BMW get seriously dirty – Page One
By, Trevor Hedge
The 450cc enduro market has been the subject of an unprecedented boom in dirtbike popularity.
Aprilia sought to cash in with their thrilling v-twin 450cc weapon and now BMW plan to grab their own share of the market with an all new enduro machine.
Off road sales are inexorably linked with competition success and BMW are using the highly competitive World Enduro Championship to develop their modern day enduro pedigree. The 450cc machine has already been seen in action under the pilotage of German enduro champion Sascha Eckert and the remainder of 2007 by motocross legend Joel Smets.
The Belgian is one of the most highly regarded riders in the history of motorcycle sport and his career record in the modern era of World Motocross competition is second only to Stefan Everts. Securing his services can be seen as a major coup for BMW. It also illustrates just how serious the Bavarians are taking their new project and Smets will help to develop and refine the 450cc prototypes into a polished package before BMW start full production, presumably later in the year.
BMW Motorrad today announced it will bring Smets to Australia to campaign its brand new G 450 X Sports Enduro machine in the A4DE, months ahead of its international launch.
Joel Smets will be in Australia for little more than a week, aiming to soak up some Australian sunshine in Melbourne before heading to the A4DE, held this year in Warragul, Victoria. Australia’s most prestigious enduro event kicks off on Thursday 17th April.
The new BMW G 450 X that Joel will ride will be making its competition debut Down Under. Joel will be riding a standard bike, the only modification being a performance exhaust system, showing how much confidence BMW Motorrad has in the new machine.
Joel is very familiar with Aussie riding conditions as he has competed Down Under on many occasions including an appearance at a Dargle (NSW) round of famous Thumpernats series, the World MX Championship round at Broadford (Vic) as well as the ISDE (International Six Day Enduro) where he raced his first major enduro race with an L plate on the back of his bike.
“We are very excited to have Joel Smets return to Australia for the A4DE,” said Miles Davis, Marketing Manager, BMW Motorrad Australia and New Zealand.
“Joel is no stranger to Australia having visited three times previously, so he has some idea of what to expect.
“We know the BMW G 450 X has plenty of performance and plenty of potential, and should revel in the A4DE conditions. It will give Australians their first chance to see what the new bike is all about.
“The new BMW G 450 X will go on sale in Australia towards the latter part of the year, adding a new dimension to the company’s off-road offerings.
“Based on feedback we have received when we showed the bike and last year’s motorcycle shows, we are sure the BMW G 450 X will be popular locally, and having a legend like Joel compete at the Australian 4 Day will definitely create a lot more interest,” Miles said.
BMW are famous for going their own way when it comes to new designs but at first glance their new design looks to follow established trends.
A conventional front suspension system consisting of inverted Marzocchi forks with 300mm of spring travel is obvious. The rear suspension system looks to mimic that seen from their Austrian neighbours over the border at KTM with a slanted progressive Ohlins spring and shock absorber (320mm travel). The engine is a four-stroke single-cylinder design along the lines of what has been par for the course in the 450cc enduro class, with the addition of fuel injection the only obvious departure from the norm.
Look closer however and a few new BMW design touches become apparent.
