Skip to main content

In 100 years, BMW thinks motorcycles will look like this self-balancing concept

With the reveal of its Motorrad Vision Next 100 concept motorcycle, BMW has rounded out its centenary celebration with design studies from each of its brands.

The BMW Vision Next 100 model wants to make you a better driver, the Rolls-Royce 103EX wants to make you a more comfortable passenger, the Mini Vision Next 100 concept wants to facilitate effortless urban mobility, and now Motorrad’s Vision Next 100 creation wants to help you escape.

Recommended Videos

“Motorcycling is about escaping from the everyday: The moment you straddle your bike, you are absolutely free,” said Edgar Heinrich, head of design for BMW Motorrad. How does the Vision Next 100 concept motorcycle let you escape? Without the need for a helmet or protective gear, the futuristic two-wheeler lets riders fully experience the elements.

Part of the bike’s design includes classic BMW cues like the black frame triangle (pioneered by the 1923 BMW R32), white lines, and boxer engine shape. Because this bike is powered by a “zero emissions solution,” there is no actual engine, just the appearance of one. What that solution is, exactly, is a mystery, but the housing actually extends outwards when the bike is in motion, aiding aerodynamics.

One of the Vision Next 100’s most noticeable features is its Flexframe, which looks like a single piece that connects the front and rear wheels. Because of its malleable nature, it actually helps the bike steer without joints. Just turn the handlebars and the frame turns with it. It’s Gumby’s perfect motorcycle.

As a whole, the bike concept has a naked appearance but its design elements function like a full-faring moto. The large metal reflector above the front wheel has a built-in daytime running light and also helps deflect wind. The seat, upper frame cover, and wings are made of carbon.

The styling is obviously impressive, but more incredible is the technology. The variable tread on the tires helps dampen the bike, the safety systems will automatically balance the bike if the rider is losing control (even if the bike is tipping over while stationary), there’s a “Digital Companion” working in the background to alert riders of upcoming hazards or to take over in emergency situations, and a digital visor shows telemetry, navigation, and other data across the rider’s field of vision by tracking his or her eye movements. There’s almost too much technology to list.

The Motorrad Vision 100 Next concept was unveiled alongside intelligent riding gear. The suit warms or cools the rider based on weather conditions, the neck section inflates to provide extra support for the upper vertebrae, and built-in sensors will alert the rider when banking angles become critical. It may look like a fashion statement without the need for bulky protective padding, but it’s as much an engineering feat as the bike itself.

“The BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 unites the best of both worlds – digital and analogue – for the ultimate emotional experience,” said Heinrich.

BMW has envisioned every element of how riders will engage with their machines decades from now. I won’t say it’s an ideal situation for those who crave control and traditional mechanics, but it’s undeniably innovative.

Miles Branman
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
I tried an e-bike for the first time and now I’m hooked
It’s not about being a 'bike person', it’s about finding small upgrades to everyday life
A woman sitting on the Aventon Pace 4

Before this year, I’d never even touched an e-bike before, and the thought of riding one was never on my radar. With life already in constant motion thanks to two toddlers, biking wasn’t something I ever considered adding to the mix.

I’d always assumed e-bikes were for hardcore commuters or serious cyclists, not someone like me. I wasn’t looking for a big lifestyle change. I just wanted a quicker way to get to the park so we’d have more time to play before dinner.

Read more
This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern
Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

Read more
Take a peek inside the factory making tomorrow’s ride
A Zoox robotaxi.

Amazon-owned Zoox has opened its first facility producing fully autonomous robotaxis. 

A video (above) released by the California-based company offers a peek inside the factory, which, when it reaches full capacity, could roll out as many as 10,000 autonomous vehicles per year.

Read more