BMW Unveils The Future Of Motorcycles

In the distant future, motorcycle riders will have no need of helmets or padded clothing. They also won’t need to put their feet on the ground when they stop. That’s because, according to BMW, the motorcycle of the future will balance itself and will help the driver avoid crashes.

BMW, which is famous for motorcycles as well as cars, unveiled a new concept motorcycle in California Tuesday. The BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 offers a glimpse at what, BMW designers predict, motorcycles might be like decades from now. Basically, they’ll offer all of the excitement of today’s bikes, but none of the danger.

The space-age, concept bike was ridden on stage at a special world unveiling. And although largely a mock-up, the radical machine is a showcase for technologies BMW expects to see in the coming generations. These include: zero-emissions electric power; a ‘Flexi-frame’ that improves handling, active tires that adapt to the terrain and, most radically of all, a Self-Levelling System’ which, BM says, renders the machine uncrashable so doing away with the need for any protective clothing or helmet!

Besides self-balancing wheels, so that a kickstand is needed only when the motorcycle is shut down, the bike has an “electronic safety cage” that communicates with other vehicles and road sensors to help it automatically avoid crashes.

This is a concept vehicle, so it’s unclear how much of this stuff the bike BMW showed off can actually do. It’s also unclear how long it will be before an actual production model of the motorcycle could do these things.

The concept BMW motorcycle is powered by an electric motor rather than a gasoline engine. The electric motor still has the famous shape of BMW’s flat-twin engines with the cylinders sticking out the sides.

The bike’s flexible frame can bend as the bike is steered, eliminating the need for joints. The amount of power needed to steer the bike varies with the motorcycle’s speed, BMW said. When moving slowly, steering is light and easy. As speed increases, more force is needed to steer.

There are no traditional shock absorbers. The tires smooth the ride all by themselves. They also have a variable tread that adjusts itself to suit different road conditions.

Along with the bike, BMW unveiled a set of equally ambitious clothes and goggles.

With no helmet needed, the goggles will keep wind, bugs and debris out of the rider’s eyes while also providing all the information the rider needs. The type of data displayed inside the goggles will change based on where the rider looks. When looking straight down the road, no data is presented unless its needed to alert the driver to an emergency.

The suit itself contains no extra padding, since that’s not deemed necessary. It can warm or cool the rider as needed, and supports the rider’s muscles to help prevent fatigue. Vibrating units in the arms and legs provide feedback for navigation or to alert the rider when the bike is leaning too far.

And although neither this machine, nor even perhaps anything close to it, will ever reach production, the concepts and technologies it displays should be taken seriously – after all, they’re clearly on the agenda of one of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers.

“It’s our vision for motorcycling,” BMW Motorrad design chief Edgar Heinrich told MCN. “To us at BMW, motorcycle riding means a lot more than just mobility – it’s a lifestyle choice, a spirit of adventure, the final analogue experience in a more and more digital world.

“We want to give customers the same sense of freedom that they experienced in the very early days of BMW,” design chief Friedrich told MCN. “We want to give them the same sense of freedom, of the wind in their hair, of making all your senses alert. And with our bike owners will be able to concentrate on this experience with no interference.”

“This is how we envisage to motorcycle of the future, combining the best of the analogue and digital worlds.”

Vision: Next 100 in detail

Engine

An unspecified electric motor producing zero emissions styled in homage to the BMW Boxer unit. More radically, however, it is capable of changing its shape according to prevailing conditions and aerodynamic and cooling requirements.

Frame

There’s no conventional frame at all, instead ‘Next 100’ employs what BMW calls a ‘Flexi-Frame’ which is flexible, dynamic and active and only a frame in the sense that it connects the front and rear wheels. When the handlebars turn the entire frame flexes to enable a change direction the thinking being that at low speeds steering can be light and manageable while at higher speed it can also be stable.

Self-balancing system

Crucial to the concept. A gyroscope-based system operated by sophisticated digital electronics to the effect that the bike can’t fall over. “It doesn’t tip over,” Edgar Heinrich told MCN. “Even when standing still. A sidestand is only used when the system is shut down.”

Heinrich said that the benefit of this is two-fold: First it’s a learning aid, helping novices increase their confidence. While secondly, for more experienced riders, it will allow the rider to steadily boost their experience, skills and enjoyment. “It will lift the ride to a whole new level,” Heinrich said.

Finish/bodywork

All BMW boffins would say is that the ‘Next 100’ would be covered with a matt black material that’s a modern interpretation of the classic BMW look. Although they did add that it may be a yet-to-be-developed carbon-fibre based substance embedded with other materials.

Styling

Intended to be, according to Heinrich, “A homage to the past guiding the way to the next 100 years.” As such, the distinctive triangle shape along with that of the boxer engine and blacklivery with white stripe is intended to evoke memories of the original R32 of 1923, BMW’s first motorcycle. Even BMW’s famous logo is highlighted, lighting up in the company’s blue and white colours during the ride.

Tires

No simple round, black hoops these. BMW say they will all be active and dynamic so that, apart from having the traditional ‘cushioning effect’ they’ll also have a ‘versatile profile that can adapt to different conditions’.

No helmet – just a visor

With no possibility of a crash, BMW believes there is no need for ‘Next 100’ riders to wear a helmet. Instead, a visor would be available that provides eye protection and doubles as a data display. According to Heinrich, under normal circumstances this would normally display only very basic information, such as the racing line, so as to not be a distraction unless the rider’s behaviour demands otherwise. It could also display digital map or navigational information.

Riding suit

With no requirement for protection – “We believe that in the future riders will be able to enjoy motorcycling without protective clothing,” said Heinrich – the Next 100 rider instead has instead clothing specifically designed to be fashionable and supportive – a bionic structure would give physical support.

Sources: CNN, MCN, YouTube