BMW HP4 RACE
FULL TEST
P100
and resilient carbon-fiber frame
in which its passenger cell, zero
emissions powertrain and the
batteries powering this are all
installed, thus compensating for
those batteries' extra weight.
BMW Motorrad has now
adapted the RTM/Resin Transfer
Moulding manufacturing system
entailed in creating the i3 EV to
a two-wheeled application, thus
becoming the first motorcycle
manufacturer in the world to
develop a conventional twin-spar
frame made entirely of carbon
fiber—and one moreover that
(thanks to RTM) is feasible to
construct on a volume produc-
tion basis, with each frame made
identical to one another.
"The industrially produced
carbon-fiber frame of the new
HP4 RACE opens a whole new
chapter in motorcycle chassis
construction," says Christian
Gonschor, Project Manager for
the HP4 RACE. "In it we are
bringing together optimum tech-
nical qualities, consistent manu-
facturing quality and [economic
affordability] for the first time."
That's because the RTM sys-
tem no longer requires each CF
component to be baked for any-
thing up to 30 hours in a pres-
surized autoclave oven, instead
reducing manufacturing time
to minutes rather than hours,
depending on the complexity
and size of the component. It's
also much less labor intensive,
because instead of patiently lay-
ering up CF sheeting by hand,
the RTM process entails using
ready-made, ready-shaped CF
felt that's laid into a mold, then
injected with resin.
In fact, BMW has adopted
three different CF manufactur-
ing techniques to create the
HP4 RACE, which is, in effect,
Outstanding Brembo MotoGP/
WSBK brakes deliver outstanding
stopping power, while Ohlins
suspension is equally superlative
in compliance and feel.
