As this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza weekend continues to unfold at Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como, all eyes are on the event hosted by BMW, and among the rare classics and couture coachwork, the Bavarian automaker showcased one of its most audacious two-wheeled creations yet: the BMW Motorrad Concept RR, a 230 horsepower bike that packs some serious race-bred hardware, derived directly from the world of motorsports. The liter-class superbike segment has become an arms race, and BMW has just raised the stakes with this cutting-edge two-wheeled concept. BMW says that this is the earliest that they’ve ever previewed a next-gen RR.
The Concept RR draws heavily from the FIM championship-winning M1000 RR, which dominated the WorldSBK championship, with two-time world champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu at the helm. Under the edgy skin, the Concept RR runs a water-cooled inline four engine. Making 230 horsepower, this unit is derived directly from the title-winning machine and is accompanied by the same high-end electronics: race-spec engine management, traction control system, and engine braking tuned for both street and track use.
“This is a true masterpiece of our development team,” said Markus Flasch, Head of BMW Motorrad. “The transfer from racing to road has never been shown more clearly.”
But performance is only half the story, as BMW Motorrad engineers have also gone to great lengths to shave weight, setting new benchmarks in lightweight construction. Although BMW didn’t specify how much, with further use of aluminum and carbon for the frame and fittings, it should be light. For some context, the M1000 RR weighs 423 pounds.
Aerodynamics is another area where BMW continues to innovate. With reduced external elements, ventilated front and rear sections for optimized air flow, the overall profile is compact and is engineered for high-speed stability, minimal resistance at top speed, and razor-sharp handling for maximum cornering speeds. The edgy fairing isn’t just for style; it is a working element and comes equipped with winglets. An illuminated RR logo under the rear complements this stealthy machine. Braking comes courtesy of high-performance racing calipers and discs.
Alongside the Concept RR, BMW also revealed a new lifestyle Concept RR LTD jacket. Made in collaboration with the Bavarian company MEINDL and limited to just 50 pieces, this is a calf Nappa leather jacket that exudes motorsport aggression and street fashion.
Elsewhere at Villa d’Este, BMW also showcased the stunning Speedtop V8 Shooting Brake and the much-anticipated M2 CS, as part of the event where Broad Arrow marks its inaugural auction at the prestigious Lake Como venue. As for BMW Motorrad, this motorcycle is a declaration of where the Bavarian motorcycle brand is headed next. The competition in the supersport segment continues to heat up, with models like the Ducati Panigale V4 and V4 R, Aprilia’s RSV4, Yamaha’s R1M, and Honda’s Fireblade SP all vying for the same audience. But if BMW’s Concept RR is any indicator of what’s to come, the future looks blisteringly fast.
Source: BMW Motorrad