), with no re-designed torque curve and power delivery for an offroad bike - hence it spins-out too easily..............on a dirtbike - it should have a loom all specific to the HP2, not a fecking 12GS
......................but the rest was just not thought out by the BMW design team...............in dirt bike terms
not forgetting your HP2 has had at least 3 sets of forks and one bevel box
And not wishing to be nit picky... but the engine is not the same as the regular 12GS, it has one of the balance shafts removed helping it spin up a little faster releasing another 5 or so HP
And as for the SE being a better bike in dirt bike terms, pretty sure that HPs were pretty consistently beating the SE in the competitions when they came up against each other. And I think the HP still has the prologue record at Erzberg...
....................corrected my post now
Forgot that
However taking out the balancer shaft, may have liberated a few GG's & some weight.... at the expense of some smoothness and I still reckon that the ECU and Cam should have been modified somewhat though
My problem is that my HP2 is the first dirt bike I have owned so to me, it is exactly what a dirt bike should be, albeit a little bit lighter! I don't know any better
and the HP2's ridden by Kirssi and Everts were a whole 2 laps down on the lighter bikes, they were just unrideable for that type of moto, even by some of the world's best dirt stars.....................however give the HP2....the Erzberg event and it will romp away on a wide,open graded dirt road
You tell him Mav, that JB has settled down to a life of domestic bliss and become too lardy for a HP2
Much as I've been tempted by a HP2 a couple of times and maybe a 950SE............I've never pulled the trigger for a HP2, despite a few rides on the road and some offroad
Why................dunno really
The thing that put me off with the HP2, was that I thought it was only half done for these reasons
Underwhelmed forks - should have been 50mm for the weight of the bike and a damn sight better quality and fully adjustable on a £12k bike
Lack of BMW prep and initial design, for a dirtbike
a) Standard 12GS airbox with breather that goes straight into the sump
(should have been re-designed and bespoke for the HP2)
b) Standard 12GS engine (with the balancer shaft removed, cheers Mav
c) Gearbox - standard 12GS - with no re-design of the gearing ratios for a dirtbike and the major faux-pas - no low 1st gear - it spins out
d) Can-bus and EWS immobiliser.................why
e) Airshock - can be good and can be bad
Frame and rear drive are a work of art
Hence the 950SE is a better machine on paper, although I've never ridden one - so can't comment on the rideability
When the G650XChallenge came out it was no contest for the following reasons
a) Price - it was a bargain
b) It was functionally better thought by BMW out as a dirtbike/dualsport
c) It is lighter and more nimble on the trail and is faster than a HP2 in most dirt situations
d) It has the real ability on the road to cover distance ok and there are similar options to the HP2 to convert it into a true dualsport/Adv Tourer
e) It is well put together and well built in the Aprillia factory
f) The suspension from the HP2, suits the lighter XChallenge better
The same could be said for the KTM 690 v 950SE
I had fleeting thoughts about your FE450 this week.................so not down and out yet
Lardy and slow, it's sold mate
Go on get yourself a decent offroader, you know you want to
..............................for Captain Slow
