Following on from the reveal of its new Concept 8 series, BMW this weekend also unveiled a new bike concept at the Italian Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
Said to have been inspired by the Motorrad Vision Next 100 motorcycle that was revealed last October, the BMW Motorrad “Concept Link” bike is the German brand’s vision of a futuristic, zero-emission urban e-scooter.
Key design elements include a low-slung, stretched body complete with a flat bench seat and a diagonally rising front section.
A semi-matt black underbody, described as the “technical heart”, stretches from the front to the rear, and in addition to the tyres and front lights, also integrates the electric drive unit and the suspension elements.
This dark core contrasts with the titanium-coloured exterior as well as the orange-coloured cables that connect the battery pack and drive on the right side.
Practical details, meanwhile, include a luggage compartment in the centre section, underneath the seat bench, which the rider can using a sliding door.
“The BMW Motorrad Concept Link is not based on today’s concepts, but rather meets the basic functionality needs, the technical architecture and the digital reality of today’s users,” explains Alexander Buckan, head of vehicle design at BMW Motorrad. “The technical realities of electric drive – such as the flat energy packs in the underfloor and the compact drive on the rear wheel – allowed us to create a highly distinctive design which shapes a new segment.”
“It links the digital and analogue worlds and places the focus on the rider and his mobility needs. It links functionality and digitisation, it performs both as a means of transport as well as a communication device,” adds BMW Motorrad design boss, Adgar Heinrich.
