BMW bike sets land record

A pretty much stock BMW K 1200S has set a world land-speed record in the 1000-1350cc class at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats.

The motorcycle, piloted by 56-year-old Andy Sills, of San Francisco, reached an average speed of 281km/h (173.57mph) and top speed of 286km/h (176.789mph) after two runs on the vast, white plains, where New Zealander Burt Munro set his existing world record in the 1960s.

"It was a rare opportunity for me," said Sills, who has ridden nearly 500,000km on touring BMW motorcycles in the past seven years.

"The best part is that our record matched to the mile the historic last record run of 173.68mph by Ernst Henne on a specially equipped streamlined BMW.

"He must have been watching over us."

Sills, who began making his mark on the Bonneville Salt Flats four years ago, and who holds the world 80cc and 100cc motorcycle streamliner records, also clocked a record speed of 273km/h (169mph), riding the K 1200 S two-up with passenger Erin Hunter.

The records were ratified by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the century-old, Swiss-based governing body for five motorcycling disciplines (road racing, motocross, trial, enduro and track racing).

The new BMW K 1200S is the most powerful motorcycle ever produced by BMW Motorrad. Its 123kW (167bhp) engine delivers performance of zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds.