Every year, the most impressive representatives of the mobile past and future on both two and four wheels assemble at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este for a very special get-together on the shores of Lake Como. Amid this extraordinary blend of the traditional and the contemporary was the cool BMW Motorrad Concept 101.

The name “Concept 101” indicates the capacity of the concept bike, which has its roots in the USA. The capacity of the six cylinders is 1,649 cc – approximately equivalent to 101 cubic inches, which is the American unit of measurement for cylinder capacity. Further keeping in line with American tradition is the bagger theme. Unlike the low front section and the high rear of superbikes, the BMW Motorrad Concept 101 has a drop-shaped silhouette that is typical of baggers, reaching the highest point at the front trim. Below this, the large front wheel appears to pull the flat, stretched silhouette behind it. At the same time, the characteristic styling of the bike visually suggests a forward urge. Two side cases integrated in streamlined form add the final touch of a quintessential bagger.

The dynamically designed front trim in brushed aluminium is flatly integrated into the flow of the styling. The integrated headlamp with double circular appearance gives the front section a distinct and highly expressive look. It also provides the point of departure for the characteristic split face which runs across the entire bike through to the rear in the form of a brushed aluminium trim section. Tailpipes on both sides, each with three outlets, visualise the number of cylinders and potent torque of the engine. The unusual rear light cluster provides a frame for the dark-coloured rear section in the form of two LED bands. The design, while reminiscent of former road cruisers, make for a unique technical and aesthetic style.

The entire design of the “Concept 101” right through to the colours and materials attempts to reflect power and contemporary flair. The side trim parts and cases feature an elaborate two-colour finish – a light silver surrounds the surface while the inner section is a somewhat darker silver with more of a metallic effect. The two areas are separated by a line marking applied by hand. The paint finish also includes a shadow effect which gives the manually applied line marking greater depth towards the inside. The dynamic front trim adds a touch of cool, technical style with its unpainted, brushed aluminium. The aluminium’s modern, technological statement is supplemented in the bike’s lower section by means of generous carbon surfaces with a silky gloss.

Amid silver paint surfaces, brushed aluminium and carbon, there are dark wood elements that add a warm, exclusive counterpoint. The elaborately milled wood, only treated with oil, emphasises the horizontal gesture of the side sections with its discreet grain. The model designation is integrated in the wood surfaces as an elaborate aluminium insert and badge. On the seat, two leather qualities further reflect the bike’s exclusive character: the fine-grain black leather of the side sections adds a touch of elegance to complement the perforated black leather of the seat area itself. A brown leather strip separates these two distinct sections.

The concept bike took concrete shape on the premises of Roland Sands. In close collaboration with the BMW Motorrad design team, Roland Sands assembled the parts of the “Concept 101” at his own workshops. Sands produced numerous individual elements exclusively by hand; as a result, signature machine parts such as the clutch cover, timing chain cover and wheels all bear his logo, discreetly bearing witness to a collaboration that has proved successful for many years.