At first sight, we thought the name was simply spot-on: Predator! And we thought that this bike actually looks like a crossbred between the alien of the 1987 movie with the same name and one of those Decepticons, the bad guys from the Transformers series. Or at least it looks just as evil as them. This bike also has something to it that reminds us of the 80s, but nonetheless there can no doubt it is a product of our time: in fact, it is a BMW F800 R whose engine and chassis have not been modified but whose aesthetics have been dramatically enhanced by an aggressive kit.

So, who came up with the idea? The main author of this special bike is Bulgarian tuner Vilner Custom Bike, that asked for the collaboration of BG Studio - known for its award-winning car interiors - to create this stunning Predator. However, the project got started by a wealthy Russian businessman who works and lives in Bulgaria and was looking for a unique and exclusive motorbike to wow his buddies. Vilner Custom Bike needed just 6 months to turn that idea into the astonishing motorcycle we can admire in the video above and in our photo gallery.

In the comparison with the model it is based upon, the Predator is 25 cm shorter, The saddle is no longer good for two people, though the rider will be able to enjoy a more comfortable and wider one, all for himself. The rear tire got bigger, the indicators got lifted from Z4 Roadster (yes, we mean the convertible car from BMW) while the body received no less than 17 new bits, 9 of which made of carbon fibre and the other 8 are chromium-plated. The element that stands out the most is arguably that headlamp, which uses bi-xenon lights as well as red LED lights. Its unique, handcrafted exhaust system also plays a big part in making this awesome machine 6.5 kg lighter than the standard BMW F800 R it derives from. The Predator is ready to hunt.

View the full Vilner Predator photo gallery

Continue reading: Special bikes: the BMW F800 R 'Predator' by Vilner Custom Bike

While in Monza, World Superbike stars Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team) and Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team) attended the launch of the BMW F800R with the brand new Nero Zaffiro Metallizzato paint-job (which is Metalized Sapphir Black in Italian), and we got to admit that the “all black” dress makes the F800R even more aggressive-looking, emphasizing both its lines and bare mechanical bits.

This exclusive color scheme will be made available for the Italian curstomers only, with no extra charge. The F800R is a well-balanced naked bike which is easy and fun to ride in urban traffic as well as on motorways, and comes with a 798 cc flat twin engine with electronic fuel injection delivering 87 hp and an impressive 86 Nm (63 ft-lb) of peak torque at 6,000 rpm, with a smooth delivery and good fuel consumption figures. Its comfortable and light chassis (the bike boasts a dry weight of just 177 kg) makes the bike agile enough to be easily ridden even by the less experienced riders.

Other highlights of this model include standard ABS, TPC Tyre Pressure Control, 320 mm Brembo double disk brake at the front, heated grips, white turn indicators, a flat instrumentation screen (featuring digital clock, total and 2 trip odometers, cruising range indicator and service interval indicator) as well as new sports windshield in body colour.

View the full BMW F800R 2012 Nero Zaffiro Metallizzato photo gallery

We know BMW produces performance machines that are both motorcycles and cars - but which ones reign in the line-up? In another bikes vs cars video, here we see the BMW S1000RR, the F800R and the R1200GS pitted against the super sedan models of the BMW M3 and M5. They face off in a drag race challenge over a quarter mile, and are timed into a classification at the end. See how it all happens in the video. Next time though, we’d like to see a more complete track challenge overall to see how they all handle against each other.

The 2011 BMW F800R gets new colours as part of the range with shiny yellow/black, granite grey/black and alpine white/lupin blue/magma red now available. The previous paint finish of fire orange and white aluminium will no longer be available and niether will the Chris Pfeiffer Edition be on sale. The alpine white/shiny black tint will still be available.

The video above shows the F800R in action. It’s one of the more agile naked bikes around and is perfect for mixed functions of city riding as well mountain escapades. It has a parallel twin cylinder engine with 87 hp and 86 Nm at 6,000 rpm. Gallery of the new colours below.

We know that the BMW Motorrad days is a big event, but seeing Chris Pfeiffer work his magic in the flesh would be quite something. This gallery shows the world stunt-riding champion with his faithful F 800 R and with the BMW S1000RR - it seems there’s nothing this bike can’t do.

Hendrik von Kuenheim, BMW Motorrad President, has kept his promise when he declared last November that BMW was evaluating the possibility of commercialising the F800 R Chris Pfeiffer Edition that was presented to the public at the Eicma in Milan.

BMW will be selling just 68 units of this limited-edition replica in honour of Chris Pfeiffer, the four time World and European stunt champion.

The bike has Chris Pfeiffer’s signature on the tank, sponsors’ logos that can be optionally applied and a white front wheel rim and a black on the rear, just like Peiffer’s own bike that he uses in competitions. It’s fitted with an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system and has LED indicators. Since the bike is supposed to be a stunt replica it’s missing the headlamp mini fairing, but for road riders it could be useful, but it does have a pillion seat cover.

The 68 replicas will be sold only in Europe and for the German market the price is fixed at 8.940 euros.

Source | mcn

Continue reading: Chris Pfeiffer BMW F800R Replica

For the third consecutive year, Chris Pfeiffer on his BMW F 800 R claimed the Indoor World Cup, which was decided at the the Swiss-Moto Exhibition in Zurich on Sunday 22, February 2009. In second and third places, two Hungarians: Balasz Herzceg and Zoltan Angyal.

The reigning double world champion and title defender Chris Pfeiffer was favourite again, but a debilitating flu made the first day of training agony: he spent more time on the toilet than on his motorcycle. At that time, even for him to participate was in question. As the training showed, the competition from Europe and overseas had really increased/improved, so an easy title defence for Pfeiffer was in doubt. During the first qualification round on Saturday, he was forced to drop a number of physically challenging tricks from his routine and was only ranked third

“I had to use a few hot tricks from my repertoire, because I just wasn’t feeling fit enough and this was sufficient to keep the leadership within reach.”

Continue reading: Chris Pfeiffer wins Indoor Stunt World Championship

MotorcycleUsa site has been indulging in some gossip on possible new models from the German company. The American site has been even talking of a new F800R, in addition to an updated version of the F800S.

The F800R would be similar in appearance to the F800 special, used by Chris Pfeiffer. We hardly made it in time to check out the site named (www.motorrad-augsburg.de), when three photos arrived that you can see in the gallery.

Given that the photos seem real, three colours at least look likely for this new BMW naked - white, grey and orange. What do you think?