BMW Motorrad is showcasing its interpretation of a scrambler motorcycle – the Concept Path 22 – at the Wheels & Waves Festival in Biarritz from June 11-14.
12 Jun 2015 | 4023 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
BMW Motorrad is showcasing its interpretation of a scrambler motorcycle – the Concept Path 22 – at the Wheels & Waves Festival in Biarritz from June 11-14.
The first scramblers in the 1950s were modified road machines with deep-treaded tyres, somewhat increased spring travel and a raised exhaust ...
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BMW Motorrad is showcasing its interpretation of a scrambler motorcycle – the Concept Path 22 – at the Wheels & Waves Festival in Biarritz from June 11-14.
The first scramblers in the 1950s were modified road machines with deep-treaded tyres, somewhat increased spring travel and a raised exhaust for off-road riding. These features gave the bikes a characteristic appearance that came to symbolise an attitude.
"A scrambler is the epitome of a motorcycle beyond established standards and conventions. Performance specifications are not so much of interest – style and originality all the more so. Scramblers express passion and are as varied as their owners. The Concept Path 22 is our own interpretation based on the R nineT. The latter is the perfect basis for a scrambler conversion," says Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad Design.
The BMW Concept Path 22 is the result of a collaboration between BMW Motorrad, the Wheels & Waves organisers, and the motorcycle club Southsiders MC. BMW Motorrad invited the artist Ornamental Conifer and surfboard shaper Mason Dyer of Dyer Brand to design the BMW Concept Path 22 together.
"Based on our scrambler interpretation, we wanted to create a kind of projection of the particular blend of people and cultures to be found at Wheels & Waves. And we found the perfect partners to do just this. The BMW Concept Path 22 captures everything that makes the Wheels & Waves people, festival and lifestyle so special," says Edgar Heinrich. For this reason, the BMW scrambler interpretation has its own distinctive paint finish.
The name ‘Path 22’ refers to one of the insider secrets among Europe's surf spots. This particular stretch of beach is inaccessible to cars, located on the Atlantic coast of southern France, half an hour's walk through one of Europe's biggest pine forests. The path leading to this spot bears the number 22.
"The Concept Path 22 stands for freedom – freedom of thought and its expression. There are no boundaries. The Concept Path 22 is based on the BMW R nineT, which we see as the epitome of a custom bike. It is actually designed to be modified, customised according to individual preferences. The idea of a BMW scrambler is not new to us. Now seemed to be the right time to present our interpretation of this legendary vehicle concept," says Ola Stenegard, head of BMW Motorrad Vehicle Design.
Also read: BMW Motorrad clocks best-ever May salesAt the heart of the Concept Path 22, there is a powerful two-cylinder boxer engine with cardan drive as is typical of BMW. The single-sided swing arm makes the five-spoke rear wheel visible, again a familiar BMW feature. The remainder of the bike is equally genuine and down-to-earth. The classic circular headlamp, the fuel tank and a short seat ensure clear, agile proportions. The body finishes visually above the rear hub, thereby promising versatile handling. Typical scrambler features such as studded tyres, a large front wheel, slightly extended sprint travel and a raised exhaust mean the bike moves effortlessly over gravel and sand.
The BMW Concept Path 22 is stripped down to the essentials. Every element and surface has a function. At the same time, each detail expresses both aesthetic appeal and consummate craftsmanship. In addition to the rustic elements such as the studded tyres and the protective grid in front of the headlamp, there are also high-end details such as the stitched leather seat, the handles with leather inserts and the typical scrambler-style Akrapovic tailpipes in high-quality stainless steel that add a touch of exclusive flair.
High performance parts by Öhlins and Gilles Tooling, clever solutions such as direction indicators integrated in the handlebar ends, the MotoGadget instrument panel and the contrastcut milled parts created by Roland Sands Design further emphasise the bike's quality detail. The milled aluminium wheels – likewise contrast cut – were produced exclusively by BMW Motorrad, rounding off the motorcycle's minimalist appearance.