A while back, BMW brought out the E-Scooter Concept that would be previewing the brand’s electric drive line. Not much has been said about the production model as of yet, but our spy photographers were quick to click when they spotted this future electric bike testing, and they say it sounds just like a gas-powered model.
It is believed that the scooter caught testing is, in fact, a production version of the BMW Concept C unveiled in 2010 at the EICMA Motorcycle Show. Known as BMW’s maxi scooter, the new model will use a 650 cc engine and will be offered in two different versions. However, don’t expect to see much from the concept in the production version, especially those blue tires and lasers that made many fall in love with it to begin with. Those will definitely not be showing up as the production model will adopt a more conventional appearance.
Whether its by design or just a case of trivial coincidence, there seems to be a growing trend towards the development of new and powerful trikes these days. Sure, this is how the auto industry works; concepts come and go frequently. But in the case of trikes, there appears to be renewed interest in the segment, one that has spurned manufacturers to come out with their new models.
We already saw what Scorpion Motorsport did with the P6, and now we have a concept trike model coming straight from the Land Down Under.
This is the Trike Strike by Design+Industry, a concept design that illustrates just how much potential there is in the trike segment. It’s far from being green-lighted into production, but it does give us an idea of the future that lies in front of us, one that could very well be defined by a multitude of high-powered trikes running around our streets in the future.
Details after the jump.
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Ducati might not really think at building a single-cylinder naked for the crowd of beginners and motorcycle enthusiasts looking for an affordable and fuel-efficient two-wheeled commuter, but – as this sketch reveals – they don’t know what they’re missing. The concept, designed by Oberdan Bezzi and called Ducati Desmolight 450 is dedicated to all adrenaline junkies out there, so it should be sporty and versatile, just the way riders expect an Italian bike to be.
Using Ducati’s distinctive styling and an entry-level approach towards the bike’s every single aspect (forget the Brembo brakes), any bike looking like that as it comes out the Borgo Panigale’s factory could really make it in the real world. But in the end this remains only a very plausible concept bike.
Having “smelled” the recent frenzy generated by the launch of the all-new Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré and Ducati Multistrada 1200, which come as direct competitors for the BMW R1200GS, Oberdan Bezzi decided to bring a fourth player to the game in the form of the Honda Africa Twin 1200. He so revives the Japanese enduro legend that was only produced with a middleweight engine (750cc) through the 1990s and up until 2003.
In order to make it on today’s much more competitive market, the new bike would have to develop around 140hp and rely on an extremely versatile chassis, just to start with. Comfort, good looks and many touring accessories should tip the scale in favor of Honda if they ever decide to revive the Africa Twin in the upgraded form demanded by today’s enduro standards. We believe Obiboi’s sketch marks the spot.
Here’s another interesting motorcycle sketch that has just emerged from the magic hands of Oberdan Bezzi, who not only sees the Ducati Desmotracker as just a new Duck, but an important part of a whole new lineup that is supposed to be called “single demo”. The other one would be the Desmoscrambler that we have recently seen.
Although Ducati didn’t quite seem an adept of the single-cylinder engine configuration lately, we have to admit that Obiboi’s concept looks plausible and very attractive, the kind of bike that Steve McQueen would have liked to ride. Click past the break for the official description (google translation).
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