Best selling bike of 2006?

BMW Motorrad is celebrating yet another sales record, albeit an unofficial one.
Combined UK sales of its R 1200 GS and R 1200 GS Adventure models totalled
2,277 units in 2006. This is a figure that comfortably beats that achieved by
Honda's CBR1000RR, which at 2,067 units was officially the best selling
motorcycle of last year, according to figures released by the Motorcycle
Industry Association.

Until fairly recently, BMW's 'GS' range of motorcycles was considered as a
rather niche proposition, used mainly by globetrotters and desert racers.
However, the legendary 'Gelande Strasse' (on/off-road) genre, which made its
debut back in 1980 with the iconic R 80 G/S, has now firmly entered the
mainstream, buoyed by a general move away from race replica machines and a
realisation that road-specific suspension, ergonomic efficiency and all-day
comfort make more sense in the real world of high insurance premiums, poorly
maintained roads and traffic congestion.

The R 1200 GS was launched in March 2004 and was the first of BMW Motorrad's
'new generation' machines to incorporate the company philosophy of producing
motorcycles with more dynamic handling, significantly increased engine power
and less weight. It became an instant bestseller and won numerous awards that
year, including MCN Best Trailie, International Bike of the Year and also
received an International Design Excellence Award.

In its first full year of production, it sold almost 2,000 units in the UK
alone, outselling its nearest rival in the Adventure Sport category by over
1,200 units and also picking up the MCN Best All-Rounder award for 2005 - just
one day after the new R 1200 GS Adventure received its world premiere at the
International Motorcycle and Scooter Show in Birmingham.

Launched to the press in mid-March and in dealers just a fortnight later, 809
GS Adventures were sold in the remainder of 2006, with many more on order for
2007. With 1,468 R 1200 GS machines also sold last year, the combined total of
these two machines - which share the same engine and running gear - comfortably
outsell any other competitor model in 2006.

Commenting on this sales success, BMW Motorrad UK Marketing Manager Tony
Jakeman said: "We're delighted that more riders than ever before are
discovering the joys and benefits of BMW GS ownership, including lower
insurance premiums and high resale values. We sold nearly 2,000 R 1200 GS bikes
in 2005 and once the Adventure version was launched, many potential buyers of
the standard machine switched their purchase to this bike, which has already
become the machine of choice for long-distance adventure travellers.

"However, both bikes combine the best of all worlds - with their excellent
road-holding and high-torque engine characteristics, they work equally well as
everyday commuters, weekend sports bikes and long-distance tourers. We're
pleased to have ownership of the Adventure Sport category - where our nearest
rival sold less than 600 units - but are also delighted that the GS is right up
there in the overall UK sales charts too. Suffice to say that our dealer
network is aiming for continued sales success in 2007."

ends

For further BMW press information please contact one of the following:

Andy Dukes 08000 131 282
Tony Jakeman 01344 480 185