It’s true that BMW Motorrad has become a household name due to their generational powerplant — a two-cylinder boxer engine that’s been a centerpiece of their fabled motorcycles for more than 90 years. Now, in light of the industry’s recent traversal toward electric powertrains, the company has decided to shake things up with the dismissal of the iconic component.
To retain its identity as a BMW Motorrad platform, the recipient of the company’s newly-implemented, all-electric engine had to find a way to stand out from its competitors. Thus, the revolutionary Vision DC Roadster was born — a powerful bike that elaborates on the company’s commitment to aesthetic design while performing an innovative departure from the look of their modern, two-wheeled platforms. To do so, BMW Motorrad removed the cycle’s tank, providing an open-ended view of the bike’s frame and substructure. Carbon fiber and aluminum components adorn the exterior of the Vision, helping to shave weight and keep things structurally sound. Instead of the famous boxer engine, a vertically-mounted battery outfitted with cooling ribs and ventilators, and a new electric motor, have been implemented as the Roadster’s centerpiece. No performance figures or plans for production have been revealed for the bike.
