We already had a pretty good idea what to expect from BMW Motorrad at the 2016 EIMCA show, but it is good to see that the Germans can still surprise us – and what a surprise it was, indeed.
Sort of a “one more thing” moment in Milan, the BMW HP4 Race was teased to the assembled EICMA press – giving us a look at their ultra-premium version of the BMW S1000RR Superbike, and it drips in carbon fiber.
Of course what really sets the BMW HP4 Race apart is the fact that it uses a twin-spar carbon fiber frame, making it, and the recently debuted Ducati 1299 Superleggera, the only production motorcycles with such a feature.
Details beyond what we can see are very scarce from BMW Motorrad, though we do know that we can expect the BMW HP4 Race to debut in the second-half of 2017. The name suggests that the bike might not be homologated for street use, but time will have to tell on that.
From looking at the concept bike in Milan, we can see that the carbon fiber chassis is joined by carbon fiber wheels and carbon fiber fairings. As such, we would expect a 20 lbs weight reduction, or more, from HP4 Race compared to the older HP4 model.
That should make the BMW HP4 Race one of the lightest superbikes on the market, though that ultimate title will likely stay with its Italian counterpart.
Other items we see are an Akrapovic exhaust, Brembo brakes, and Öhlins FGR forks (likely paired with an Öhlins TTX rear shock) – all standard items for a track-focused machine that spares no expense.
You have to feel bad for BMW in a way though, debuting such a bombshell of a bike, just a day after Ducati dropped the 1299 Superleggera, sort of steals the thunder from such a spectacular machine. Still, the S1000RR is one of the best superbikes on the market, and it only got better in its HP4 trim.
As such, we expect great things from the BMW HP4 Race once it officially debuts. The question is though, how many will be built, and how much will they cost? We need to start finding new homes for some of our organs…
Source: BMW; Details Photos: MotoFire
As always, Asphalt & Rubber will be covering all the new bikes debuting at EICMA this year. Be sure to follow our coverage for the most recent news and photos.
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