating disadvantages in terms of the running gear, weight
distribution, and the centre of gravity. A further drawback was
much higher engine weight usually setting off the benefits of extra
engine power.
The BMW Concept 6 now proves that a straight-six, benefiting
from the most advanced construction and production technology, may
offer not only unique prestige, but also a supreme standard of
riding dynamics.
The new BMW straight-six will further expand the K-Series in the
foreseeable future. The first model to be introduced will be an
innovative and luxurious BMW touring machine. Reflecting the
tradition of the BMW K-Series, this will of course be a genuine
top-of-the-line product.
Highly compact and dynamic six-cylinder.
The starting point for this dynamic introduction of the
straight-six in the new Concept 6 from BMW Motorrad is of course
the extremely compact form and configuration of the engine. The
power unit is approximately 100 mm or 4" slimmer than all former
straight-six production engines and only a bit wider than a
large-capacity straight-four with conventional technology.
The reduction in width is achieved in particular by the slightly
over-square bore: stroke ratio with relatively long stroke and very
small gaps between cylinders. To achieve this very compact
configuration with minimum width, the electrical ancillaries and
their drive components are positioned behind the crankshaft in the
open space above the transmission.
High-tech lightweight construction in all areas serves to make
the power unit relatively light from the outset, important
components in this context being the two hollow-drilled camshafts
and the very light connecting rods. The perfect compensation of
masses ensured by the configuration and layout of the engine avoids
the need for a balance shaft and its drive elements on the new
straight-six, which again means lower weight and enhanced running
smoothness.
In its layout, the straight-six featured in the Concept 6
follows the well-known straight-four in the K 1300 model series,
again coming with cylinders tilted to the front by 55o. This
ensures not only a low centre of gravity, but also very good weight
balance as an element essential above all under sporting conditions
for precise feeling and clear feedback from the front. A further
advantage is that the tilted engine provides extra space for the
aerodynamically positioned intake manifold directly above the
engine and allows ideal configuration of the frame profiles
following the flow of power.
The straight-six featured in the BMW Motorrad Concept 6 comes
with dry sump lubrication. Apart from greater reliability even
under extreme conditions, dry sump technology serves to keep the
crankcase particularly low and flat, with the engine being fitted
lower down and masses concentrated around the centre of gravity.
Doing without an oil sump, the engine may be positioned far lower
than on a conventional layout.
The oil reservoir is provided by an oil tank integrated at the
rear of the engine block. This avoids the need for a separate tank,
again helping to make the entire power unit more compact and reduce
weight to a minimum.
Maximum supremacy in running refinement and
performance.
Designed and laid out as a straight-six, the engine also opens up
new dimensions in motorcycling in terms of supremacy, power
reserves, performance and running refinement.
Output of the new six-cylinder will be in approximately the same
range as on BMW's 1.3-litre straight-four power units. Torque, on
the other hand, will be right at the top of the range, even in
comparison with the largest motorcycle engines, such superior power
and muscle coming inter alia from engine capacity of no less than
1.6 litres.
The engine's power and performance characteristics are equally
impressive, offering 130 Nm or 96 lb-ft of torque from just 2,000
rpm and at the same time revving up almost to 9,000 rpm - a dynamic
potential quite unparalleled in the tourer segment. This alone
qualifies the engine of the Concept 6 as the ideal power unit for a
wide range of different motorcycles.
Environmental compatibility and all-round economy
re-defined.
The Concept 6 shows the absolute supremacy of its six-cylinder
drive system also in ecological and economic terms. Fuel
consumption of this six-cylinder naturally equipped with a fully
controlled catalytic converter is lower than on a comparable
four-cylinder under normal touring conditions. The use of E-gas
technology (ride-by-wire) then offers further potentials for
enhanced fuel economy and riding dynamics throughout a wide range
of different riding modes and conditions. And last but not least in
this context, the straight-six power unit featured in the Concept 6
offers long inspection intervals through the use of cup tappets
controlling the engine valves.
Dynamic and powerful design in Café Racer
style.
Supremacy and dynamism are also borne out clearly by the thrilling
design of the Concept 6 and, as usual, this project from BMW
Motorrad is more than "just" the attempt to develop a motorcycle of
a kind never seen before.
Working on Concept 6, the designers at BMW Motorrad have
therefore focused yet again on technical function and quality and,
in particular, the emotional element bringing together man and
machine. Their rule, quite simply, is that a motorcycle must not
only follow the laws of functionality, but also arouse emotion in
all its facets. In a nutshell, therefore, the machine must be
simply thrilling.
Precisely this is why the design of the Concept 6 focuses in
particular on the powerful straight-six engine as the heart of the
machine. Conceived as a mixture of classic and modern styling
elements in motorcycle construction, the Concept 6, with its long
front end and short rear, takes up the design language of the
legendary Café Racer. Powerful and muscular, the body
elements extend around the power unit finished in a special
platinum colour, presenting the engine almost adoringly from every
angle.
Smooth and soft lines ensure fully organic integration of the
power unit within the machine, while at the same time they create a
powerful, exciting and dynamic contrast to the sharply contoured
front and rear ends.
The so-called Split Face, a well-known design element of the
latest models from BMW Motorrad, extends smoothly from the front of
the fairing all along the top of the fuel tank made of
carbon-fibre, again confirming the high technological standard of
the Concept 6 and forming an exciting contrast to the outer shell
in aluminium with its white layers. The division into three
sections created by the Split Face is further accentuated at the
front by the LED headlight integrated longitudinally in the machine
in its rod shape and by the slender LED rear light extending far up
into the seat hump.
The powerful and supreme character of the Concept 6 is also
underscored by the six-chamber exhaust system complete with
sidepipes and the strong presence of the intake ducts again
finished in platinum look.
Aerodynamic components such as the twin-tipped engine spoiler
and the air guide elements derived from the design of the new S
1000 RR Supersports, on the other hand, bridge the gap between
functional and clearly visible technology, on the one hand, and the
soft and smooth design of other body elements, on the other.
Innovative suspension technology and
equipment
The suspension of the BMW Motorrad Concept 6 is built around a
light-alloy bridge frame as well as Duolever and lightweight
Paralever arms holding and guiding the wheels front and rear.
Seventeen-inch HP forged wheels as well as the extra-large brake
system with its six-piston fixed callipers emphasise the sporting
look of the new machine and its high level of technology.
The outstanding supremacy of the Concept 6 and its drivetrain is
also reflected by details such as the instrument panel
intentionally kept in minimalist design but nevertheless completely
equipped with all the instruments and gauges required. While a
digital display performs its usual function of clearly presenting
road speed, there is intentionally no rev counter on account of the
supreme flow of power at all speeds. So instead of a conventional
rev counter, a LED display shows the rider at all times how much
torque is readily available whenever required.
Last edited by Fraser; 11-10-2009 at 10:21 PM.
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