1990 Bmw K1, GREAT CONDITION - The BMW K1 is a motorcycle that was designed by BMW as a high-speed sports-tourer, designed to change the motorcycle media and buying public's mind of BMW as only a manufacturer of flat-twin tourers. Based on the previously introduced BMW K100, the K1 was designed for comfortable high-speed autobahn cruising at speeds of up to 150 mph (240 km/h). The radical aerodynamic design was a seven piece glass fibre structure, creating a class leading drag coefficient of 0.38. It was mated with a stiffened chassis, that included a single sided Paralever swingarm, designed to stop shaft drive induced pitch and dive under heavy acceleration and braking,[1] the first use of this on a K-series bike. Although expensive and either loved or hated, and with some of its early technology either working in use or not?the enclosure created excess heat buildup, while the long wheelbase created a 22 ft (6.7 m) turning circle?the short production run created the result that the motorcycling press and public never had the same view of BMW motorcycles again The K100 was still a cruiser/tourer design in bias, and BMW marketing wanted a sports oriented tourer to appeal to a more youth oriented market perception, and compete with the Japanese factories. BMW was committed to the manufacturer imposed 100 bhp (75 kW) limit for motorcycles sold in Germany, so decided that to address both issues it needed to turn to aerodynamics to solve the problem.[1] In 1984 at the Cologne Motor Show, BMW design created the aerodynamic "Racer" mockup, based on a standard K100 chassis.[2] At the 1988 Cologne show, the production K1 used the same large and all enveloping two-piece front mud guard mated closely to a seven-piece main fairing, that included two small panniers (lids made by Zanussi ZCP (Zanussi Componenti Plastica)). The resultant drag coefficient was 0.34 with the rider prone, the lowest of any production motorcycle in 1988.[1] Adding to the "different to traditional BMW" nature of the bike, the colour scheme of bright red or blue with yellow graphics and highlighting was bold, and hence seen as so different to normal BMW, bizarre.[1]
