Dirck Edge
BMW Lac Rose Concept – A Sign of Things to Come?
A very strong rumor suggests BMW intends to introduce at least three new models as part of the R nineT family. BMW introduced the Scrambler member of this family at the Wheels & Waves Festival, and this year the Lac Rose concept made its debut at the same event.
Lac Rose is the French name of the rose-colored Retba Salt Lake where the original route of the Paris-Dakar Rally ended. In the mid 80s, BMW factory bikes won the race 3 years in a row, with the great Gaston Rahier taking the third win in 1985.
The Lac Rose concept just might be similar to a future BMW R nineT-based production bike, along with a stripped down version of the BMW R nineT and a sport bike version, according to rumor. Apparently, sales of the R nineT have been good enough for BMW to consider the expansion of production models. Shared parts could make development of each model relatively inexpensive.
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Geoffrey Hill says:
Nice. I like it…
Phillip Peterson says:
A great interpretation. I'm impressed. I've been waiting far too long for a lighter version of the GS, something not quite so overdone and a bit simpler. Toured the country on a 1988 R100GS, another fantastic motorcycle, beginning from Portland, Or. in the late '80s early 90's. I met Bruce Springsteen as he was riding with others in Monument valley coming from the Phoenix area the day before. I had crossed the Rocky's from NYC, where I was living at the time. The Lac Rose sets my meager materialism alight.
DrE says:
Don't concern yourself with weight,it's the suspension that is really bad…I have a RnineT and if they do not do a substantial upgrade on both ends- forget it..death machines.
motorhead says:
Today I have only four-wheel cages. This bike, as any bike ever made, is better than my four wheeled cages. Love it.
Mr.Mike says:
When's the baby due?
I wonder how big that larger tank is. The paint on the tank needs some tweaking. Add some saddlebags and you've got a do-everything-a-GS does without the heaps of plastic or ridiculous stature.
Another ugly overpriced motorcycle, the uglier the more expensive these are being made…
Starmag says:
Not bad. This is better imo:
http://www.unitgarage.com/kit_r120_gs
You know I have been riding for a LONG time, in the old days one bike did everything, there wasn't much choice. I currently ride a 1000lb touring rig by the time its packed and my butt on it. I ride all over the place and many times back roads that are gravel, not every road is paved, yet unless the gravel is like quicksand I have yet to get stuck anywhere with it. Then again I wouldn't think of taking it on a desert trip either but I think motorcycle companies are just trying any new gimmick that will sell them a bike.
stinkywheels says:
I rode my old boxer on some horrible roads easy trails. I always said it was a road bike, that means dirt roads too. When they came out with the GS/PD, I wanted one, still do, kinda. I've lived in Wyoming for many years, there's over 8000 miles of dirt roads to explore.
guu says:
Of course. If you go on a weekend trip on a superbike you're not going to carry the bike the last 150 feet of trail to the nice place on the lake where you're going to put your tent up? You ride it on the trail. It still don't make the superbike a good trail bike, or even a decent one.
Fivespeed302 says:
Cool bike, horrible paint. Just awful.
It looks like people are voting for air cooling in their own way and BMW still makes one. They might make some other versions, just like they've done before. If you ever wanted one, they're drying up, you'll have to roll your own. Now, maybe not.
Hot Dog says:
A pig in a dress is still a pig.
pacer says:
Yup. If someone is looking for a bike to do more than look the part then they will buy the Africa Twin. If you want a bike for the look than maybe, but the "hey look, I'm riding in the sand" is not impressive. As I said, I have no problem with people buying the bike for the look/style. Motorcycles are about emotion and getting your spirit worked up. My problem is when they try to show how good the pig looks on the beach.
paquo says:
apples to apples though . The AT might stack up better with the hp2. In that case which one's the pig.
HP2 is a 10 year-old bike, BMW doesn't sell it.
waitman says:
I think a judgement of capabilities based on a Marketing Department photo may be an unfair assessment. I'll wait till the proposed bike is produced, bought, used and reviewed before I snap to judgement. I used to work in marketing…trust me, my job was to clothe the pig in the dress but I think BMW's off-road history might make the "pig" comparison a bit unfair. Just my unsolicited opinion.
Provologna says:
Cycle magazine's full road test described the R80ST as the all-time best handling BMW. They raved about the ST.
Who knew, when the R80GS arrived, it was the first of such a popular series for the marquee?
Tom R says:
Weight: instead of trying to bench press it, just ride it.
Fred_M says:
And when it gets stuck up to its axles in mud, just abandon it, hike out, and buy another one.
tuskerdu says:
and pick it up when it falls over.
Not sure weight should be too much of an issue yet. I haven't seen any official numbers mentioned for this bike other than my earlier comparison to the R nine T weight. I also noticed that the lightest current BMW Adventure bike is: Unladen weight, road ready, fully fueled 430 lbs (195 kg) and that's a 650. I know this is a "scrambler" (whatever that means) and not an "adventure bike" (whatever that means) but if it comes in around 450 lbs. wet, I'd be okay with it.
Skybullet says:
Good idea to offer variations of the R nine T. Ducati proved a lighter, simpler and less expensive bike will pull in new customers (who likely will remain brand loyal) and not steal sales from the more expensive models.
I almost bought a pristine, low mileage R80GS ten years ago, but I could not bring myself to pay $4,500 for it. Yeah, I have regretted that to this day. The alternative was the R80ST that fit my needs even better (try to find one).
I also have a F800GS that is WAY too heavy but performs well otherwise. I will replace this bike with something like a R nine T variant if it is light enough.
Or you could buy a real R80GS for 4 or 5 thousand, skipping decades of depreciation, and not look like a poseur.
Drat…Pragmatism once again rearing its ugly head!
Thanks for the link waitman. That hommage looks sweet..
Sure thing Frank. Fingers crossed they make them as pictured!
roi says:
It's called marketing. BMW believes there's a demand for overweight street-based scramblers that will never go off road. I think they're right.
Expect sales of flannel shirts and beard oil to surge.
Grover says:
The proportions are completely off. Like another poster said, it looks like a BMW Grom. A $12,000 Grom.
The_undecider says:
$12000 Groms are not entirely unheard of, so this might be a good value, haha.
PN says:
Good idea! Doesn't look so godawful ponderous as the other overdone adventure bikes. Keep it simple, like the Kawasaki Versys.
redbirds says:
I like the scrambler concept. True, there are far better off road bikes but a scrambler works well for my purposes; the reasonable seat height and ability to tackle moderate off road situations. Weight seems reasonable, about the same as my '73 R75 which could acquit itself quite well on graded dirt roads. The very limited suspension travel of the Yamaha makes it merely a styling exercise.
It has a beak, I want it!
lol that's not a beak, that's a proper raised front fender for riding in the dirt (although the back half of the fender is missing..so technically I guess you could call it a beak). A beak that resembles a fender. Gads, this is getting complicated
azi says:
Someone please stop this scrambler madness! Scramblers AKA the crappy off-road bikes in the 60s/70s that existed because proper dirt bikes hadn't been invented yet.
* flips table *
Butch says:
Also known as " The Warthog".
The first thing I think of when it comes to buying a dirt bike is a boxer twin that weighs over 600 lbs. NOT!!!
R nine T spec according to BMW numbers: Unladen weight, road ready, fully fueled 489 lbs (222 kg)
I know manufacturer specs are not necessarily trustworthy but assuming this is a stripped-down version of the R nine T, it shouldn't weigh 600 lbs.
Martin B says:
That might be the gross vehicle weight, i.e. rider plus bike. This is a figure important to tourers who must load bikes appropriately. Too much weight and the suspension can no longer function as designed, and you risk frame breakages.
Martin B, I'm unsure whether you're responding to Brian or me. My reference to BMW R nine T specification is for "unladen weight". "Permitted total weight" is 948 lbs (430 kg) and "Payload" (with standard equipment) is 459 lbs (208 kg). BMW R nine T Scrambler weight specs are +/- several pounds.
Well, lighter than the new Yamaha Scrambler, so it's got that going for it which, uh, doesn't mean much.
jimmihaffa says:
Where did you come up with that weight figure? I think you've grossly exaggerated.
My '00 R1150GS weighed 589 lbs curb weight, full fuel tank (independent magazine weighed it). IIRC, BMW specified an optimistic 60-65 lbs lighter weight for the first-gen R1200GS oil head w/smaller fuel tank. One rag estimated more likely 40 lbs. 589 lbs – 40 = 549 lbs.
The R Nine T is the old oil head like my 1150 and first-gen 1200 (current R1200GS is liquid cooled and a bit heavier than the oil head). R1200GS oil head 549 lbs – 30 lbs for Roadster trim = approximately 519 lbs curb weight full tank (R Nine T). Subtract another 10-15 lbs for Scrambler trim vs. Roadster = about 505 lbs curb weight full tank (future R1200 Scrambler).
505 lbs curb weight full rank for a bike with this kind of grunt is my idea of fun. I'm not jumping this thing, rather pavement ripping, dirt pack, light gravel, occasional sand, etc. Sure, the Duck is 80 lbs lighter. Torque and power more than compensates w/the 1200. Two up the 1200 squirts away from the rider-only 800 unless you're on dirt.
Interesting, but since it's mainly geared for the street and would be far better with a smaller engine, I'm not seeing the purpose other than "looking cool". Yet another "scrambler" that really isn't fit for real offroad use.
ABQ says:
At first I thought that it was another article about the Grom.
It looks like a GS that is low enough for us to touch our feet on the ground. Nice
MGNorge says:
Yes, no need for a side stand, just rest it to either side. 🙂
Leave it to the Germans…now could someone please pass the message on to Yamaha?
I'll try this again. Apologies to peter h. I know you hate these. Estimated retail about $12K US.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2016/june/official-three-heritage-bmws-for-2017/