Better late than never? After several years of studiously avoiding re-entering the cruiser market, BMW has finally picked up the glove and is going after Harley-Davidson and Indian in their core Big Twin segment with the R18 flat-twin now appearing in dealerships around the world. Game on! And here’s why.
In 2019, BMW Motorrad sold 175,162 motorcycles worldwide, a 5.8 per cent increase on the previous year, to mark a ninth successive record year for Europe’s number one in terms of €€€ volume (KTM sells more units annually, but each predominantly at much lower cost). However, the R1250GS/Adventure models accounted for around a third of all motorcycles BMW sold in 2019, with 59,000 units leaving dealerships around the world.
Okay, the German company’s motorcycle division isn’t exactly a one-trick pony — but it is heavily dependent on the GS for its profits, and in 2019 its USA and Canada dealers managed just 15,116 combined sales, while in the USA alone just 13,000 bikes were sold in 2018, a mere 8 per cent of BMW’s total production in the Western world’s number one market. That was the only disappointing note for the company’s performance, the reason for which BMW Motorrad CEO Dr. Markus Schramm was only too well aware of.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 2020 من Motoring World.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 2020 من Motoring World.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
DESTINI REWRITTEN
With a pretty major design overhaul, has the Hero Destini 125 found a new footing altogether?
OLDIE'S GOLD?
History makes yet another comeback with the BSA Gold Star 650. Is it what you were hoping for?
THE HIGH OF THE TIGER
Triumph's big cat is in its most ferocious avatar yet
LAUGHTER HOURS
This! This is the greatest single of all time!
BULL'S EYE?
Audi's new flagship SUV — or a budget Lamborghini Urus?
DARK HORSE
The Alcazar is now available in a new avatar, and the multi-faceted SUV deserves more attention than it got in the past
CURVV-BALL!
Tata's new mass-market SUV coupe may have more than a few tricks up its sleeve
GIVEN A RAISE
The EQS SUV looks like an EQS sedan on stilts but it offers a lot more than that
FOR MUCK'S SAKE!
No scooters, commuters or old bikes... this year's Pune Off-road Expedition was serious work
ALL THE WAY UP!
Exploring the vast landscape of Ladakh with Renault India's lineup - why would we say no?!