R1150GS goes supermoto

A limited-edition R1150GS could pave the way for a factory produced BMW Supermoto.

The R1150 " SM " uses a set of wide, 17 inch BBS " Phoenix " solid wheels to mount sticky tyres to the normally knobbly-shod GS. The handling tweaks don’t stop there though, as the entire rear swingarm has been replaced with the unit from a road-focused R1150R, as has the front Telelever arm. The standard rear shock is switched for a gold Öhlins unit.

It has a set of extra-wide Renthal motocross bars and a one-off racing exhaust system. Combined with the K&N air filters and injection remap, Pia claims the R1150SM makes 93bhp at the back wheel. That’s more than 15 per cent more than stock.

The lack of pillion seat, and other heavy items like the ABS equipment, has cut the weight to 236kg fully fuelled.

It has been made for one of Germany’s biggest BMW dealers, Pia Motors. But insiders claim that the special has been taken very seriously by BMW itself.

Pia plans to build 20 of the machines built for £12,340, but if BMW takes the initiative there could be many more.

More on this in MCN, out on Wednesday, January 30, 2002.