Starting with the wet sump design, Eaton, the company known for their superchargers, designed a high-volume oil pump that breaths through an external oil cooler to keep temps in check. Spinning inside the block you'll find a one-piece crank and forged components that reside in Nikasil coated cylinder liners. Moving upward, an ultra compact and equally high-flowing four valve head features a narrow valve angle for minimal restriction. Inside this masterpiece you'll find high-lift cams spinning titanium components and opening V8-sized 1.32/1.07" intake and exhaust valves. Add in the sky-high 13:1 compression ratio and you've got a recipe for speed- and a fat-free one at that, as the motor weights a scant 131.8 lbs.
In keeping with the lightweight theme, BMW designed an efficient cooling system that needs just 2.9 liters of coolant to do business. The aerodynamic shape of the fairings and crosswise coolant flow inside the head leads for a smaller radiator than you'd expect.
Feeding the beast is a hi-tech fuel injection system codenamed, BMS-KP (BMW Engine Management with Anti-Knock Control). This lightweight EFI boasts self-diagnosis capabilities and cylinder specific knock control, which means each cylinder is monitored instead of the typical "all is one" mentality of yesteryear. Other trick features include E-gas, a hybrid cable/ride-by-wire throttle control. Twisting the grip actuates dual throttle cables (one opens, the other closes) that control a computer, which then opens the throttle-bodies based on your inputs.
Another first for the Bimmer camp is a fully controlled fuel pump that allows for variable fuel pressure. No longer corralled by an external fuel pressure regulator, the computer tells the injectors how much fuel to supply based on parameters like throttle position and speed. If that's not cool enough, the massive eight-liter airbox stuffs a variable length intake manifold that changes shape to boost midrange and top-end power. More common features like a cold-start circuit and dual oxygen sensors join the svelte exhaust system that weights just 23.6 LBS despite two cats and adjustable butterflies.
In keeping with the electronic goodness, BMW added a sophisticated DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) with different power modes. Rain mode softens throttle response and limits power to "just" 150 HP. Sport mode gives you full power and better response, Race mode heightens throttle response and Slick mode allows for five-second wheelies while leaned over- in case you want to exit a turn on one wheel like Rossi.
Powering up the rear wheel is a compact six-speed transmission that's controlled by a cable-actuated oil-bath clutch with a standard anti-hopping mechanism (slipper clutch).