Dirty Boxer Gets Serious

DIRTY BOXER GETS SERIOUS

Is BMW feeling the heat from KTM and the Austrian firm's dirt-oriented 950 Adventure? If this R1200GS-HP-a lightweight, heavily dirt-oriented CS with an inverted fork and no Telelever-is any indication, the answer is a resounding Yes! The HP—said to stand for

High Performance—has been tested in off-road rallies stateside including the Baja 1000 and

is likely to hit the road in 2006. It should look much like the photo-illustration shown here, with the engine producing on the order of 100 horsepower and a dry weight that’s likely to be around 400 pounds, some 100 lbs. under the current R1200GS adventure-tourer. Plastic bodywork retains GS family resemblance, but the beaklike front fender will turn with the wheel as on a proper dirt machine.

Dakar Rally, anyone?

Mark Hoyer