Munich/Biarritz.
Exciting custom bikes, real characters, the Atlantic coast, arts
and music – that is what Wheels Waves is all about.
Within a period of only five years, the festival near Biarritz has
become the epitome of a unique type of motorcycle culture. Here
festival visitors celebrate a special feeling of freedom which goes
beyond the conventions of everyday life. The setting is laid back and
the atmosphere is characterised by creativity, individuality and
mutual respect. The deeply engrained passion for motorcycles, both on
behalf of organisers and visitors, has made Wheels Waves a
legendary event within a very short time.
Inspired by the past Paris-Dakar Rallye heroes and their victorious
BMW machines, BMW Motorrad is showing a completely new interpretation
of the BMW R nineT perfectly in line the with spirit of the Wheels
Waves Festival. Its name: the BMW Motorrad Concept Lac Rose.
“Since it was first introduced on the market, the BMW R nineT has
become a popular bike for customizers and finishers as can be seen at
Wheels Waves. This makes us very proud and spurred us on to
create something special for this festival, something no one has seen
from us yet”, says Edgard Heinrich, Head of Design at BMW Motorrad
explaining the background of the concept bike. “The BMW Motorrad
Concept Lac Rose is our laid-back and very individual interpretation
of the bike that won the Paris-Dakar Rallye in 1985 – fully in line
with the spirit of Wheels Waves and its visitors. It puts the
BMW R nineT into an exciting new context and shows what passion for
our brand heritage, imagination and a few modifications can achieve.”
Lac Rose – the last stage of the Paris-Dakar.
Lac Rose is the French name of the rose-coloured Retba salt lake,
located 35 km North East of Dakar and less than one kilometre from the
Atlantic coast. The legendary Paris-Dakar rallye ended here following
the many strenuous stages through the desert. The podium is located
right at the lakeside and the winners receive their awards amid the
crowd of enthusiastic fans. The BMW factory machines, modified by the
company HPN, rode to victory three times in a row in the middle of the
80s. Gaston Rahier took the third win in 1985 with start number 101.
BMW G/S meets BMW R nineT.
The BMW Motorrad Concept Lac Rose has the typical features of the
former victory bike based on a modern, street-oriented version.
Outstanding off-road qualities are consciously omitted. “Essentially
the bike is a cool and laid-back roadster with a few typical off-road
features which allow you to leave the street and follow a dirt track
into the unknown”, says Edgar Heinrich. “It is this combination of
customizing, coolness and unconventionality which make this bike so special.”
The windshield with typical rallye equipment, the characteristic
headlamp design with the high mudguard, a large fuel tank and a short
rallye seat bench are all reminiscences of the legendary bike. All
these elements are responsible for the characteristic horizontal
flyline of the BMW G/S bikes of the time, giving the BMW Motorrad
Concept Lac Rose its essential proportions. Longer suspension travel
as well as spoke wheels with studded tyres are as mandatory as the
colour combination of signal red on alpine white and the start number 101.
The hallmark BMW two-cylinder flat twin engine with shaft drive is
located at the centre of this well proportioned bike. It is held in
tubular frame with contrasting colour design which also harks back to
the successful off-road bike. Elements such as the protective headlamp
grille, the oil cooler protector and the distinctively perforated
underride guard pick up the uncompromisingly functional design of the
race bike and transfer its design features into the modern era. High
performance parts as well as exclusively designed details such as the
valve covers illustrate BMW’s claim to workmanship and manufacturing
quality thereby rounding off the high quality appeal of the BMW
Motorrad Concept Lac Rose. The exclusively designed BMW rider
equipment consisting of suit and helmet – based on the BMW enduro
helmet – gives the BMW Motorrad Concept Lac Rose design study a
further stylish touch.
Wheels Waves – Festival.
The Wheels Waves Festival takes place from 8 to 12 June 2016 in
Biarritz on the French Atlantic coast. The event was called into being
in 2012 by the local Southsiders Motorcycle Club and became one the
hottest hangouts of the new custom scene within a very short period of time.
Last year alone, around 10,000 visitors flocked to the Cite l’Ocean
on the beach of Biarritz which is also the centrepiece of the
festival. Wheels Waves offers an exciting programme including
surf competition, art exhibitions, sprint races and ride-aways across
the spanish border.
BMW Motorrad is the main sponsor and is presenting numerous further
custom bikes and R nineT conversions in addition to the BMW Motorrad
Concept Lac Rose at a 100 sqm stand.
In case of queries please contact:
Renate Heim, BMW Motorrad Communication
Tel.: +49 89 382-21615, Fax: +49 89 382-23927
Markus Sagemann, Head of Communication MINI, BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49 89 382-68796, Fax: +49 89 382-23927
Internet: www.press.bmw.de
E-mail: presse@bmw.de
The BMW Group
With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group
is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility
services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31
production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global
sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and
137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial
year was approximately € 9.22 billion on revenues amounting to € 92.18
billion. As of 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of
122,244 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
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