BMW Makes a Cruiser?

Artist concept Kardesign.

It’s been 11 years since BMW exited the cruiser market. The love it or hate it design R1200C was not the sales success that BMW had hoped. Cruiser riders are possibly the most traditional demographic of all motorcycle buyers. V-Twin, normal forks, shock in the rear and feet forward ergonomics. 

The R1200C was none of these. Boxer twin, mid controls, Telelever front suspension and a rear pillion that doubled as a driver back rest the R1200C was anything but traditional.

BMW had every intention of returning to the cruiser market but up until recently there was nothing to indicate it would be soon, or with what kind of motorcycle. With the release of some patent documents we get an idea of what might power the new Teutonic land yacht.

At this point there are has two variations on the W-3 engine. They appear to be air-cooled. That follows the traditional cruiser design thesis, which means the engines will have the clean visual and will use pushrods instead of overhead cams. That allows for larger capacity engine in a smaller space. The W-3 layout, at 75 degrees, offers an advantage since it can fit an extra cylinder into roughly the same space as a V-twin engine.

How Will it Work?

In one design BMW uses a three journal crankshaft. Most V-Twin engines use a single journal crankshaft. The result is wider than a V-twin but offers the flexibility of any firing order for the cylinders.

The second design has two cylinders sharing a journal, in normal V-twin style, while the third piston gets its own crank journal. This makes the overall design narrower but still offers the option of many different firing orders. The main advantage is less width for a narrower bike.

There have been other W3 engines but hey are a standard V-Twin with an extra cylinder grafted on. The layout and head angle left a lot to be desired and while it did exhibit good performance ultimately packaging left it wanting.

The BMW layout of 75 or 65 degrees between cylinders means a closer to V-Twin engine dimensions. That’s going to make it easier to package in a traditional form factor.

What do you think of BMW returning to the cruiser market? Would it tempt you to try one? Should they just let it go?