BMW C-CONCEPT – FIRST LOOK

At BMW, “C” stands for “commuter” and “commuter” translates into “scooter.” The Bavarian company tried its hand at the scooter game back in the 1990s with the C1 125/200, a fully enclosed two-wheeler designed to be super-protective; it even featured safety belts. But the idea didn’t work out so well; in terms of sales, the C1 was a flop.

So, it came as a big surprise to EICMA attendees when BMW showed a very sophisticated concept “maxi-scooter” called the C-Concept. It’s powered by a version of the F800 parallel-Twin that has been optimized specifically for this application and teamed to a CVT transmission. The chassis is very motorcycle-like in its construction and incorporates a massive, single-sided swingarm actuating an electronically adjustable Marzocchi shock; up front is a 43mm, titanium-nitride-coated Marzocchi fork. What’s interesting is that the fork is a full-size motorcycle unit with upper and lower triple-clamps, not the “lower-clamp-only” type generally used on scooters.

Like the suspension, the braking system consists of impressive components, with twin discs clamped by Nissin six-piston radial-mount calipers up front. Bodywork is the result of aerodynamic testing, and its shapes promise to offer excellent rider comfort and protection. Other high-tech features include LED head- and taillights, as well as two rear-facing cameras (in place of rear-view mirrors) that display the images on a pair of monitors built into the instrument panel.