BMW HP2 Megamoto (2007-current)

The The BMW HP2 Megamoto’s £12,595 price tag is ridiculously high and will stop most of us from ever experiencing it, which is a great shame. The HP2 Megamoto is far more agile, powerful and fun than you’d ever imagine just by looking at it and a million miles away from being a common or garden Steady-Eddie BMW. If only BMW made their sportsbikes like this, they’d have the Japanese quaking in their boots; it really is that good.

 

Engine

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Big BMW boxer twins are usually big on grunt but low on excitement, but the BMW HP2 Megamoto’s hand-assembled and blueprinted fuel-injected 1170cc motor couldn’t be more different. Although this motorycle still has loads of low-down torque and an immaculate throttle response for lazy, everyday riding the engine has lots of zing and a healthy appetite for revs, which gives it a very un-BMW-like wild side. The way the it pops and bangs through the Akrapovic can on the overrun is pure theatre.

Ride and Handling

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Unlike most BMW’s the HP2 Megamoto isn’t blighted with Telelever front suspension or ABS-assisted brakes. The net result of this is there’s lots of confidence-inspiring feel through the front end going into corners (which the Televeler bikes have very little of) and lots of braking power (BMW’s ABS always seems to chime in too soon). Not only this, if you fancy ‘backing it in’, supermoto-style there’s no ABS to stop you. Like we say, if their sports bikes were built like this, BMW would on to a winner. Supple suspension a soft seat and a tall riding position means the HP2 Megamoto is supremely comfy too.

Equipment

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As far as supermotos go, the BMW HP2 Megamoto is very well appointed and extremely well built. It has a maintenance-free shaft drive system, which you never notice when you’re riding, as well as Ohlins rear suspension, a carbon fibre tank cover and an Akrapovic exhaust can. Compare and buy parts for the BMW HP2 Megamoto in the MCN Shop.

Quality and Reliability

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The best way to describe the BMW HP2 Megamoto is that it is reassuringly expensive. It is a lot of money but the words reliability, dependability and quality go hand in hand with BMW. It’s built like a giant Tonka Toy, but if anything was ever to go wrong with it while you’re out riding, BMW over free two-year roadside recovery anywhere in Europe; if they can’t get you going, they’ll send you a car to finish off your journey instead.

Value

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Costing well over 12 grand the BMW HP2 Megamoto isn’t good value for money; it is just a glorified supermoto when it comes down to it. Yes, the performance is electrifying, it’s well put together and big, big fun but this is an eight grand motorcycle not a twelve grand one.

Model History

2007 – Model introduced

Other Versions

BMW HP2 Enduro

Specifications

Top speed	140 mph
1/4-mile acceleration	11.8 secs
Max power	113 bhp
Max torque	84 ft-lb
Weight	178 kg
Seat height	890 mm
Fuel capacity	13 litres
Average fuel consumption	35 mpg
Tank range	100 miles
Annual road tax
Insurance group	17 of 17

Engine size	1170 cc
Engine specification	8-valve boxer-twin, 6 gears
Frame	Tubular steel frame
Front suspension adjustment	Preload, rebound, compression
Rear suspension adjustment	Preload, rebound, compression
Front brakes	2 x 320mm discs
Rear brake	265mm disc
Front tyre size	120/70 x 17 in
Rear tyre size	180/55 x 17 in

BMW HP2 (2005-2008)

It’s hard, objectively, to see the point of the BMW HP2. It’s a 105bhp, 175kg off-roader that costs almost £11,000. Yes, it does have some clever technology like air suspension, but on the flip side its use as a road bike is limited, which is why the factory now offers free 17-inch rims and tyres with each new HP2. It’s still hard to see the point, even so. HP stands for ‘High Performance’ by the way.

Engine

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Although the BMW HP2's engine based on the top-selling R1200GS unit, the HP2’s motor ekes even more horses from the 1170cc Boxer motor – up 5bhp and an incredible 14ft lb of torque on the GS. The price for this extra power is a healthy dose of vibes (the HP2 does without the GS’s balance shaft), which can be intrusive.

Ride and Handling

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On the trail tyres the BMW HP2's on-road handling is severely compromised, slithering about on the Metzeler Karoo rubber. Off-road – its weight and power militate against unbridled fun on Britain’s often muddy, gooey terrain. The HP2 is fabulous on dry trails or gravel when you can find it. Against the odds the single disc works OK, but get overwhelmed if used hard and often.

Equipment

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The BMW HP2 has no ABS, no heated grips and no pillion provision, but you do get superior suspension and a spirit level to get it spot-on. The headlight’s useless and the small tank’s a real pain for road use. Compare and buy parts for the BMW HP2 in the MCN Shop.

Quality and Reliability

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BMW enjoy a reputation for excellent build quality and your HP2 should be good for many tens of thousands of miles. It pays to spray the cylinder heads with a corrosion-resisting spray such as Scottoiler’s FS365 to keep them in good nick

Value

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It’s hard to recommend the BMW HP2 unless you really want one or you have the use of a lot of open land or desert. BMW’s own R1200GS is better on the road, as is KTM’s 950/990 Adventure – and they’re much cheaper, more practical and, in most cases, as good as the HP2 off-road. An HP2 will hold its value well, though.

Model History

2004: BMW introduce the R1200GS.
2005: BMW HP2 introduced, BMW hope to introduce more ‘HP’ (High Performance) models in the future.
2007: BMW HP2 Megamoto version unveiled, see seperate review.

Other Versions

BMW HP2 Megamoto: A pure street version with smaller, 17-inch cast wheels, uprated brakes and revised suspension.See seperate review.

Specifications

Top speed	130 mph
1/4-mile acceleration	11.8 secs
Max power	105 bhp
Max torque	85 ft-lb
Weight	175 kg
Seat height	920 mm
Fuel capacity	13 litres
Average fuel consumption	40 mpg
Tank range	120 miles
Annual road tax
Insurance group	14 of 17

Engine size	1170 cc
Engine specification	8v, Boxer twin, 6 gears
Frame	Tubular steel trellis
Front suspension adjustment	Compression, rebound
Rear suspension adjustment	Air shock
Front brakes	Single 305mm discs
Rear brake	265mm disc
Front tyre size	90/90 x 21
Rear tyre size	140/80 x 17

Yamaha T-Max (2001-2011)

If you want to tour occasionally, a Deauville 650 does it better. If you want to commute, a YP250 Majesty is probably all you'll ever need. So where does that leave the maxi-scooter Yamaha YP500 T-Max? Good fun to ride, but just too expensive for most urban riders sadly.

Engine

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The Yamaha YP500 T-Max's twin cylinder 40bhp motor is a gem and the auto transmission makes commuting along urban motorways a joy in stop-start traffic. Car drivers cannot believe they've been overtaken by a scooter doing 70mph plus.

Ride and Handling

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The Yamaha YP500 T-Max has a sturdy chassis, bit like a cut down motorcycle really, and the beefy 38mm forks, plus monoshock rear end help keep it handling on the sporty side, until the sheer weight of the thing starts some misbehaviour if you push it. At 197kgs the Yamaha YP500 T-Max is as heavy as a Yamaha Thunderace 1000.

Equipment

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The Yamaha YP500 T-Max's underseat storage space is plentiful, but you can't fit hard panniers to this scooter if you fancy touring - just a top case. Useful features on the Yamaha YP500 T-Max include an adjustable backrest for the rider, reflector beam lighting, optional wind deflectors and higher screen. Outstanding brakes and comprehensive dashboard too.

Quality and Reliability

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You can tell straight away that Yamaha wanted the Yamaha YP500 T-Max to set a new standard in sporty maxi-scooters when they built this one. It's a classy looking vehicle. Many French and Italian riders choose a Yamaha YP500 T-Max instead of a second car and do 10K miles per year on `em.

Value

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The Yamaha YP500 T-Max is an expensive machine and the truth is that many 500-600cc class roadster motorcycles, or 250-400cc scooters can cover all the commuter/weekend fun bases nearly as well as the Yamaha YP500 T-Max, for substantially less cash. You can get better fuel consumption out of some 600cc bikes, that are just as fast as the Yamaha YP500 T-Max.

Model History

2001: Yamaha YP500 T-Max launched.

Other Versions

None.

Specifications

Top speed	100 mph
1/4-mile acceleration	secs
Max power	40 bhp
Max torque	34.2 ft-lb
Weight	197 kg
Seat height	795 mm
Fuel capacity	14 litres
Average fuel consumption	45 mpg
Tank range	130 miles
Annual road tax
Insurance group	9 of 17

Engine size	499 cc
Engine specification	4 stroke, parallel twin, auto
Frame	Steel diamond type
Front suspension adjustment	None
Rear suspension adjustment	Preload
Front brakes	282mm disc
Rear brake	267mm disc
Front tyre size	120/70 x 14 in
Rear tyre size	150/70 x 14 in