BMW announces changes to 2021 models

It seems as if every year, motorcycle manufacturers roll out changes in color schemes - maybe throwing in a special edition - to entice us into buying the same motorcycles they were trying to sell last year.

One can hardly blame them, especially in these days when a certain global pandemic is affecting leisure activities and purchase in a generally negative fashion. Before you write us any nasty letters, yes, we understand many in the MOA do not consider motorcycling to be a leisure activity, but rather a way of life.

BMW Motorrad is making a number of changes in their lineup for the 2021 model year, summarized here for your edification.

For the R 1250 R and RS:

• EU-5 is here! Unfortunately, the press release is ambiguous and doesn't give any information as to what "changeover to EU-5" actually means. EU-5 in the news typically represents France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. They have agreed to the commercial oversight activities of a group called the Shared Territory JCC, where JCC stands for Joint Commercialization Committee. Seeing as how the UK is extracting itself - slowly - from the European Union, this could be part of the agreement in that regard.
• Riders will no longer be able to disengage ABS.
• Option 719 Stardust is dropped, as are a number of other Option 719 ...er, options. Other Option 719 items take their place, though.
• The HP muffler is replaced by a "sports" muffler.
• Driving Mode Pro now includes engine drag torque control (whatever that is).

For the K 1600 GT and GTL:

• Option 719 color schemes dropped, other paint schemes added. (I know, exciting!)
• Also applies to the K16B/GA: Reverse aid and the adaptive cornering lights are now standard, as are the tire control RDC and daytime running lights.
• Also applies to the K16B/GA: The safety package is no longer available.

The K 1600 B and Grand America lose the metallic blue color scheme, but gain Mars red metallic, along with changes to optional equipment. Buyers can now get factory-installed engine protection bars and LED aux lights.

Over in S 1000 RR land, we have the "changeover to EU-5" again, plus a slew of M-branded parts, including some neat electronic geegaws such as a USB charging port and a GPS lap trigger, which allows the data logger to trigger the lap timer/counter by GPS instead of the rider having to do it manually. Both the RR and XR can have the optional M-branded endurance chain, which in the absence of detail could just be a heavier-duty chain.

The S 1000 XR gets some cosmetic changes (a new white/blue/red scheme) and a windshield option, as well as access to the M-branded parts, endurance chain, USB charging port and lap timer. BMW is updating the optional luggage rack to better accommodate 30 and 49-liter top cases.

The R 18 (which hasn't been delivered to anybody yet) gets optional cruise control. Riders everywhere wonder why it wasn't already available.

Lastly, the new F 900 R and XR get LED turn signals as standard in the USA, and activation for the Pro driving mode will no longer be done with a coding plug.