The final production version of BMW’s stunning carbon HP4 Race that was first revealed in EICMA last year is due to appear in the very near future.
The bike, shown in prototype form in Italy in November, is expected to be the star of BMW’s stand at Auto Shanghai 2017, which opens on the 21st of April.
Although it hasn’t given 100% confirmation of the plans, BMW’s press preview of the show says: “The highlight of the BMW Motorrad stand is the world premiere of one of the most exclusive models ever offered by BMW Motorrad.”
That certainly sounds like the S1000RR-based HP4 Race, and matches the firm’s pledge last November to reveal more details of the production version in spring 2017.
The bike will be the first BMW to use the firm’s new methods to build carbon-fibre main frames. These are understood to open the door to mass-made carbon-fibre chassis parts, even though the carbon HP4 Race model will be a low-volume, hand-made bike.
As well as the carbon frame, the bike has carbon-fibre wheels and a race-tuned engine. With no lights or emissions equipment, it could be even lighter than a WSB racer thanks to its carbon frame. And with well over 200bhp, its performance will be close to that of a MotoGP bike.
The performance is matched by top-level components like Ohlins FGR forks, a TTX shock and Brembo Monobloc brakes.
When the bike is officially unveiled, we’ll finally learn just how light the carbon parts allow it to be and how powerful the engine is. We’ll also discover just how much the handful of customers able to buy them will have to pay for the privilege. If BMW is sticking to the schedule it revealed in November, those lucky buyers will be able to take delivery in the second half of this year.