The 2016 Hybrid BMW R1200GS with electric front wheel drive

Like with most ‘hybrid’ tagged bikes, the GS gets a conventional petrolpowered motor (the stock unit) but this bike differs with the addition of a 7.6kW electrical motor which drives the FRONT wheel too.

Called the BMW R1200GS LC, the bike is a world first with a usable front-wheel electric drive to either power the bike independently or work alongside the petrol motor. And all you can see of the system are a couple of wires that feed into the front wheel hub plus a couple of controls mounted to the top of the petrol tank cover.

The electrical motor is so powerful that with the petrol engine turned off, the front-wheel drive unit can propel the bike and rider along at 20kph. It’s also so versatile that it can work as a front-wheel powered reverse gear up to 3kph!

But that’s not all. This system is so advanced that every time you hit the front brake you also regenerate the electric motor’s battery.

The system is activated by the switch (on, off or neutral) on the fuel tank and the power to the front wheel is dialled in with the adjustable drive dial also sited on the tank, and when used in conjunction with the petrol motor acts like a genuine twowheeled drive system to help ride through extremely tough terrain.

Wunderlich CEO Frank Hoffman said: “The increased performance can be clearly felt when you ride the bike. This is another of our concept vehicles which symbolise our know-how and our status as a manufacturer of ideas.”

The system that powers the front wheel is co-made by Italian company E-volt. So far there’s no news about price for the system or availability, but this is a real bike that really works.

For more information (well, why not see if you can’t get this put on your GS?) give Wunderlich a shout on email: export@wunderlich.de or the web at: www.wunderlich.de Kawasaki UK has announced the prices for the full 2016 range.

The new ZX-10R costs £13,649 for the Metallic Matt Carbon grey and £13,799 for the KRT Colour scheme – the ‘Winter Test’ limited edition will go for £14,399.

The J125 scooter in Metallic Anthracite Black and Metallic Frosted Ice White goes for £3799 and a special edition of Metallic Anthracite Black and Candy Blazed Green for £3899. The Z800 Sugomi Edition is priced at £8349 and the Z1000 is £10,749.

The updated ZZR1400 model will cost £11,799, the ZZR1400 Performance Sport model is £14,499. Triumph has revealed price and spec for it’s Street Twin 900cc Bonnie – the bike will cost £7300 and comes with 54bhp @ 5900rpm and 59lb-ft of torque – 18% more than the old model managed at the same revs.