Just In: Details of Bmw's Four
JUST IN: DETAILS OF BMW'S FOUR
The closer the 1000cc, four-cylinder BMW gets to production, the more the test models are seen in Europe. And the more the test bikes are spotted, the more details we find out.
Based on numerous sightings in West Germany, Austria and Italy, Beemer’s first Four shapes up this way.
The engine is inline, with all four cylinders placed horizontally across the frame bottom; cylinder head to the left, crankshaft to the right. The crank drives through primary gears to the transmission, located below the engine.
It's water-cooled, dohc with two valves per cylinder, electronically fuel injected (courtesy Bosch), with a 4-into-l exhaust system.
Final drive is, no surprise, shaft, which spins in a die-cast, singled-sided aluminum swing arm. Rear suspension is monoshock. Disc brakes all around: two in front, one in back. The Four’ll run an 18-in. front tire and a 17-in. rear tire.
Weight is estimated at about 440 lb., and conjecture is that the BMW Four will have power somewhere in the range of 85 95 hp.
Those given to speculation believe the Four will be released in three versions: no-frills standard, a fully faired RS, and a touring-oriented RT.
BMW has announced an introduction in Lurope this fall. U.S. sales should begin a year later.
