BMW C1

BMW C1

BMW C1 "Family Friend" model
Manufacturer	Bertone
Parent company	BMW
Production	2000–2003
Class	Scooter

The BMW C1 is an enclosed scooter manufactured by Bertone for BMW.^[1] It was described by at least one publication as a feet-forward machine.^[2]

Models and options

From left to right: C1 200 "Executive", C1 200 "Family Friend", C1 125 base, C1 125 "Executive"

Two models were manufactured. The '125' model has a 124 cc capacity four valve, four-stroke, water-cooled, fuel injected engine producing 15 brake horsepower (11 kW). The '200' model has a 176 cubic centimetres (10.7 cu in) engine producing 18 brake horsepower (13 kW). Both engines were manufactured by Rotax and include a CVT gearbox.

BMW-supplied accessory options could be added at point of sale or sometimes retrofitted such as:

• Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
• 'Fun Audio System' (music system, volume linked to speed)
• Interior reading light
• BMW Immobilizer alarm system
• Lockable glove box with power socket
• Sunroof (as opposed to the standard 'hard top')
• Heated grips and/or seat

Three different options were available for the space behind the rider, all of them with matching key/lock and could be swapped out quickly:

• A large, lockable external storage box
• Luggage rack
• Pillion seat

BMW build quality is particularly noticeable in the pillion seat after market kit. It provides not only the seat itself, but warning/safety stickers, foot pegs and a kit for adjusting the headlights tilt angle as the attitude of the bike changes with different payloads.

A windscreen wiper with washer fluid completes the 'two wheeled car feel' and together with the roof/passenger cell creates a bike which has a higher centre of gravity than just about any other. In addition the rider is held upright against the seat's backrest by a four-point seat-belt. This makes handling at slow speed, and in particular taking corners in tight spaces or manoeuvring the bike at walking pace difficult until experience is acquired. The C1 weighed approximately 185 kilograms (408 lb) with a 40/60 weight distribution towards the back.

History

C1 "Family Friend" with storage box

Black BMW C1 scooter parked on a pedestrian area in a city street

BMW's intention with the C1 was to appeal to car drivers in crowded city streets. The idea was to offer the convenience of a scooter or motorbike but without many of the associated dangers or hassles. The C1's most innovative design feature was its emphasis on safety.

BMW added passive safety and car-like crash testing to the scooter. It claimed that in a head-on collision, the C1 offered a standard of accident protection comparable to a European compact car. That was the prime marketing strategy to convert car buyers; the C1 was claimed to be so safe that the rider did not need to wear a helmet to ride it. This was achieved by using two shoulder-height roll bars, a crumple zone around the front wheel and an aluminium roll cage creating a car-like safety cell. It also had twin seatbelts reminiscent of an aviation style four-point harness to keep the rider in place.

Many countries deemed the use of seatbelts in conjunction with wearing a helmet to be unsafe. The added strain on the riders neck from the added weight of the helmet could cause significant injury to the restrained rider even in a low speed head-on collision.^[3] Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Israel and Spain authorities were quick to allow an exception to the helmet law for the C1. However, poor C1 sales in the United Kingdom may in part be attributable to the British government's refusal of BMW's request to change helmet regulations for C1 riders.^[3][4] Another country that requires C1 riders to wear a helmet is Sweden, although wearing the seat-belts is voluntary. However both seat belts must be secured for the vehicle to move.

After selling 10,614 units in 2001, BMW only sold 2,000 units in 2002, and ceased production of the C1 in October 2002. It was never made available in the USA.

C1-E electric version

In 2009 BMW used the same layout for the C1-E, an electric scooter concept vehicle that it developed as part of the European safety project eSUM ("European Safer Urban Motorcycling").^[5] The C1-E uses components supplied by electric scooter manufacturer Vectrix and is powered by a lithium-ion battery.

See also

• Cabin cycle

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BMW C1.