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BMW Strikes Gold with Bolt-On Carbon Fiber Frame Brace System

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Until now, most of the moto-industry has stayed away from using carbon fiber in motorcycle frames. Carbon fiber is a solid material, but the g-forces needed for sound structural chassis components in motorcycles make the creation of a reliable, durable carbon fiber frame extremely expensive – and not a few chassis have been tossed out in frustration after years of research. Ducati attempted a carbon fiber chassis recently for MotoGP racing, but the frame would not work competitively with the demands of the ride. Today, they use the same aluminum materials as everyone else.

According to Cycleworld, BMW has just filed a patent that shows how it might incorporate carbon into the frame of future versions of their S1000RR superbike – and the results look surprisingly familiar.

blueprints that show addition of patented chassis brace to BMW frame


This isn’t BMW’s first rodeo when it comes to carbon fiber. 18 years ago, the company launched the 2003 M3 CSL Coupé with a roof completely comprised of carbon fiber. Since then, further strides have been made with the i3 and i8, both of which sport complete carbon unibody frames. BMW also owns the ultra-light HP4, the only track bike currently sporting a carbon fiber chassis – but the company’s efforts to lighten other bike components led to an exorbitant price tag. To anyone purchasing the HP4, BMW reminds the customer that the engine has to be rebuilt – not to be confused with servicing – every 5000km. And as if that weren’t enough of a novelty, they recommend the customer choose to buy a new $15,000 engine over rebuilding to cut down on personal costs.

back-right view of the new HP4 with carbon fiber chassis


So what does this mean for the newly filed patent that BMW submitted? It means that BMW has found a way to add removable and replaceable carbon fiber-strengthening panels (similar to what is used on today’s MotoGP bikes) to a lightened alloy chassis without the result compromising on strength or costing an arm and a leg – something precious in a world where bikes are getting lighter and stronger by the day.

side view of new patent-pending chassis brace from BMW


To quote Cycleworld, “the rigidity balance of the frame can be easily altered or tuned by simply redesigning the carbon panel, which itself is a single molding that’s much easier to manufacture than a complete frame.”

With BMW already in possession of factories dedicated to the mass-production of carbon fiber and carbon parts, it’s obvious that this patent is the tip of the iceberg for the high-aspiring manufacturer.



The post BMW Strikes Gold with Bolt-On Carbon Fiber Frame Brace System appeared first on webBikeWorld.

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