It’s been a full century since BMW got into the transportation
business, and it’s using its year-long celebration of itself to prove it’s got
another 100 left in the tank—or battery pack, or cold fusion reactor, or
whatever.
BMW's latest concept motorbike claims to
make accidents "a thing of the past".
The zero-emissions BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 incorporates a
self-balancing system that BMW claims will protect the rider from any accidents
and liberate them from the need to wear a helmet.
As a concept vehicle, it represents the company's prediction for the future
of motorcycle design. "We imagine all the downsides of riding a motorcycle to be gone, the vehicle will be so safe that you cannot fall over, and accidents
will be a thing of the past"
said Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president at BMW Group Design.
The ultra-safe system works in a number of ways. A self-balancing system
keeps the bike upright, by automatically adjusting banking angles, while a set
of "smart glasses" scan for hazards ahead and alert the driver in
advance.
To steer the bike, the rider moves the handlebars. Instead of turning just
the front wheel, this moves the entire frame, while the stabilisation system
ensures that it doesn't topple over.
The design of the bike is largely based on the BMW R32, which was designed
in 1932. The R32's triangular frame has been reinterpreted, with bearings and
joints hidden to make the frame appear as a singular volume.
The surface of the frame is covered in matt black textile, while body
elements such as the seat, upper frame cover and wings are made of carbon fibre.
The BMW logo is illuminated in blue and white colours while the bike is
being driven, and red strips under the seat form the rear light and indicators.
Suspension is provided by the tyres, whose variable tread adjusts to suit
different ground conditions.Displays, cables and buttons are kept to a minimum, with the exception of a
red switch on the right-hand side of the handlebar.
The BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 is built from a single
“flexframe,” a carbon fiber shell that extends from the front to the rear
wheel. The designers call its shape a dynamic sweep, and it does away with old
fashioned things like bearings and joints. Turning the handlebars moves the
whole frame to change direction, and it can relax and stiffen to change
steering effort. “It will allow us to introduce new steering movements
that are very far removed from today’s geometries,” says Heinrich.
BMW Motorrad is keeping some other classic design
elements. The black triangular shape of the frame is a reference to the R32,
BMW’s first ever motorcycle in 1923 (it got its start building airplane
engines). The white stripe is a throwback too. The company’s logo remains,
but glows blue at night.
“The vision vehicle will act with foresight and is able to
protect the rider at any time,” says Heinrich. Driver assistance features
will continually monitor the environment, the route, the speed, the angle of
lean, and myriad other factors, intervening to ensure the rider can’t crash.
Gyroscopes keep the bike upright when stationary, so you can’t even fall when
stopped. BMW’s roughly an eternity from actually telling riders to ditch
traditional safety gear, but things like traction control, hill start assist,
and antilock brakes are already making it harder to kill yourself on two
wheels.
Instead of a traditional instrument cluster, the bike
communicates key data like speed and navigation through a head-up display.
That’s why you need the goggles. Most of the time, they display minimal
information, just a triangle and two horizontal lines showing banking angle and
ideal cornering lines. There’s no reason to interrupt your emotional
journey.
Unlike other conceptual
motorcycles that ferry the rider around with zero input, here the human
remains in charge. BMW says driver assistance will enhance the experience
for novices, keeping them safe and building their confidence. Experienced
riders can push their limits and pick up new skills. “It will allow all riders
to get an experience independent of their skills, and lift the ride to a whole
new level,” says Heinrich.
Killing the need for heavy leather and kevlar doesn’t mean
you can’t dress like a boss. BMW has also designed a lightweight, flexible suit
that cools or heats the rider, while enhancing comfort and posture with banded
and strengthened areas. If it senses danger, it can vibrate against its
wearer’s skin as an alert. The idea is to blend the best parts of the
digital and analog worlds. Sure, you could get most of the experience at
home, with VR goggles on, sitting in front of a fan—but only if you don’t have anywhere
to go.
