ENGINE 987CC A31 INLINE FOUR
OUTPUT 100 HP @ 8,000 RPM
CURB WEIGHT 570 LBS.
TOP SPEED 149 MPH
PRICE WHEN NEW DM 20,200 ($13,000 IN US)
YEARS PRODUCED 1988-’93
NUMBER BUILT 6,921
COLOR MARRAKESH RED/BROOM YELLOW
OWNER BMW NA CLASSIC (SINCE 1989)
LOCATION WOODCLIFF LAKE, NEW JERSEY
#6365053
1989 K1
In 1988, BMW took aerodynamic efficiency to its zenith with the K1, whose all-enveloping, downforce-producing bodywork was based on the “Racer” concept drawn by Karl-Heinz Abe in 1984. The impact-absorbing bodywork gave the K1 a drag coefficient of just 0.335 when a Cd of 0.4-0.5 was the norm. The K1 got BMW’s first motorcycle engine with a four-valve cylinder head, Bosch Digital Motor Electronics, and a closed-loop, three-way catalytic converter. The bike seen here was part of BMW of North America’s press fleet before it went on display at the BMW Manufacturing Zentrum.