Berlin Spandau factory . Yes , I know that was in 2019 , but things take a while to come to NZ . The lupine blue fuel tank with twin white pin stripes and a subtle black fade really is a work of art . Chrome details are plentiful , in particular the / 5 anniversary tank badge , but the mirrors and full exhaust system are the most obvious . The dash and headlight are traditional looking , but beautifully made and only enhance the retro theme . The dash face is easy to read with almost all the basic information , it just lacks a fuel gauge . Polished spoked wheels , chrome spokes , cool alloy footpegs and a slick looking fork brace are other elegant and functional touches .
ENGINE The 1170cc flat twin ‘ Boxer ’ engine will always be authentically BMW . BMW produced its first flat-twin motorcycle in 1921 and have stuck with the format steadfastly for 100 years . Even though this engine is thoroughly up to date in design , it ’ s still air-cooled ( with an oil cooler ), but with a four-valve head , DOHC and a six-speed gearbox . Another nod to modern life is the heap of electronics in the background . There ’ s ASC - automatic stability control or TC as we call it - that takes care of unwanted traction loss . It can be switched off with the ABS button , but the ABS will remain on ... confusingly .
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