Is This the Future of BMW? R20 Concept Hints at a Powerful New Era

BMW Motorrad recently unveiled a new concept motorcycle called the R20. It was presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and is scheduled from May 24 to May 26, 2024.

The distinctive features of the R20 concept are its craftsmanship and big boxer engine.

BMW Motorrad refers to the R20 concept as a roadster, even though it looks like a cafe racer or bobber. As of now, the brand has not announced whether the R20 concept will see production. The motorcycle gets a redesigned fuel tank from the 1970s, finished in a color dubbed “hotter than pink”. The paralever strut, footrest system and ISR brake calipers are finished in gunmetal, while the cylinder head cover, belt cover and air intake funnel are made of polished and anodized aluminium. According to the official press release, the R20 concept motorcycle has a single seat. Fine-grain leather and quilted black Alcantara are used to complete the seats, and BMW has integrated the rear LED tail lamps into the seats themselves. LED daytime running lamps with 3D-printed aluminum ring are included along with LED headlamps.

Additionally, the air-oil-cooled Big Boxer engine, now with a displacement of 2,000 cc, remains at the heart of the BMW R20 concept. Meanwhile, new cylinder head covers, belt covers and oil coolers were designed for the concept bike to partially hide the oil pipes. There are twin loudailer exhaust pipes with a cool finish.

The chassis has been completely redesigned, with the backbone being a black double-loop main frame made of chrome-molybdenum steel tubes. The front wheel is a 17-inch spoke, while the rear wheel is a 17-inch black disc. The rear tire size is 200/55, while the front tire is 120/70.

The BMW R20 concept blends historical and modern aspects. The swingarm is made of chrome-molybdenum steel, while the paralever strut is made of aluminum. The open driveshaft is derived from the R18 but reduced for use in the roadster architecture. Ohlins Blackline suspension components are fully adjustable and operate both front and rear. The basic geometry of the vehicle includes a steering head angle of 62.5 degrees and a wheelbase of 1,550 mm. Radially mounted ISR brake calipers on the front and rear handle deceleration, with six pistons at the front and four pistons per brake caliper at the rear.