BMW had more than one concept vehicle at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Besides the 3.0 CSL Hommage study, there was also the BMW Motorrad Concept 101 motorcycle, a big touring bike that is described by the manufacturer’s head of design as “the perfect embodiment of American touring”.



The name Concept 101 refers to the engine’s displacement of 1,649 cc – approximately 101 cubic inches, the American unit of measurement for cylinder capacity. BMW Motorrad says the in-line 6-cylinder engine delivers an “enormous torque,” but the the Concept 101 is more about the riding experience than acceleration figures.

The number 101 also stands for the place where the bike was created, not far from Highway 101, at the design studios of the BMW Group subsidiary Designworks in Newbury Park, California.

The Concept 101 is BMW’s interpretation of a “bagger” – a type of custom bike especially popular in the US. It features a very elongated and streamlined silhouette typical of baggers, reaching the highest point at the front trim. The characteristic styling of the bike “visually suggests a forward urge,” while the two side cases integrated in streamlined form also qualify it as a bagger.

The bike features tailpipes on both sides, each with three outlets, one for each cylinder. The silver paint surfaces are combined with brushed aluminum, carbon, and dark wood elements.

On the seat, the study features fine-grain black leather on the side sections and perforated black leather on the seat area itself, with a brown leather strip separating these two distinct sections.

The bike was built by custom bike specialist Roland Sands in close collaboration with the BMW Motorrad design team.

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