MOBILITY: A design for deceleration! Retro doesn’t always just mean old, but sometimes also a lot of new, as here.
At least that’s my impression. This approach shows that a lot can happen: the BMW Motorrad Concept R18. Puristic and at the same time incredibly appealing to the senses. Hopefully this bike will go into series production one day. At least that’s my wish!
Here is the background to this:
Munich/Cernobbio. In the buzzing interplay of tradition and modernity at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW Motorrad presents an engaging counter-design to an increasingly fast-paced, technology-driven era. It is a return to the core of the brand, provided with a modern twist: The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 transfers the essence of great BMW Motorrad classics into the present day – and thus combines historic motorbike construction with modern custom attitude. Dr Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, describes this design as follows: „With this dream bike, we present our idea of an emotional and authentic BMW Motorrad offering for the large cruiser segment.“
The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 shows how the continuation of a 60s boxer could look today as a purist custom bike and combines all the classic BMW Motorrad design icons. „With its clearly legible aesthetics, the Concept R18 embodies for me exactly what motorcycling is all about at its core: feeling instead of thinking and technology not as self-dramatisation, but as space for imagination. This concept bike inspires you, you absolutely want to ride it. And when you get off, you don’t just put it in the garage and walk away – you turn around and look back,“ explains Edgar Heinrich, Head of BMW Motorrad Design.
Consistently purist with timeless proportions.
Das BMW Motorrad Concept R18 ist die Essenz eines Motorrads, eine Art Urform sozusagen. In bester Custom-Manier zelebriert es die Kunst des Weglassens und legt umso höheres Augenmerk auf das, was noch zu sehen ist. „Die größte Herausforderung im Motorradbau ist, ohne Abdeckungen alles sichtbar zu machen. Jedes Teil hat eine funktionale Aufgabe. Diese absolut ehrliche Herangehensweise trauen sich nicht viele“, sagt Bart Janssen Groesbeek, Designer des Concept Bikes. Das BMW Motorrad Concept R18 ist auf den ersten Blick als echte BMW zu erkennen: Boxermotor, Schleifenrahmen, freiliegende Kardanwelle und der tropfenförmige Tank mit schwarzer Lackierung und handgezogenen weißen Kontrastlinien interpretiert die typischen Designikonen früherer BMW Motorrad Klassiker selbstbewusst und mit geradliniger Modernität. Die ausbalancierten Proportionen erinnern an Klassiker wie die BMW R5 und vermitteln bereits aus Entfernung die zeitlose Schönheit der konsequenten Reduktion auf das Wesentliche. Rahmen und Tank zeichnen gemeinsam eine durchgehende Linie vom Lenkkopf bis zum eingefassten Hinterachsgehäuse und verleihen der Seitenansicht eine fließende, elegant anmutende Note. Die großen Speichenräder (vorn 21 Zoll, hinten 18 Zoll) sorgen für eine souveräne Proportion und formen eine perfekte Balance zum dominanten Antrieb. Ein anderer historischer Bezug sind die Reifen: damals wie heute sind Metzeler Reifen verbaut.
The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is the essence of a motorbike, a kind of archetype, so to speak. In the best custom manner, it celebrates the art of omission and pays all the more attention to what is still visible. „The greatest challenge in motorbike construction is to make everything visible without covers. Every part has a functional task. Not many dare to take this absolutely honest approach,“ says Bart Janssen Groesbeek, designer of the concept bike. The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is recognisable as a real BMW at first glance: Boxer engine, loop frame, exposed propshaft and the teardrop-shaped tank with black paintwork and hand-drawn white contrast lines interpret the typical design icons of earlier BMW Motorrad classics confidently and with straightforward modernity. The balanced proportions are reminiscent of classics such as the BMW R5 and even from a distance convey the timeless beauty of consistent reduction to the essentials. The frame and tank together draw a continuous line from the steering head to the framed rear axle housing, giving the side view a flowing, elegant look. The large spoked wheels (21 inches at the front, 18 inches at the rear) provide a commanding proportion and form a perfect balance to the dominant drive. Another historical reference are the tyres: Metzeler tyres are fitted then as now.
The BMW boxer tradition finds new greatness.
The heart of the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is a newly developed, large two-cylinder boxer engine with 1800 cc. Its appearance is deliberately reminiscent of the boxer engines built by BMW Motorrad until the end of the 1960s – only with significantly larger displacement and modern air-oil cooling. The large prototype boxer is designed down to the last detail: The engine block and gearbox made of glass-bead blasted aluminium provide an ideal stage for the hand-polished aluminium parts such as the belt cover and the valve covers. The engine badge bears the name of the concept bike and sets a high-quality accent. In addition, a Solex twin carburettor – similar to the one in a BMW 2002 – creates the link to the brand’s history in terms of design and completes the authentic appearance.
A visual highlight is the exposed chrome-plated cardan shaft that connects the rear wheel to the drive. There are no other covers on the bike either; the technology is deliberately made visible and staged. Likewise, the electronics of the concept bike are reduced to just the starter and light, underlining the purist concept.
The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is the third, now in-house interpretation of the large-volume boxer engine from BMW Motorrad. Last December at the Yokohama Hot Rod Show, the build-up of the Japanese custom forge CUSTOM WORKS ZON around this new type of prototype engine was presented. The „Departed“ won the show’s highest accolade, the „Best of Show Motorcycle“ award, and wowed with classic styling, modern production techniques and plenty of craftsmanship in the detail solutions. Next up was the interpretation by Revival Cycles. The customisers from Austin, Texas, created a spectacular bike with their „The Revival Birdcage“ set-up, which showcases the big boxer superbly. The specially developed titanium frame impresses with a clear view of the engine and drive from every perspective. This US-American production caused a sensation at the Handbuilt Show in Texas last month.
High-quality details in genuine custom work.
In terms of colour, the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is classic. The theme is all BMW: the white, hand-drawn lines on the fork and tank, combined with the base colour black, interpret the classic BMW colour scheme. A subtle yellow-gold paint effect adds an exclusive touch to the light double-lining, and the black effect paint on the tank and fork legs is also given a special depth in the best custom manner by large metallic particles in various layers of paint when the sun’s rays hit these parts.
The embossed leather single seat is visually inspired by the classics of the 1950s. Newly interpreted and somewhat more comfortable, it blends perfectly with the high-quality embossing into the puristic and high-quality overall appearance. The cantilever suspension strut is integrated below the seat. The graphics of the headlight design are also reminiscent of the 1950s. The classic U-shape on the cover lenses of the time is interpreted here in the form of LED light elements.
Each of these details contributes to the unique character of the concept bike and underlines its overall statement: the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 brings together the historically evolved design language with current BMW Motorrad functionalities in a coherent overall picture.
In addition, an exclusive horsehide jacket was designed especially for the presentation of the concept bike at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, bringing back to life the aesthetics of the period. The jacket impresses with its very smooth surface with little grain, the protectors are almost invisibly incorporated.
Counterpoint to today.
„For me, motorbikes like the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 address an ever-growing need of a growing part of the motorbike scene: instead of technology as a driver of innovation, the focus is on simplification, authenticity and comprehensibility. I observe an almost romantic longing for mechanics. With this concept bike, we interpret this need in our own way and make an analogue statement in the digital age. We have a rich history of iconic motorbikes with exactly these design features and we believe that they still work excellently today with current technology,“ Edgar Heinrich concludes.
BRAND: BMW AG
virtualdesignmagazine Michael Hiller
