Rook, that's an excellent question. I'd have to believe they're setting the bikes up with completely different suspension, no matter the vendor/model, plus electronics (traction control, ignition timing, etc) that we probably couldn't get our hands on if we tried.
Things I think about when making decisions to purchase - how long has this model been out? How much maintenance will I be able to do myself? How much specialized tools will I have to buy? Have all the kinks been worked out with this newness? Et cetera.
Sure seems like an awful lot of money for a literbike that hasn't been around all that long and is the first product from BMW to foray into the world of superbikes.
Like the others said, I'd suggest going with a tried and true Japanese Big 4 and mod it. With the amount of up front cost you'd save getting a Kaw/Yam/Hon/Suz, you could more than make up the difference in HP/suspension modding it.
Then again, the BMW sure seems like raw bad-assedness and if I had money to throw around, I'd end up with one.
* Last updated by: loadedmind on 4/30/2010 @ 8:51 AM *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmufqEW7Gtw&feature=player_embedded