- The patent image has an electric motor mounted in the hub of the front wheel
- Will assist when riding over steep inclines and extreme off-road conditions
- Likely to be showcased at the 2019 EICMA show
While the GS series of motorcycles from BMW Motorrad are popular for their off-road capabilities, the German bike maker appears to be aiming to further improve the motorcycles. The company has filed patents designs for an electrically-driven front wheel that could make it way into the future generations of big GS bikes.
The patent image features an electric motor that has been mounted into the hub of the front wheel in order to provide a two-wheel drive system. When engaged, this supplementary electric drive along with the conventional engine powering the rear wheel should help the motorcycle tackle more challenging obstacles. In simple words, it will essentially offer the rider an AWD configuration. In terms of construction, the electric motor is directly mounted onto the hub as a single unit. In this way, the existing suspension and braking system remains unchanged. The company claims that, with the new electric front wheel drive, motorcyclists will be able to manage bigger GS motorcycles with more confidence during low-speed manoeuvring. The system will be switchable, bi-directional and will operate at low speeds under 5kmph, making it an ideal upgrade for touring motorcycles.
Like most low ratio drives, the hub-mounted motor comes with a reduction gear to further multiply the torque output. The company claims that the electric motor will be capable of offering a peak torque output ranging from 150-200Nm, which should comfortably allow the rider to get the bike through almost any obstacle.
Although, this tech will be initially introduced in touring motorcycles, its application is being considered for quad bikes and well as scooters. With the 2019 EICMA show to be held in November this year, it is likely that BMW Motorrad will showcase an R 1250 GS with AWD.
