In case you haven't noticed, the electric motorcycle market has been on an absolute tear these last few years, with big reveals and new models coming from brash startups and established manufacturers alike. Amid all the din, some have argued that the silence from Munich has been almost deafening; other than the less-than-exciting C evolution scooter, we haven't seen any real full-size electrics rolling down the autobahn from Bavaria, unless you count its I-series autos.
Until now. Although it’s still in concept form, the new Vision DC looks like Bavaria’s serious step into the full-size electric two-wheel segment. It takes the profile of a seriously futuristic roadster but packs in up-to-date tech (though BMW provided no specs) and also manages to riff on BMW’s signature boxer twin architecture with two ribbed horizontal elements positioned over the electric battery, thus providing function while still mimicking past convention.
The design was revealed at BMW’s NextGen event in Munich, where BMW heralded the Vision DC’s references to the company's iconic boxer engine. “The boxer engine is the heart of BMW Motorrad—an absolute stalwart of its character,” said Edgar Heinrich, head of design BMW Motorrad. “But BMW Motorrad stands for visionary zero-emissions vehicle concepts too. The Vision Bike shows how we’re able to retain the identity and iconic appearance of BMW Motorrad in distinctive form while at the same time presenting an exciting new type of riding pleasure.”
BMW managed to retain engine bay’s visual importance and basis for the bike’s entire architecture by vertically fitting the large contoured battery in a longitudinal orientation at the center of an aluminum frame. The two side elements, fitted with integrated ventilators, protrude into the air stream to provide cooling, and once you start the electric motor, they push out slightly, signaling the bike is ready to roll. Underneath lies a relatively compact cylinder-shaped electric motor that’s directly connected to the shaft drive, cleverly continuing another familiar BMW architectural element.
From the side, the Vision DC is all sci-fi, with an aggressive dynamic silhouette that reveals a clear front-wheel orientation with a low front that angles up to a stubby, high rear section. There’s no fuel tank, just a flat, tubular structure that streaks rearward, appearing to integrate a seat as it stairsteps upward. Premium materials like carbon fiber and aluminum are undoubtedly there to reduce overall weight and solidify the Vision DC Roadster’s modern tech aesthetic. Red contrast accents and brushed aluminum near the battery, frame, and cooling systems further draw attention to the bike’s dynamic geometry and detailed finish.
But it's really the mechanical elements like the exposed shaft and Duolever fork that draw your eyeballs, possibly because they're familiar touchstones. The minimalist design of the lighting is definitely forward-looking however, with the headlamp's LED daytime riding light in a dynamic U-shape framed by two compact LED lenses on either side for low and high beam. Another modern touch is the custom-made Metzeler tires which get five integrated, tiny fluorescent elements on their sidewalls to create a cool graphic effect but also to provide added visibility. Take a look at the video to get a better idea of how the riding position cants the pilot slightly forward, and how the cooling elements stick out into the airstream.
Will we see the Vision on a production line anytime soon? Probably not in this form, but it’s safe to say that the architecture, packaging, and technology on this concept are further along than the Vision Next 100 concept we saw three years ago, so there’s some hope we’ll see a similarly configured EV from BMW in the near term.
