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BMW R1200GS Hybrid 2WD Concept Would Be a Killer Idea

Sometimes, the wildest and craziest ideas are just the right type of fuel great technological progress needs to change the world. As this also applies to the motorcycling world, here's a most interesting concept from the BMW specialists Wunderlich.
Wunderlich BMW R1200GS X2 Hybrid 12 photos
Photo: Wunderlich
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The Wunderlich GS Hybrid is a two-wheel drive motorcycle that retains the full convenience and terrainability of the liquid-cooled machine, but adds the instantaneous torque electric motors come with and the extra grip front-wheel drive bikes have right when one needs it the most.

Unfortunately, it looks like this is more of a dream bike, with the odds of somebody (hear that, BMW?) making it real being technically zero, at least for now.

We've seen Christini machines and we know how neat riding a 2WD bike is, especially on very rough terrain where grip is a big issue. The rather heavy R1200GS could benefit quite a lot from the extra traction the electrically-driven front wheel would provide and make adventuring in rough areas much more rewarding.

The hybrid R1200GS concept received a hub motor for the front wheel, packing 7.6kW of extra power that is independently adjustable, even when the bike is moving. The front wheel alone can pull the GS at speeds up to 20 km/h (12.4 mph), and if you know this BMW, you'll see that this performance is quite appealing.

Italian electric mobility specialists evolt have also been co-opted into the project, and their expertise helped develop the X2 machine as if it were a real production model.

Electric reverse on the R1200GS, how cool is that?

To make things even more interesting, the hub motor also has a reverse mode that moves the 1200GS at 3 km/h (1.8 mph) backwards. This feature is priceless when it comes to backing off from a nasty ravine or dead end, especially when turning the bike 180 degrees is too hard or downright impossible.

Wunderlich also took care of all the chassis set-up needed to compensate the extra bulk on the bike. Regenerative brakes are also in place to provide extra range for the electric motor.

We guess that such hybrid machines will become reality in the not-so-distant future, but until a maker like BMW decides to pull the trigger on the X2, all we're left with is sighs.
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