BMW Built A 125cc Motorcycle That Wanted To Be A Car, And It Failed Spectacularly
Back in the early 00s, BMW came up with what they believed could be an innovative solution to urban mobility. By enclosing a scooter with a roof, it could offer the comfort features usually associated with a car, and the convenience usually associated with a scooter. To some extent, it made sense in congested European cities.
The BMW C1 Never Made It To The US
For obvious reasons, the C1 never made it to the US. It was a vehicle specifically designed to take on some of the most congested cities in Europe, but also flattered to deceive in its designated target market.
The main issue was the fact that BMW decided to specifically target car buyers, or those that wouldn’t usually be predisposed to purchasing a motorcycle. This strategy worked wonders for Honda back in the 60s, but it is fair to say that the C1 was no Super Cub. Even though it only had a small scooter engine, it had a dry weight of over 400 pounds thanks to that big roof. So, it was incredibly heavy and underpowered for what was supposed to be an entry-level motorcycle.
It also had a car-like seat, with a seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt on a motorcycle is disconcerting, and it made a bike that was already awkward to ride that much worse. After a strong start in 2001, sales tapered off rather dramatically the following year, and BMW were quick to kill off the model, which became more of an urban liability than a solution to urban mobility.
The Most Practical Way To Stand Out
Somehow one ended up in the US. The bike in question is the 200 Executive, which has an 18 horsepower 176cc Rotax engine. Technically, this is the slightly less underpowered version. It beggars belief that there was also a 125! While it was ever so slightly more economical, 400 pounds is a lot for a little 125cc engine to lug around.
If you are willing to put the time and effort into getting used to riding a (slow) scooter with an aluminum cage around it, these bikes are economical, and fantastically practical in an urban environment (not so much on the open road). At the time of writing, the leading bid was sitting at $4k, which is not bad if you are after a truly unique bike that will stand out from the crowd. Just don’t use that stupid seatbelt. Seriously, just wear a lightweight open-face helmet and pretend the seatbelt isn’t even there.
Source: Bring a Trailer
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