Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este witnessed two special launches (read concepts) from German Manufacturer BMW. While one celebrates the alliance of BMW with reputed Italian Car Designing Firm Carozzeria Pininfarina showcasing the sharp but stunning Gran Lusso Coupe, the other commemorates 90 years of BMW’s Motorrad and the 40th anniversary of the iconic BMW R90S motorcycle.
The R90S was BMW’s two wheeled offering way back in the 1970s. A 898cc air cooled boxer twin engine producing 67 bhp could propel the R90S to a top speed of 200 kph and also won the first United States AMA Superbike Championship.
A group effort between BMW Motarrad and California based custom bike builder Roland Sands, the BMW Concept Ninety exemplifies the character of the RS90 using an air/oil cooled boxer twin engine producing 110 bhp. Retaining visual cues of the RS90, the Concept Ninety draped in Daytona Orange paintwork features similar front cowl and trimmed rear with a short rear seat. And though the headlamps look retro-styled, they house in a cluster of modern LED lights.
Head of BMW Design Edgar Heinrich remarked “BMW Concept Ninety is sheer enjoyment in every respect, from the development of the idea to the sketching stage to the construction process. But above all when you’re riding it. It’s an absolute riding machine – just like the R90S was in its time.
Roland Sands- founder of Roland Sands Design said “Everything just fits together perfectly: the BMW technology, the BMW heritage and our custom parts complement each other beautifully,” said Sands on the result of this collaboration.
Though right now the motorcycle in itself looks nothing more than a concept, but it’s speculated that BMW has trademarked the name “NineT” reserved for a future production bike.