|
|
 |
Evolution of the Species
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evoluzione Cyclesports BMW K 1200 S
Jeff Buchanan
11/01/2006
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Photography by Kevin Wing
|
Ever since the invention of the first motorcycle—credited to Gottlieb
Daimler in 1885—there have been individuals, lured by innate curiosity, who were
intent on tinkering with the metallurgical contraptions, toying with the various
bits that make them go, unraveling their mysteries and seeking ways to improve
their design. An unusual breed, these men, they possess an inexplicable desire
to take things apart, figure out how they work, and find ways to make them
perform better. But, alas, where would we, the gear heads, the admirers of the
modified, the consumers of performance, be today if not for the tireless
experiments and creative indulgences of the tinkerers?
 Ken Zeller,
owner of Evoluzione Cyclesports, is one such tinkerer. Zeller has spent many
days and nights toiling away in the autonomy of his workshop, dissecting
perfectly good machines to discover what he can improve upon. “I haven’t bought
anything since I was 10 years old,” Zeller says with a smile, “that I didn’t
look at how I could change it.” (Click image to enlarge)
Manufacturing custom
high-performance aftermarket products, Evoluzione—as the Italian verbiage
suggests—caters to the exotic Italian marques of Ducati, MV Agusta and Aprilia,
with a special penchant for rarities such as Bimota and Benelli. However, a
northern wind has been blowing over the Simi Valley workshop as of late,
bringing a decidedly Germanic presence to the Evoluzione
stable.
Recently, one of Zeller’s loyal customers bought a
BMW K 1200 S and immediately began singing its praises. “He really loved it,”
Zeller says. “I honestly didn’t pay much attention to it because, well,” Zeller
hesitates, “it was a BMW.” The statement reflects a not all that uncommon
perception some people have toward the brand—however erroneous—as being somewhat
staid, producing tame sportbikes and touring machines for the graying set.
Over the ensuing weeks, Zeller noticed a marked increase in the number of K
1200s appearing on the streets and railing through the canyons near his Southern
California head-quarters. There was a wave of converts among his
motor-cycling acquaintances and, in just the short span of a month, five more of
his regular customers purchased K bikes.
 One exclusively for pavement, the other ready for dirt, two Evoluzione
Cyclesports BMWs await their riders. (Click image to enlarge)
Naturally, Zeller became curious
about the emerging trend and decided to examine one of the K bikes, just to see
what all the fuss was about. Paying a visit to a local BMW dealership Zeller
admits that, although embarking on the outing for research, he lacked a
particularly open mind. A scrutinizing walk around a K 1200 S on the showroom
floor, though admittedly revealing a beautifully engineered, aesthetically
pleasing motorcycle, did not assuage Zeller’s initial feelings of it just not
being for him. His attitude changed with a test ride. The machine’s
performance, combined with the comfortable ergonomics, impressed him. “I had
a lot of really cool, exotic bikes,” Zeller says, “but I realized I just wasn’t
excited about riding them, because, the older I was getting, the more
uncomfortable they were becoming.” So he bought the K bike on the spot.
Zeller immediately began racking up miles on the K 1200 S with a
reinvigorated interest in what he had gotten into motorcycles for in the
first place—riding. However, that tinkering DNA and curiosity about the BMW’s
internal idiosyncrasies soon took hold. Zeller rolled the bike into the
workshop, the tools came out, and the bike was taken apart to see what made
it go. The K 1200’s aero-dynamic bodywork was sent out for a custom Evoluzione
paint scheme. By the time it came back and was bolted into place, the motorcycle
would have a decidedly new character.
To enhance engine performance, the
most logical place to start was the exhaust. Several aftermarket pipes were
dyno-tested before deciding on a ZTechnik Z4031 titanium exhaust system.
Although Zeller found several exhaust pipes that produced slightly higher
top-end horsepower, they did so at the sacrifice of mid-range, upsetting the
smooth, linear powerband of the BMW’s extraordinary in-line four-cylinder motor.
Zeller explains that, “people buy on horsepower [figures], but they actually
ride based on torque.”
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
