So this is what a Harley-Davidson Bagger would look like if BMW Motorrad made it. Not too shabby! BMW recently took to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como to unveil the Vision K18 concept motorcycle, and it’s got the motorcycle industry on notice.
First off, I have to mention this with an aching heart: the Vision K18 is not a production model. It’s a concept motorcycle. “With the BMW Motorrad Vision K18,” Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, says, “we show how we interpret performance, luxury, and emotion in a new, very confident way.”
All of that’s basically gibberish for “we’re only building one, and you can’t have it.” But scratch the surface, and there’s a very real possibility BMW may be hinting at something here… Possibly a new styling direction for the future?
BMW
As with many concepts, official details are slim. All BMW has revealed with its press release is the 1,800cc engine, which BMW says is at the core of the entire concept – and “hydraulically lowerable suspension.” The first of these is far more significant in a production-bike sense than the latter.
That’s because BMW’s current six-cylinder engine displaces a paltry 1,649cc. That motor produces 91 horsepower and 116 lb-ft (157 Nm) of torque and comes only on BMW’s touring motorcycles as of now. A bigger, badder bagger based on a beefed-up engine from that platform? That captures the imagination!
Next up, the suspension, which honestly already does an awful lot on production Beemers like the R 1300 GS and GSA. These run an optional ‘adaptive ride height’ system that automatically dials off preload to effectively lower the seat height and make it simpler for riders to reach the ground. A very handy addition, as anyone who’s sat on one of these skyscrapers with regular-length legs can attest.
But as CycleWorld points out, the Vision K18 concept might instead use something similar to BMW’s Dynamic Chassis Adjustment. This setup, found on the R 1300 RT, serves the opposite purpose of adaptive ride height.
BMW
Yeah, that’s right – the preload adjusters raise the motorcycle’s rear, increasing ride height to change the geometry and improve cornering clearance when you’re moving. Why? Because Baggers are awfully low to begin with. It’s the look.
Checking out the photos, you’ll almost instantly notice the gaping (six!) exhaust pipes showing off its ribald cylinder count. It also has an equal number of intake ducts that feed the air via a clearly noticeable air filter placed where a petrol tank would typically be.
Aviation serves as a big inspiration for the design. The concept is based on BMW’s emphasis on long-distance travel, drawing inspiration from high-speed aircraft like the Concorde supersonic airliner. Its low slung style is meant to resemble an arrow.
Here’s another gallery of extra Vision K18 images, click to scroll through.
The Vision K18 is a one-off concept by BMW
BMW
Of course, there’s extensive use of aluminum and forged carbon in the bodywork, giving the bike a nice metallic appearance that is intended to resemble a vintage Formula 1 exhaust header.
And don’t forget, it’s based on the R18. So, a production Bagger model isn’t entirely impossible… Just highly improbable at this stage. It’s likely just BMW saying it could always do something like this if it wanted to. And who knows, maybe one day it might!
Source: BMW