Against the picturesque backdrop of Villa d’Este on Lake Como, BMW Motorrad has presented its latest design: the BMW R20 concept. According to the Germans, the concept is the embodiment of expressive and cool design, refined down to the smallest detail.
As part of the renowned Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, famous for its elegance and historical significance for extraordinary vehicles, BMW Motorrad is showcasing the legendary air-oil-cooled Big Boxer engine as a “central sculptural element”. According to BMW.
Markus Flasch, head of BMW Motorrad describes the concept as follows:
“The BMW R20 concept is a mechanical masterpiece. The Big Boxer is the centerpiece. Distinctive BMW Motorrad.”
Another nice quote from the head of PR, which in this case could also have stood for PRietpraat: “The BMW R20 concept is a motorcycle that impresses with a powerful appearance in a casual gentleman style, while meets the typical characteristics of BMW Motorrad: classic design and excellent technology combined with exciting mechanics.”
“The expressive tank presents itself as a sculpture and the rear has been reduced to the essentials to emphasize the clean lines and power of the motorcycle.”
All joking aside, let’s see what exactly the concept entails. Starting with the frame, which has been newly developed and consists of double-barreled chrome-molybdenum steel tubes as a backbone. At the rear a black solid 6.25 inch wide wheel is mounted, fitted with a 200/55 R 17″ rear tire mm, while at the front a 17″ spoke wheel with black spokes and 120/70 R 17″ front tire is mounted. mm for.
The BMW Paralever suspension is designed in a new two-arm variant, with the swingarm made of chrome-molybdenum steel and the Paralever strut made of aluminum. The kinematics are designed in such a way that the drive torque is fully balanced. The two milled aluminum rear axle carriers are another high-quality detail.
The exposed driveshaft, conceptually taken from the R18 – the visual highlight of the well-known R 18 models – has been shortened for integration into the roadster’s architecture. As for the suspension itself, the Germans have used fully adjustable Öhlins Blackline at the front and rear.
The R20 Concept has a wheelbase of 1,550 mm and a steering head angle of 27.5°. Radial-mounted ISR calipers front and rear provide the deceleration, with six pistons at the front and four pistons per caliper at the rear.
The core of the BMW R20 concept remains the air-cooled Big Boxer engine, now with a displacement of 2,000 cc. New valve covers, a new cover for the timing belt and a new oil cooler were developed for the concept engine to allow the oil lines to be mounted partially hidden.
A special highlight is the side view: The eye follows the path of the air flowing through the open intake channels to the throttle bodies and cylinders, before escaping through the open exhaust system and the megaphone-style exhaust pipes, creating the typical Big Boxer sound.
The aluminum tank has been given a new design and is presented in the progressive color “hotter than pink” from the 1970s. The BMW R20 concept is color-coordinated with the valve covers, the timing belt cover and the intake manikins made of polished and anodized aluminum, as well as the Paralever strut, footpegs and ISR brake calipers in bronze.
The rear light is integrated into the single-seat saddle, which is covered in quilted black Alcantara and fine-grain leather. The modern LED headlight is presented in the form of a 3D-printed aluminum ring with integrated daytime running lights.
“The R20 concept is a bold interpretation of the BMW Motorrad DNA,” says Alexander Buckan, Head of Design BMW Motorrad. “It combines modern technical elements with a classic roadster design. Its oversized proportions and minimalist aesthetics give it an unmistakable character.”
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.