BMW 'Concept Ninety'

The BMW 'Concept Ninety' acknowledges this year's 40th Anniversary of the R 90 S, one of the pivotal and most admired motorcycles to ever wear the BMW badge. Created in partnership with Roland Sands Design (RSD), the Concept Ninety takes signature R 90 S styling elements, like the bikini fairing and Daytona Orange paint, and takes them into the modern age.

"Today BMW motorcycles stand for perfection and function. That is what we have worked hard to achieve and something we are very proud of," said Ola Stenegard, Head of Vehicle Design BMW Motorrad at Concept Ninety's unveiling.

"But we want more than that. With the BMW Concept Ninety we want to show how reduced and pure an emotional BMW motorcycle can be."

The Concept Ninety presents as a sporty boxer with a battery of sophisticated details. Its basic configuration takes its cue from the R 90 S, picking up on the demarcation of the bike's proportions that was a hallmark of the time. The upper ergonomic and aerodynamic bodywork is visually separated from the black engine and frame.

Rather than fibreglass or plastic, the Concept Ninety's bodywork was handcrafted from aluminium. Its brushed areas can be seen in the tinted areas of the front fairing and tank, as well as at the tail. The rich orange paint is a nod to the legendary 'Daytona Orange' paintwork of the original BMW R 90 S, a shade that set it apart from the pack when new, and remains a defining element of the model today.

The front fairing is more streamlined, and replaces the halogen beam (very cutting edge for 1973) of the original R 90 S with modern LED elements, but maintaining the link to the past through the use of a round headlight design.

When seen in profile, the dynamically-shaped tank, seat and bobbed tail combine with the fairing to create a slight wedge shape, lending the Concept Ninety a mass-forward look, "like a sprinter about to explode into action," say BMW Motorrad.

Below the bodywork sits the air-cooled flat-twin boxer engine. Finished in black with contrast cut details, this section of the bike almost overpowers the 2-into-4 exhausts, which are tucked close to the powerplant, and fitted with slim silencers.

The silencers, like a lot of the other parts on the Concept Ninety, were hand-made by Roland Sands, in close collaboration with BMW Motorrad Design. Other mechanical parts to receive the RSD touch include the engine front cover and valve covers, which were milled using a contrast cut process, so the bare metal shines against the black components.

The same technology was also applied to the rims, whose classic design recalls the racing triumphs of the BMW R 90 S in the 1970s. The same seven-spoke pattern was also applied to the front disc rotors.

RSD also custom designed and fabricated the Concept Ninety's levers, rear suspension Paralever arm, and underseat air filter.

"It was important for me to translate the special statement made by the BMW R 90 S into the present through the use of unique parts - employing emotional design and cutting-edge technology," Sands said of his approach to the bike.

"Everything just fits together perfectly: the BMW technology, the BMW heritage and our custom parts complement each other beautifully."

Edgar Heinrich, Head of BMW Motorrad Design, added: "The 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 R 90 S was in its time.

"Unlike other custom bikes, the BMW Concept Ninety can be - indeed begs to be - ridden. The motorcycle and all its components have been designed with top performance in mind."


BMW R 90 S - the inspiration for Concept Ninety.

Back in 1973, BMW unveiled its flagship model in the "Stroke Six" range. Boasting a top speed of just over 200 km/h (124 mph), the R 90 S was one of the fastest production bikes of its day and went on to claim numerous prizes in a variety of race series.

Even when parked, the R 90 S radiated a powerful appeal: for the first time in the development process of a motorcycle, a designer had forged a successful alliance of form and function while creating the first motorcycle ever to feature a front fairing as standard. Together with its sporty tail end and striking Daytona Orange paintwork, it endowed the BMW R 90 S with an unmistakable identity.

The design of this bike pointed the way forward, and it wasn't long before other manufacturers were gracing their motorcycles with aerodynamically honed front and rear fairings.

Today, the erstwhile trendsetter is one of BMW's design icons. "The BMW R 90 S hails from an era in which bikers were regarded as outlaws," Edgar Heinrich said.

"There was something rebellious about it - it was fast, loud and wild. Pure emotion. And it has retained its fascination to this day."