Why the beak?
 

This might seem a silly question, but I have searched the site and I don't think it's been asked before.

What is the purpose of the 'beak' on the newer BMWs? It started with (I think) the 1100GS and has now become a defining feature of the 'adventure' bike. Even the new Triumph 800 has one. As the bike already has a working front mudguard/fender, what function does the beak serve?

I think they are pretty ugly things, to be honest. It puts me off the Tiger, and that's a bike I could be interested in otherwise. And it means that if I ever buy a BMW, it will have to be an older model, pre-beak.

Aerodynamics? Keeping mud from the front wheel out of the rider's face? Opening tins of vegetables? Or just a styling exercise?

Anyone?

Cosmetic.

I like the look, personally.

Marketing attempt to make it look more like a trail bike raised mudguard.

It is an interesting subject as to what the marketing blokes latch on to. Look at all the plastic boxes that are now silver and square rather than black and curvy. I work in pumps and the marketing idiots hated a switch from hex head cover bolts to cap head because they said it looked less tough :helpsmilie:. The results of letting art students choose the paint aren't funny!

Andy

Nah, BMW nicked it from Suzuki...

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/D...g_blue_800.jpg

That's exactly what I thought it might be. Thank you for confirming my suspicions. I must get some old oil containers and make one for the XT ... oh, hang on, it already has a trail bike raised mudguard ..

Yup, I knew I had seen it somewhere before. They just had to copy the ugliest bike Suzuki ever made ...

Thanks to you both. I can sleep easy now.

The beak serves the same purpose as the bolt on chrome bits on a Harley, nothing useful what so ever, although some might say that applies to the rest of the bike on a Harley.

Of course, there are some people on this HU site who have done long trips and RTW on a Harley, and you could share your thoughts there.

So the bikes are useful enough for travel, some might say.

I stand beer on it when camping, and tools/fastenings when working on the bike, other than that I am unsure of its function, the bike does look a bit odd without it though.:scooter:

We should not forget that it's an essential part to hold the BLACK front mudguard extension which apart from the visual effect it is useful to invest 107 USD and appreciate proportionally the 2nd hand value of your regular 1200 GS. In the case of the Triple BLACK version, it also helps to match the color of the frame, the rims and the hole in your bank account.:eek3:

http://quadmoto.com/bilder/produkte/...NTURE-vone.jpg

Although I'm not a big fan, I never found the GS to be an ugly bike. It's different and I reckon BMW was able to create a style on its own and all starting with what would looks like ugly premises such as different sized front lights, massive size and others. And IMO it looks nicer with the with the peak and more with the black extension (much nicer than the horrible Suzuki DR!)... although maybe as redundant as a belt with braces.

Two screws and it comes off?!

:D

I bet the warranty implications involve a lot more screwing. Any bets that it a vital structural component :innocent:

:rofl:

Andy

I have a 2004 1200gs c/w a beak and I must admit having followed it for over 155,000 miles I have grown to love it although beer containers tend to slide off mine but thereagain it is too young to go into a bar. Just to put a bit of a damper on things, it could by virtue of its shape and position increase the air flow through the oil cooler matrix thereby making the oil cooled engine run more effectivly. Also, in my experience, thousands of bugs (various) would, if they could, testify to its ability to scoop. Ride safe.

That's what tents and hotel rooms are for, surely? :)

Seriously, apart from the illogicality of buying a >10kUKP bike and immediately starting to dismantle it, it's not just the beak I don't like. The proportions of the 1200 seem all wrong - too bulky in the midriff and the back wheel's too small. It seems that the stylists rather then the engineers were in charge when it was designed.

Just personal opinion, of course, and I know people love them, but they are not for me. Whereas I think the older airheads look handsome.

First two bikes we saw in our hotel car park in Vladivostok last year were Harleys ridden by two Finnish guys from Finland and the bikes were still shiny !

It doesn't end there though.... a couple of days later a dutch guy and his wife each riding Harleys turned up in the same car park having completed the same journey from Netherlands !

I'm not a Harley lover myself but then I've never ridden one but, having seen the state of some of the Trans Siberian Highway I have to say fair play to these guys. :scooter:

Why the beak ?
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...eader/beak.jpgTo be one of the crowd !
:innocent:

If you don't like the beak on the Tiger 800XC (and is that really the thing stopping you from owning one?) then just take it off. You can even have the blanking piece I took from my Tiger 800 when I fitted a beak :)


Yes, it's almost certainly 99.9% for the look. I did read that on the Tiger 800 it has a genuine aero benefit on the road. I do wonder how many fractions of a % of the total lift/downforce it makes a difference to, but I'm sure it will make all the difference to me in my quest to be first out of the last corner :)

Heh - and the price!

I'm pretty sure this french-build BMW is older then the DR-BIG.
http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/ecu.jpg

But maybe it started with the italians:
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...30667228_o.jpg

Neither of those BMWs has a front mudguard, so the beaks could be considered functional. The Suzuki has a mudguard, which renders the beak superfluous - just like the modern Beemers.

Please note: I am not knocking BMW or their fans here, even though the look is not to my taste - just curious.

Why a beak? You be the judge


;)

The second BMW is a Moto Guzzi, so there's 3 beaked bikes prior to BMW going with the beaky look.
One day, every one will appreciate the beak :innocent: and wonder what the fuss was all about.

As a point, the provision of the beak does mean that the mudguard can be removed when riding in the claggy stuff, thereby preventing the front wheel from clogging up with the sticky stuff, while the beak serves the purpose of a high-level mudguard.
(But the F650GS Dakar was not sold with the low level mudguard fitted as standard to the more road oriented version of that bike).
How practical is that?
You be the judge.

NSU Rennmax -

What a picture!

My Magistrate friend (used to have a C90 - no beak) will definitely like that a lot, your worship!

I believe there may be a very small reason for the beak

I rode the same ford on two seperate occasions once one an a aprilla peagso 650 (no beak) and once on bmw 650gs (beak) I was suprised as to how much wetter I got on the aprilla as opposed to the bmw.

My conslusion was the beak in some way creates a water free zone at about head height. As does a high mudguard.

Please note: there is no science involved in this just the random conclusion reached by some one who has no idea what they're on about.

The cylinders were out of the picture, so I plead ignorance :)

Nothing so far that a high mudguard won't do ...

Same here.

Hi All,

I believe that the 650GS was the first in the BMW family to sport the beak and it looks to me like it derives from the aesthetics. If you look at the way the bodywork 'flows' the beak is a natural extension (a sort of flat S shape on its side comprising the exhaust covers, the seat, the fake tank and the beak).

I certainly didn't like it when I was looking for a bike but it has grown on me and I am converted. Sure it looks different but that is character and personality.

I remember when the Ford Sierra came out first and I though it was the weirdest looking car in the world, but now it looks old fashioned and most cars have that basic Sierra look (4x4 wannabes excepted). To do with aerodynamics I expect.

Looks are subjective and your appreciation changes as your perspective changes. You wouldn't choose a wife on her looks (or you will be disappointed) but on personality and character -so don't choose your bike on looks alone. Take it for a ride and if it feels right then you will come to love it despite the looks.

Mine's a pint of bitter thanks!

Niall

The 1100 GS was a strong believer in... "redundancy" :mchappy:

My recent purchase of a ex-BMW off road school G650GS for a bargain, meant that my chosen bike had a few bangs and scrapes. One of the minor bits of damage was to its beak, resulting in a rather shorter than intended by BMW beak.

After receiving several bags worth of road dirt, debris, small animals, red headed children and other choice items getting flung into my visor/eyes I can confirm that the beak is actually very useful in stopping this stuff being flung off the front wheel ahead of the bike....to then be whipped back into your face.

I have also bought the extended beak, because it looks well hard.

Always a good reason :thumbup1::mchappy:

My two bobs worth...:D

It could also serve the following purposes, even if a bit far-fetched:
1. Pointer where the front wheel is, as if you couldn't see it from behind the handlebars and that windshield.
2. To peg down pedestrians, ie. when they split their legs, the front wheel misses but the beak will surely get them and right where it hurts too.
3. Serving tray for holding the cold drinks, aka beer. Although the slight tilt is annoying unless you have a beer cosy to stop it from sliding off.
4. Attachement for useless and expensive TT gadgets, like their first-aid kit.
5. Air funnel to create more turbulance, and make you feel like you're going faster than you are. Provides the illusion of speed.
6. Extra space to put stickers for RTWers that are into collecting stickers.
7. To put a number on it to identify it from the air (ie. by helicopter) when you're in the Dakar or another pretigous rally.
8. Same as above but from a plane.
9. All of the above.
10. And my favourite: A spare toilet seat. Hole sold separately!!

:rofl:

Although in my defense apart for using it for a shouvel in the sand*, I haven't used my r1200 beak for any of the above.

* I had a little spill in the Sahara, full write-up can be found here: http://blog.riding2up.net/2011/11/11...of-the-sahara/

Thing is, I have a device on my XT which serves this purpose very well indeed. It's called a mudguard. Radical, I know, but it's the way I roll.

Thanks to everyone for amusing responses. I think I know more than I did, but I can't be certain.

raaah
 

i just removed the beak off my 2001 f650gs that i've had for about a month. allways just looked goofy to me. 4 bolts to remove, the horn looks a little exposed but i haven't noticed any more dirt and salt off the road behind the fron wheel so it looks like it wasnt doing much anyway. i did notice that the steering feels a little lighter now without that extra weight on the front forks. nothing really note worthy though. i heard tell that it keeps the rain off you? i will get a good test of that in the next few days. i'll just see how it all goes