BMW Presents Futuristic R1200GS Hover Bike Concept
New Hover Ride Concept shows what the future may hold for BMW Motorrad.
BMW has built an elaborate full-size replica of the LEGO Technic Hover Ride, an alternative model included in the LEGO Technic R12000GS Adventure kit recently released by the manufacturer. The Hover Ride model represents BMW’s futuristic vision, developed in a quest to find out how the ultimate motorcycle would look if all limits were removed.
The Hover Ride Concept came about as a result of the involvement of the BMW Junior Company, an innovative training unit in which BMW trainees from diverse departments have the opportunity to work together in projects entrepreneurally.
BMW trainees used the serial-production parts of the BMW R1200GS Adventure to build the life-size model of the LEGO Technic Hover Ride. Numerous components, such as the front-wheel rim modified to form a propeller, were specially made for the project, demonstrating the youngsters’ skilled craftsmanship. “I’m really impressed how an idea can be created by LEGO elements and actually become a valid suggestion on how we can ride a motorcycle in the future,” says Alexander Buckan, Head of BMW Motorrad Vehicle Design.
LEGO Technic BMW R1200GS Adventure
The BMW R1200GS Adventure has been available as a LEGO Technic model since January 2017. The LEGO Technic R1200GS Adventure kit reproduces the shapes and mechanisms of the full-size original bike as faithfully as possible. Enthusiasts will recognize the authentic BMW Telelever front-wheel suspension, the universal shaft drive and the moving BMW Motorrad 2-cylinder boxer engine, all of which are set in motion as soon as the motorcycle is moved. With its wealth of details, it is not only a realistic reproduction but also an appealing model-making challenge with its 603 pieces.
The two design teams also drew on their inventive drive to create the LEGO Technic Hover Ride, the alternative model that can be built using the parts of the LEGO Technic BMW R1200GS Adventure set. “Our concept not only incorporates the BMW Motorrad design DNA with typical elements such as the boxer engine and the characteristic GS silhouette, it also draws on the LEGO Technic stylistic idiom,” says the Head of BMW Motorrad Vehicle Design. For more details on the LEGO Technic set click here.
The full-size model of the Hover Ride Design Concept will be presented for the first time at LEGO World in Copenhagen this week. It will then travel via Denmark to various sites such as the BMW Group Research and Innovation Center Munich and BMW Welt. For those interested in the scaled-down version, the LEGO Technic R12000GS Adventure kit is now available for purchase.
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At first I was like OH COOL! And part of me still is saying that. But.. .why the hell does a hover bike need shocks and springs anywhere?? And I also suspect by the time we have those, they won’t be running on an internal combustion engine. 🙂
The shocks stabilize the wings and reduce buffeting under Hi-G maneuvers. The combustion engine is just the retro look of the future. It will be powered by anti-gravity thrusters and come with a faux boxer engine soundtrack. 🙂