BMW Concept Roadster Revealed

Dennis Chung
by Dennis Chung

BMW seems to be on a roll lately with naked roadsters. All in the span of a year, BMW has revealed the S1000R, the R nineT. If recent spy photos offer a real indication, we also expect BMW to release a new R1200R using its new liquid-cooled boxer engine.

Following along a similar direction, BMW revealed a new Concept Roadster at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which also hosted the reveal of the Roland Sands-produced Concept Ninety last year. The Concept Roadster uses the new liquid-cooled engine, claiming 123 hp at 7750 rpm and 92.2 ft-lb. at 6500 rpm. The engine is blacked-out with a bright yellow “R”, perhaps to suggest this concept would eventually become a future R1200R.

Below the engine is an spoiler which BMW says performs an aerodynamic function while incorporating the exhaust silencer. The exhaust pipe flows from the engine into the spoiler and out to the tailpipe.

Directly behind the engine is a triangular load-bearing tubular space frame in Sparkling Racing Blue that stands out from the black engine. The frame connects to the rear subframe, a self-supporting structure made of gloss milled aluminum. The subframe holds up the Alcantara leather solo seat and sharp tail.

Milled aluminum also makes its way to the lateral air intakes, offering a glossy surface contrasting with the dark radiator. The valve covers are also milled aluminum, in a shape inspired by a racing suit’s knee sliders.

The front headlight is full LED, with a flat shape giving it a lightweight and futuristic look. Behind the headlight is a minimalistic instrument panel.

Suspension is comprised of an upside-down fork, another departure from BMW’s usual telelever found on the current R1200R. At the rear is a variation of the paralever concept, with a single-sided swingarm that houses the drive shaft. The braking system uses radial-mount monobloc calipers from Brembo.

At the moment, this Roadster remains a concept. The future-forward design is a departure from the R1200R’s more classic styling, so if it does make it into production, the Roadster may accompany the R rather than replace it.

[Source: BMW]

Dennis Chung
Dennis Chung

Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.

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