Patent images reveal that BMW Motorrad is working on active aero devices which could well find their way into the upgraded S 1000 RR, and possibly other models, in the near future.
Filed in Germany, these patents also show that active aerodynamics will likely be the next big thing in bikes, firstly since bikes have started to sport winglets on them, thus making them active is the next logical step, but chiefly because many other manufacturers are also working along the same lines.
What would drive manufacturers to develop the tech faster are WorldSBK’s latest set of regulations which allow the use of moveable bodywork during races. Thus, while manufacturers introduce it on their racing machines, the tech will trickle down to road-legal motorcycles as well.
As for the patent images that show BMW Motorrad active aero, we can see a simplified diagram that shows aerodynamic wings placed on the fairing, front forks, rear swingarm and next to where the pillion passenger would sit.
What is different with BMW’s system is that unlike Honda’s patents, where the wings seem to have been designed to retract when not in use, the ones on the German schematic seem to be designed to be present at all times.
This could also mean that each winglet would potentially move independent of one another, providing the rider with even more stability than fixed winglets could possibly do.
At present, we can only guess that this technology would first be used on the S 1000 RR in the future to give it even more potential to go faster around a race track.
Or perhaps, it may be used first on the rumoured MS 1000 RR, a model that is even more track-focused, supposedly being developed by BMW Motorrad’s M Power Performance subdivision.
BMW Motorrad Active Aero
- Patent images of BMW Motorrad’s active aero device leaked
- They can be seen on four parts of the bike in the images
- Might get launched in the future with the S 1000 RR
Source – Visordown.com