The BMW R20 Concept Is A Beastly 2.0-Liter Naked Bike
BMW Motorrad’s iconic “Big Boxer” engine is even bigger in this stripped-down street bike.
If you’ve ever wanted to ride a motorcycle with the engine displacement of a Honda Civic, pray that the BMW R20 Concept comes to fruition on the production line.
To be fair, the largest touring bikes have engines that are similarly sized to this fantastical moto’s 2,000-cc—or 2.0-liter—two-cylinder “Big Boxer.” In fact, that’s just 200cc more than what you get in the production R18’s version of the same Big Boxer, which reigns as the largest engine ever implemented in a BMW motorcycle.
But nothing on Earth with that large a powerplant looks anything like the BMW R20. The pink tank—a nod to 1970s-era Beemers—almost jumps out of the provided art and is color-matched to the cylinder head covers, belt cover, aluminum air intake covers, Paralever strut, footpegs, and brake calipers.
The minimal “roadster” styling also evokes thoughts of aggressively bobbed cruisers. Fairings, a windshield, and a passenger seat/pegs are decidedly absent. BMW even incorporated the taillight into the floating single seat, eliminating the need for any bodywork.
Continuing the minimalist theme is the exposed driveshaft, a signature focal point of the R18, which has been shortened for integration into the roadster architecture.
“The R20 concept is a bold interpretation of the BMW Motorrad DNA,” says Alexander Buckan, Head of Design at BMW Motorrad. “It combines modern technical elements with a classic roadster design. Its oversized proportions and minimalistic aesthetic make it an unmistakable character.”
Assuming the R20 concept makes it to production, it won’t quite have the stripped down aesthetic, as mirrors, a license plate holder and turn signals are required by all transportation departments, as Forbes notes. Still, who wouldn’t want to see this “bold interpretation of BMW Motorrad DNA” on the streets.
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