BMW Motorrad Concept Link Electric Scooter
BMW revealed a new electric scooter concept illustrating the concepts of digital connectivity and future urban mobility. Dubbed the BMW Motorrad Concept Link, the concept scooter will be displayed at this weekend’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at northern Italy’s Lake Como.
“The BMW Motorrad Concept Link stands for a new understanding of urban mobility. It links the digital and analog world and places the focus on the rider and his mobility needs,” says Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design of BMW Motorrad “In the way it links functionality and digitalization it performs both as a means of transport as well as a communication device. For me the BMW Motorrad Concept Link, with its timeless and reduced style, is more than a concept – it is rather a symbol for a new era.”
The “Liquid Metal Titanium” gray color is very BMW, and it is contrasted by a semi-matt black that runs the length of the Concept Link, coloring the mechanical elements such as the suspension, swingarm and drive unit. The headlights squinting under the black front face are light emitting ceramic (LEC) metal halide. The C-shaped taillights are integrated on the inner surface of two wing-like side panels designed for aerodynamics as well as to allow for air to cool the motor.
The Concept Link has a low, stretched profile, giving it a much different silhouette from BMW’s existing C650 scooters and the electric C Evolution scooter. This shape is further emphasized by the long bench seat which is also adjustable lengthwise. The hump separating the rider from a passenger seems unnecessary, though it does have an opening that may serve as a hand hold. A panel on the right side under the seat slides open to reveal a storage compartment.
BMW reveal a few details about the drive train, though nothing very specific. The motor is powered by a flat battery pack running along the bottom of the scooter body. The exposed orange cables on the right side show how the power is carried to the motor which drives the rear wheel via a belt. The Concept Link also has a reverse drive to help with maneuvering in tight spaces.
The touch-sensitive digital display pictured above is actually a secondary infotainment display screen for navigation input and playing music. The primary instrumentation including speed, navigation and battery data is actually projected onto the windshield. In addition to the touch screen input, the handlebars have programmable touch-enabled buttons, allowing the rider to access functions without letting go of the controls.
The jacket worn by the model in these photographs is also part of the overall concept. Though it doesn’t look like traditional riding gear, the water-repellent coat has integrated shoulder and elbow protectors. A panel on the right sleeve also contains a sensor that can be used to open the underseat storage area with a simple arm motion.
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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Hmmm. No mention of the only really important thing. Endurance.
The seat design need another 15 minutes at 350 degrees.