UP, UP AND AWAY – BMW CONCEPT STUNT G 310 DESIGNED FOR
PURPOSE
Unveiled at South America’s biggest motorcycle show in
Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo, the new BMW Concept Stunt G 310 has captured
the imagination of stunt-riding fans worldwide, especially for the brand’s
fresh and innovative approach to the genre. With interest high in this unique
world premiere, BMW Motorrad gets the views of some respected ‘insiders’ with
more than just a passing interest in this single-minded, single-cylinder stunt
bike.
We’re used to seeing multiple world champion freestyle
legend Chris Pfeiffer performing trademark tricks on his modified BMW F 800 R
roadster but to see these action shots on the BMW Concept Stunt G 310, you’d
have no idea that this compact, agile design study gives nearly 500cc away to
the familiar 800cc twin-cylinder BMW roadster that is the ‘go-to’ machine for
many streetbike freestyle artists. Needless to say, Chris had some vital input
into how this latest multi-coloured stunt weapon should perform.
“Stunt riding is a demanding and multi-faceted sport.
Ideally you need a compact, agile bike which is also stable and robust at the
same time” said the four-time World and European stunt riding champion.
“You
have to achieve the ideal balance between aggressiveness and control.”
As such, Chris was involved with this project and the BMW
Motorrad design team at an early stage and was able to use his many years of
professional riding experience to suggest modifications and features that offer
skilled performers the chance to shine on the asphalt. For example, there’s a
lockable throttle to keep you rolling during no-hands wheelies. Look closely
and you’ll notice two separate brake calipers at the rear.
The first is
intentionally oversized and is there to slow you down quickly; the second –
even larger by the way – allows you to operate the rear wheel brake with the
middle finger of your left hand, even at the same time as engaging the clutch.
After all you won’t always have your foot on the peg to use the conventional
rear brake, so this allows you to perfectly control the speed of the bike and,
consequently, the height and duration of a wheelie (the front brake is useless
of course when the front wheel is lofted in the air!).
In the quest for ever more progressive performances, stunt
riders (who frequently came from a BMX background) often added pegs in various
places to allow them to move around their bikes. These can be spotted on the
BMW Concept Stunt G 310 on the front axle and also attached to the rear
sub-frame under the seat area. The rider can also ‘surf’ by climbing on the
non-slip seat, or make use of yet another trick part developed by BMW Motorrad.
The special stunt ‘tail’ is milled from solid aluminium and is unique (for the
moment at least!) on stunt bikes. It offers the rider yet another foothold at
the rear of the machine for innovative moves, but should it all go wrong, a
pair of distinctive red crash bars provide additional protection for the
engine.
So in the interests of stunt professionals, function could
be said to take preference over form, but that would be doing an injustice to
the design of the BMW Concept Stunt G 310, which even with its compact
proportions, looks like a bigger motorcycle, albeit a seriously agile one. This
was something that captured the attention of fellow professional stunt
performer Mattie Griffin, who like Chris, has also put his faith in a modified
BMW F 800 R for many years.
“At first glimpse, I was struck by just how mean this bike
looked and I was surprised to learn that it was only 310cc and not more, as it
looks solid – not like other bikes of this cc that look small and skinny,” said
Irishman Mattie, who is regularly seen in action at BMW-supported events across
the globe. “I really like the idea of the reverse cylinder to shorten the
wheelbase of this bike and how the exhaust is tucked away makes it really
modern looking. I guess what comes to my mind each time I look at the BMW
Concept Stunt G 310 is that I really want to ride this bike!”
Talented designers and clever engineers have combined to
produce a small-capacity bike that certainly appears to punch above its weight.
A low-slung front and raised tail section promise fast and nimble changes of
direction, while the short wheelbase allows for increased agility and dynamic
riding. The reason it’s hard to spot the rear silencer is because it’s not in
the usual place, but actually in a vertical position squeezed between the
engine and spring strut. It’s well protected here and – importantly – doesn’t
limit the rider’s freedom of movement.
To really appreciate the design though, it is worth looking
at the BMW Concept Stunt G 310 at a standstill, without a rider. Even
stationary, there is a sense of movement, emphasised by the ‘winged’ contours
of the fuel tank, the floating panels and lines that direct the eye towards the
front. The visible engine block suggests the weight is carried low, while the
narrow front view draws attention to its high level of agility.
As for the colour concept, you’ll see the white, red and
blue colours of BMW motorsport, combined with the national colours of the
Brazilian flag (because of its unveiling at the Salão Duas Rodas) in a
spectacular neon green and yellow colour scheme. As Edgar Heinrich, Head of BMW
Motorrad Design puts it: “The BMW Concept Stunt G 310 is a real eye-catcher.
Everything on this concept seems to be shouting out to ride it and defy the
laws of gravity.”
We hope that one day, you will have the chance to ride a
bike like the BMW Concept Stunt G 310, but until then, check out the BMW Concept to
find out more.
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All the best
BirotarUK
