When BMW hinted that they’d be unveiling one thing on the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza—occurring proper now on the scenic banks of Lake Como—we robotically assumed it will be one other variant of the brand new BMW R 12 nineT. Because it seems, we had been very, very unsuitable. Get a load of the BMW R20 Idea; a sizzling pink roadster with a 2,000 cc boxer motor.
Sure, you learn that proper. Not content material with the already gargantuan R18, BMW has gone even greater of their pursuit of motorcycling nirvana (learn: gross sales). The BMW R20 Idea has hit the two-liter mark, bringing it nearer to bonafide muscle bikes just like the Triumph Rocket III.
Whereas BMW tout the R20 as an idea bike, we all know higher. 9 instances out of ten, the Bavarian marque’s idea bikes are near-production-ready bikes in disguise. So we’re absolutely anticipating to see one thing on this vein hit the market someday sooner or later.
Whereas the BMW R20 Idea’s motor is probably going derived from the R18, its chassis is all new. Constructed round a chromoly spine, the brand new design boasts extra aggressive numbers than the low and lengthy R18, with a steering head angle of 62.5 levels, and a wheelbase of 1,550 mm.
Of explicit curiosity is the R20’s new swingarm. BMW tailored the R18’s uncovered driveshaft, however re-packaged it with a double-sided Paralever swingarm that makes use of a mixture of chromoly and aluminum components. As anticipated, BMW says that the brand new setup is designed to deal with the two,000 cc powerplant’s extreme torque.
The BMW R20 Idea additionally will get a 17” spoked wheel on the entrance, and a 17” disc wheel on the again, with a whopping 6.25-inch-wide tire. Upside-down Öhlins Blackline forks prop up the entrance, with an identical shock wedged into the rear finish. The brakes are from Sweden’s ISR, and use twin six-piston calipers up entrance and a single four-piston caliper out again.
The BMW R20 Idea’s bodywork is remarkably minimalist. A closely sculpted gasoline tank dominates the design, with a floating bobber-style seat behind it. Save for a neat entrance fender, there’s nothing else cluttering up the bike.
The gasoline tank’s sizzling pink paint job is seemingly a throwback to the Nineteen Seventies—and whereas we are able to’t keep in mind a BMW (bike or car) with this explicit hue, it seems bananas. The seat options Alcantara and leather-based upholstery, with twin LED taillights giving the tail a contemporary muscle automobile vibe. Peppered with polished aluminum and anodized gunmetal finishes, the BMW R20 Idea has presence in spades.
Different bespoke particulars embody the cylinder head covers, belt cowl, and oil cooler. Open stacks suck air into the motor, visually tracing a line to the gnarly open exhaust headers. Up prime, aggressive avenue bike bars sit behind a splash borrowed from the BMW R 12, with a 3D-printed headlight bucket housing a strong LED unit.
Given the BMW R18’s lackluster market efficiency, it’s tempting to throw shade at BMW for creating yet one more outsized boxer. However as a standalone machine, the R20 Idea stuns.
There aren’t any clear references to BMW’s again catalog right here. Reasonably, the R20 Idea seems to have taken its inspiration from the scores of customized BMW boxers which have dominated the airwaves over current years (and it’s fairly potential that a number of customized builders had a hand in its creation). It’s a recent tackle the large boxer style, and a gutsy one at that.
Assuming the BMW R20 Idea makes it into manufacturing—with out dropping an excessive amount of of its stripped-down aesthetic within the course of—we’ll be rooting for it. Whereas the R18 flailed as a solution to a query that nobody requested, the R20 has potential as a brutal and centered muscle bike.
Whether or not it proves to be a success amongst followers of bikes just like the Triumph Rocket III or Harley-Davidson Fats Bob, solely time will inform. All we all know, is that we’re going to be mad if BMW doesn’t provide it in sizzling pink.
Supply: BMW Motorrad
