boxerpaul wrote:That looks great! I wonder if it could possibly be a successor to the R12R? We still haven't heard about the 2011 model......
A successor? You are kidding right? I really don't think they are going to abandon a bike with modern geometry, performance and styling cues for a knock-off of a 35 year old design with two rear shocks, a bench seat and spoked wheels. Look at the gas tank in the drawing compared to the R1200R. The R90 gas tank and the one pictured was nice in its day but the R1200R's tank is far superior both functionally and asthetically.
Modern naked bikes such as the Monster and Speed Triple are pretty successful en masse. Ducati and Triumph would be dead without those bikes. (Actually Triumph was dead). Modern retro bikes such as the GT1000 and Thruxton are successful niche bikes. A major manufacturer may add a niche bike such as the GT1000, Thruxton or R120 to their line-up but they don't abandon production of modern bikes that produce higher volume and start producing a 100% retro line-up. Retro bikes may produce sales but they rarely produce positive cash flow over their life cycle and you can't build a company on products that don't produce positive cash flow.
Some buyers shop for a retro look but not many.
This is particularly true of BMW which realizes that customer mortality is the greatest threat to its revenue line and market share. If anything, BMW has an aversion to retro and is investing heavily in dropping its image as "your grandfather's motorcycle". BMW has seen the writing on the wall and they have responded: parallel twins, in-line fours, an in-line six, asymetric styling, and bleeding edge technology suited only to track, sport and high-performance riding.
In the 1980's, BMW tried a New Coke move. They announced the K-bike flying brick and the planned discontinuation of the boxer. It even produced a commemorative "final boxer" before customers revolted. Today, BMW recognizes it has a very loyal following that loves its bikes for certain reasons. Some love the GS, some love boxers, some love german engineering, some love exclusivity that comes with intentionally charging a higher price for the product than competitors without product features that justify the premium, some love Ewan McGregor. The list is long.
The company isn't going to abandon those loyal customers. It's merely going to dilute them with younger customers who are attracted by offerings other than the boxer. Where have the R&D dollars gone lately? The S1000RR, the K1600, F800 and a distant last in line for R&D and product development is the R1200. What is the stalest bike in the lineup? The R series. The F series and K series have been completely revamped since the R series was updated to the R1200 and the S1000RR didn't exist then, yet the F, K and S are all undergoing development at a much faster rate. For example, since the hexhead introduction, the K1200 became the K1300 which will soon become the K1600 and there's not a whisper about a new R series.
On a positive note, why wait for BMW to come out with a modern retro of the R90S? The R1200 engine is smaller and lighter than the R90 engine. Most of the current technology can also be retrofit to any frame. Why not just do an engine swap? Keep the final drive off the R1200R, keep the swingarm from the R90 and get a drive shaft cut to length to make it all fit together. The alternative is to recreate the Wunderlich R1200R based replica. They have a complete list of bolt-on parts and all that is missing is a paint job.
What is not to love 
