Motorcycles

Mysterious featherweight HP4 Race represents BMW's first foray into carbon fiber frame technology

Mysterious featherweight HP4 Race represents BMW's first foray into carbon fiber frame technology
BMW wowed EICMA with the mysterious HP4 Race
BMW wowed EICMA with the mysterious HP4 Race
View 13 Images
BMW has used carbon fiber for the HP4 Race
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BMW has used carbon fiber for the HP4 Race
Details about the HP4 Race are a little thin at the moment
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Details about the HP4 Race are a little thin at the moment
A full-race readout instead of the traditional dash display on the BMW HP4 Race
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A full-race readout instead of the traditional dash display on the BMW HP4 Race
The BMW HP4 Race on the floor at EICMA 2016
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The BMW HP4 Race on the floor at EICMA 2016
Brembo brakes on the BMW HP4 Race
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Brembo brakes on the BMW HP4 Race
The HP4 Race is built around a gorgeous carbon fiber frame
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The HP4 Race is built around a gorgeous carbon fiber frame 
A sexy carbon fiber Akrapovic exhaust lets the engine on the HP4 breathe freely
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A sexy carbon fiber Akrapovic exhaust lets the engine on the HP4 breathe freely
The sinister BMW HP4 Race
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The sinister BMW HP4 Race
The carbon fiber frame of the HP4 race in all its glory
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The carbon fiber frame of the HP4 race in all its glory
The HP4 Race will be revealed in full in 2017
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The HP4 Race will be revealed in full in 2017
The carbon wheels on the BMW HP4 Race
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The carbon wheels on the BMW HP4 Race
BMW wowed EICMA with the mysterious HP4 Race
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BMW wowed EICMA with the mysterious HP4 Race
The HP4 Race will be BMW's most exclusive bike ever when it goes into production
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The HP4 Race will be BMW's most exclusive bike ever when it goes into production
View gallery - 13 images

BMW Motorrad has unveiled another of its ultra-tasty, super-exclusive HP specials for EICMA 2016. Built on the exceptional S1000RR platform, the HP4 Race will join Ducati's Superleggera as the only bikes on the market with full featherweight carbon fiber frames and wheels.

Although BMW is promising big things from the HP4 Race, it is keeping its cards close to its chest at the moment. We do know that the prototype is built around a carbon-fiber frame and rides on carbon-fiber wheels. All the body panels are finished in a lightweight weave as well, lending them a race-ready look you simply won't get with any other material.

The carbon fiber frame of the HP4 race in all its glory
The carbon fiber frame of the HP4 race in all its glory

Where Ducati's 1299 Superleggera goes a step further with a full carbon swingarm, BMW has opted for aluminum. We don't yet have any information on any engine changes, power figures or a final weight.

Beyond that? Well, BMW Motorrad President Stephan Schaller wasn't exactly forthcoming with details, beyond saying: "The HP4 RACE will feature the full carbon fibre main frame and carbon fibre rims as shown here. We will reveal more about this model next spring."

Details about the HP4 Race are a little thin at the moment
Details about the HP4 Race are a little thin at the moment

Along with details about the frame and wheels, we also know the HP4 Race (in one form or another) will be hand-built in limited numbers in the second half of 2017. It's good to see manufacturers other than Ducati starting to dabble in carbon frames; perhaps some of the race results in late 2000s MotoGP set the technology back a little, but it seems things might be getting back on track.

Stay tuned for all the latest from EICMA 2016, where New Atlas is on the ground covering all the action.

Source: BMW

View gallery - 13 images
3 comments
3 comments
possum1
F1 cars use carbon fibre frames, so using the same stuff for bike frames is a logical progression. Although, carbon fibre wheels may not survive on less than perfect roads . Cant wait to see on in the flesh.
Martin Hone
Nothing new about CF frames, or wheels for that matter. Not so good on the street, but fine for racing. However, a rigid CF frame can be too rigid for its own good, making the bike hard to ride on the limit as insufficient feedback to the rider.
notarichman
Title??? where are the weight figures?