Bikes

Carbon Fiber BMW HP4 Race Debuts in China

Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

As we predicted, the BMW HP4 Race carbon fiber superbike debuted today in China, at the Auto Shanghai 2017 expo. This is the production version of the prototype that BMW Motorrad teased at last year’s EIMCA show in Milan.

Details were scarce in Italy, but now BMW is ready to tell us all about its halo bike. The numbers? Only 750 units of the BMW HP4 Race will be produced. Each one will make 212hp, and weigh 377 lbs when fully fueled and ready to ride – which is lighter than BMW’s WorldSBK-spec S1000RR racing machine.

Of course the main feature of the BMW HP4 Race is that it drips in carbon fiber. The bodywork, main frame, and wheels are made of this composite material, with the tail section being a self-supporting carbon fiber unit.

BMW Motorrad has interestingly chosen an aluminum swingarm for the HP4 Race though, a departure from the show bike, likely for rigidity/handling reasons.

With the HP4 Race, BMW touts the fact that it is the first manufacturer to make a “main frame” entirely of carbon fiber, which is a lawyerly dig at the carbon fiber chassis of the Ducati 1299 Superleggera, which debut last year in Milan, just ahead of the HP4 Race.

BMW’s claims a 17 lbs figure for its carbon fiber frame design, and it appears from the language in the press release that the carbon fiber frame will be available for sale to S1000RR owners, thus explaining why its shape mimics the design of the original aluminum chassis. No word on price for that, though.

For the wheels, BMW is claiming a staggering 30% weight reduction over the already light forged aluminum wheels found on the BMW S1000RR. Other tasty bits include Öhlins FGR 300 forks and an Öhlins TTX 36 GP rear shock – some of the best suspension money can buy.

Brakes are by Brembo, of course, and feature two Brembo GP4 PR monoblock brake calipers up front, which have coated titanium pistons and single-piece aluminium calipers, with chemically nickel-plated surfaces. Brembo 320mm T-type steel disc brakes are also used.

With all the upgrades to the chassis, BMW Motorrad made sure not to neglect the engine on the HP4 Race, building it to similar spec as their “6.2” & “7.2” options in the BMW Racing catalog.

This means a peak horsepower figure of 212hp at 13,900 rpm, and a peak torque figure of 89 lbs•ft at 10,000 rpm. Helping this power gain is the fact that the redline has been moved on the HP4 Race to 14,500 rpm, from 14,200 rpm found on the S1000RR.

Of course, all that power would be wasted if their wasn’t an electronics package to match, and BMW has kitted the HP4 Race as if it was a racing machine. Thus, the BMW HP4 Race uses a 2D dashboard, with a full-racing electronics suite.

As such, riders will be able to adjust a bevy of electronics, including dynamic traction control, engine braking, and wheelie control. There is also a pit lane limiter, and launch control feature, thus showing the HP4 Race’s track-only focus.

We haven’t seen pricing details from BMW Motorrad USA thus far, but European pricing seems set at £68,000 / €80,000 for the UK and EU markets, respectively.

Source: BMW Motorrad

Comments