The twin-cylinder BMW Boxer, a mainstay of the firm since 1921, is the flat engine that is most well-known. The layout, which has a low center of gravity, a compact engine, and a generally good balance between the moving elements, is taken into account by other manufacturers as well.
Boxer Engine Bikes: Pros And Cons
PROS
- The center of gravity is low.
- Reliability.
- Suitable for bikes with a shaft drive.
- Six cylinders, well balanced.
CONS
- A wide engine may reduce maneuverability and lean angles.
- There could be torque steering.
- When pushed hard, it can feel underpowered in comparison to other engine types.
Boxer Engine Bikes: Design
HONDA
Honda has favored flat-four and flat-six in several Gold Wing iterations. The GL1000 began with a flat four layout and later switched to a flat six for the GL1500 and the current GL1800. With the cylinders all moving in the same horizontal plane and the power strokes of the cylinders overlapping, it makes sense for a huge super tourer.
BMW
Only BMW has continued to use and develop the flat-twin design with the R series, despite Harley Davidson Motorcycles, Indian, Velocette, Brough, Douglas, and other motorcycle manufacturers dabbling with it at various points.
The horizontally opposed cylinders were first intended to be cooled by air. They did, however, also have the added advantages of offering crash protection for riders and a place to warm your feet in cold weather.
The two-cylinder Boxer engine has a good if not perfect, primary balance similar to a 90-degree V-Twin. Still, unlike a V-Twin, it also has regular firing intervals that result in very little vibration.
Liquid Cooling
The air-cooled variant, known as an airhead, was produced from 1923 until 1995 thanks to the durability of the flat-twin boxer engine. And such models are still in demand since they are incredibly reliable and simple to maintain. Many are currently finding new life as contemporary café racers and customs.
Although they still employed air-cooling for the cylinders, BMW converted completely to partial oil cooling only in the mid-1990s, and the first water-cooled heads debuted in 2013.
GS Adventure Bikes
BMW still strongly identifies itself with the flat-twin boxer, while also making the straight-six K series, the inline-four S1000RR superbike, and smaller parallel twins. The dual sport GS series’ success is primarily to blame for this.
The impact of the 2004 London to New York ride by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in the Long Way Round TV series and book must be mentioned here. It made the use of air-cooled BMW flat twins much more widely known and popular on a pair of BMW R1150GS Adventures.
The high-capacity GS not only rose to become the most well-liked bike in the BMW lineup for several years, but it also contributed to a boom in adventure bikes from many manufacturers. However, the majority of competing adventure tourers, such as the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 and KTM 990 Adventure, have chosen a V-twin engine.
Why Do Fewer Bikes Use A Boxer?
There are a few problems with a twin cylinder, but it will provide a lot of torque and is ideal for shaft-driven motorcycles with a linear powerband and smooth power.
The first drawback is clear since the protruding cylinders’ width makes maneuvering through traffic or confined off-road spaces difficult. Although BMW has strived to make the flat twin more durable, and a variety of official and aftermarket accessories exist to help protect the Boxer engine in the event of a crash, it also puts pricey engine parts in danger of damage in a collision.
Since the engine architecture does restrict the lean angle possible on some models, the other width issue typically affects BMWs that are more focused on the road. Despite its drawbacks, the BMW R1100S inspired the development of the BMW Boxer Cup racing series, which included a shorter para lever torque arm that raised the motorcycle’s rear for better handling.
The modern BMW R nineT not only has a 1,170cc flat twin engine, but it also features riders competing on the bike’s Racer variant in the Boxer Cup racer series.
Finally, the torque reaction that can happen when cornering acts as a limiting factor. Older machines’ propensity to lean slightly to one side during rapid acceleration and deceleration is more obvious.
Like Moto Guzzi V-Twins, you eventually get used to the fact that the real effect seems to differ between motorcycle types, riders, and even specific bikes.
A flat-twin can feel underpowered in comparison to other bikes, especially when you’re going quickly out of a corner on a track day. But a flat-twin BMW owner typically isn’t interested in achieving the best possible track performance.
Some Of The Best Boxer Bikes
1. BMW F 850 GS ADVENTURE
As its name implies, the BMW F850 GS Adventure is based on the F850 GS. Additionally, the Adventure suffix is not used for branding. It gains more capabilities that enable it to be used off-road.
The F850 GS Adventure has revised bodywork but maintains looks comparable to the F850 GS. The bike also has wind deflectors, a higher windscreen, new radiator shrouds, a bigger luggage rack, and an engine guard in addition to its broader front “beak.”
Specification
| DISPLACEMENT | 853 cc |
| MAX POWER | 93.87 bhp @8250 rpm |
| MAX TORQUE | 92 Nm @ 6250 rpm |
| TOP SPEED | 200 kmph |
| TRANSMISSION | 6 Speed Manual |
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY | 15L |
| PRICE | 12,94,918/- |
2. BMW S 1000XR
BMW upgraded the S 1000 XR, a sports tourer in the liter-class, to meet BS6 emission standards. The S 1000 XR Pro variation of the most recent edition of the adventure sports tourer is offered in the Indian market. The motorcycle is offered with a Rs 20,90,000 (ex-showroom India) price tag.
Specification
| DISPLACEMENT | 999 cc |
| MAX POWER | 162.26 bhp @11000 rpm |
| MAX TORQUE | 114 Nm @ 9250 rpm |
| TOP SPEED | 200 kmph |
| TRANSMISSION | 6 Speed Manual |
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY | 20L |
| PRICE | 20,90,000/- |
3. BMW K 1600 GTL
The touring motorcycle line from BMW is known as the K1600. It comes in three different versions: B, Grand America, and GTL. A 1,649 cc six-cylinder oil-cooled engine powers the BMW K1600. It has a six-speed transmission and generates 160 horsepower and 180 Nm. Heated seats, heated grips, tire pressure management, riding modes, engine brake control, a phone charging outlet, and a 10.25-inch TFT dashboard are just a few of the features available on the K1600.
Specification
| DISPLACEMENT | 1649 cc |
| MAX POWER | 158 bhp @6750 rpm |
| MAX TORQUE | 180 Nm @ 5250 rpm |
| TOP SPEED | 200 kmph |
| TRANSMISSION | 6 Speed Manual |
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY | 26.5L |
| PRICE | 29,98,482/- |
4. BMW F900 XR
Launched in India, the 2022 BMW F900 XR Pro sports adventure tourer will compete with models like the Triumph Tiger 900 GT and the Ducati Multistrada V2. The 895cc BS6 engine that powers the BMW F900XR produces 103.25 horsepower and 92 Nm of torque. The BMW F900XR has an anti-lock braking system together with front and rear disc brakes. The gasoline tank on this F900XR bike can hold 15.5 liters of fuel and weighs 219 kg.
Specification
| DISPLACEMENT | 895 cc |
| MAX POWER | 103.25 bhp @8500 rpm |
| MAX TORQUE | 92 Nm @ 6500 rpm |
| TOP SPEED | 200 kmph |
| TRANSMISSION | 6 Speed Manual |
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY | 15.5L |
| PRICE | 12,54,954/- |
