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This is what a safe,
environment-friendly and highly practical single track vehicle for city
traffic could look like in the future. BMW Motorrad developed the C1-E
study as a contribution to the European safety project eSUM. This study
unit is based on the concept of the BMW C1. It is characterized by a
very high level of active and passive safety and is driven by an
electric motor.
The BMW C1-E provides exemplary
protection for its rider. This is ensured by the safety cell with the
conspicuous roll-over bar which dynamically spans the rider seat in
combination with the energy-absorbing impact element at the nose end. A
further special point is that the C1-E rider wears a seat-belt. In the
study this safety feature is highlighted by red belts and belt buckles.
Visually the concept vehicle expresses
brand typical sheer driving pleasure and clearly distinguishes itself
from typical scooter looks. Its lines are dynamically stretched and flow
horizontally with a low visual centre of gravity. The fairing with its
windscreen, the luggage space behind the rider and the side stand for
effortless parking ensure high suitability for everyday riding combined
with a high degree of wind and weather protection.
The electric motor employed in the
study has been designed for city use and is based on components by the
company Vectrix. The motor obtains its power from a lithium-ion battery
and thus possesses sufficient power for mastering most inner-city
traffic riding with ease. Alternatively the vehicle could also be
equipped with an efficient, low-emissions internal combustion engine.
The safety features of the C1-E have
been taken from the former BMW C1 and further enhanced. BMW's
avant-garde two-wheeler is regarded as a milestone in safety on two
wheels. It is the only motorised single-track vehicle to be exempt from
mandatory helmet wearing in almost all European countries
This BMW Motorrad study is to remain
the only model of its kind. Series production is currently not planned.
Nevertheless, findings from the project will find their way into other
future developments in the field of single-track vehicles.
eSUM stands for European Safer Urban
Motorcycling. It is a cooperation project between major urban European
motorcycling centres and motorcycle manufacturers. The cities currently
involved in the project include Paris, Rome, Barcelona and London and
the manufacturers are BMW and Piaggio.
The advantage of two-wheeled
transportation is that it offers a great opportunity for improving the
flow of traffic in urban locations. Moreover, it is environmentally
friendly and lends itself to individualisation. However, the vast
majority of accidents occur in urban traffic, in areas where 80 percent
of the population live. The idea behind eSum is to look into ways of
countering this trend. The joint goal is the identification,
development, and practical demonstration of measures which are able to
guarantee safe motorcycle and motor-scooter transport in the inner-city
traffic of the future.
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