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BMW K1200R
TThe K series are built
around liquid cooled, inline engines with
three (K75) or four (K100, K1100, K1200) cylinders.
Originally the engine is longitudinal: the
crankshaft is in line with the direction of
motion. Also, the cylinders are banked over,
parallel to the ground. This causes some to
incorrectly call the configuration a Flat-4.
The first K production bikes was the K100,
which was introduced in the 1983 and was followed
by the K100RS and K100RT versions. These were
followed by the K1100RS, K1100RT, and K1100LT
models. In 1998 BMW increased the size again
to 1170cc, designated the K1200. In 2004 BMW
revamped the K engine. It is no longer oriented
with the crankshaft along the same axis as
the frame. The new K1200 engine is smaller
and is oriented with the crankshaft at 90
degrees to the frame. The new K1200 engine
has a significant increase in horsepower.
In 1916, two companies,
Gustav Otto's Flugmaschinenfabrik (Aeroplane
Factory) and Karl Rapp's Flugwerke Deutschland,
merged to form the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke
(Bavarian Aeroplane Works). Initially this
company designed and manufactured aeroplane
engines. The Bayerische Flugzeugwerke was
renamed the Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian
Motor Works, BMW) in 1917 by Karl Rapp and
Max Friz. Their new logo, a roundel representing
an aeroplane propeller in the blue sky, is
still used today on all BMW motorcycles and
automobiles.
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