IN
THE
WIND
P34
BMW CARBON FIBER CHASSIS ON THE WAY?
W
e could be about to see carbon fiber making
the leap into the motorcycle chassis busi-
ness, if the latest word from BMW is anything to go
by.
British title MCN is reporting BMW has filed
patents for two carbon fiber designs, a traditional
beam frame that would most likely be fitted to
something like the company's S 1000 RR Super-
bike and a modular trellis frame that would go with
the company's GS range.
BMW already has the capability to make such
designs thanks to the firm's car wing. The i3 elec-
tric car and i8 Hybrid run full carbon monocoques,
and the 7-Series runs a carbon fiber safety cell
around the passengers. The company expects to
make 100,000 cars with carbon construction in
2016 from a production run of two million.
The obvious advantage in creating carbon struc-
tures is dramatically reduced weight. Aircraft parts
made from carbon fiber can weigh as much as 40
percent less than conventional alumi-
num units, which would bode well for
motorcycles where less weight is a goal
manufactures are constantly chasing.
But a carbon fiber frame would likely
come at a cost, and be reserved for
their premium brands until manufactur-
ing processes and costs develop to
make the material a viable alternative to
aluminum and steel. CN
Imagine a BMW S 1000 RR with a carbon
fiber chassis! Yes, please!
POURCEL STAYING
PUT AT ROCKSTAR
HUSQVARNA?
Prior to the Utah National, Rockstar En-
ergy/Husqvarna Racing's Christophe Pourcel
was said to have been in the final steps of
negotiating and signing a deal to keep him at
Husqvarna, indoors and outdoors, for 2016.
A lot of people have been anxiously waiting to
see the two-time 250cc Supercross Cham-
pion race a 450 indoors, and it looks like we
may get that opportunity in a few months.
Steve Cox
Looks like we might see Christophe Pourcel race Supercross
again next year, but this time in the 450 class.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
STEVE
COX
