BMW C1 due for a revival?

[Mr Gear]

Having seen this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... it occurred to me that there must be many bikers out there who have packed it in after having an accident or a near-miss.

It also hasn't passed me by that BMW C1 prices are absolutely ludicrous. I have put two and two together to come up with five... These bikes are sought after because they are the only bike that offers the comforts of motorcycling (free parking, congestion-busting, cornering fun etc) with the safety of a car (seatbelts, crumple zone, roll-cage etc).

Now, I know the C1 was short on fun even as far as commuter bikes go, but does having a rollcage and seatbelts make it impossible to make a fun and exciting bike? Would any manufacturer ever be able to make such a bike pay if they made it? Are there enough bikers out there asking for extra safety?

[Mr Gear]

sjtscott said:

They are simply one of the cr*pest forms of 2 wheels vehicles in the world and one that appeals to the non biker. There is one here at my office daily.. the engine is the nastiest sounding POS going, sounds like its in pain and irritates all at the same time. Personally I want to take a sledge hammer and end its misery. LOL

I don't disagree with that, but it doesn't really add to this thread.

[Mr Gear]

smack said:

I would rather take a bus full of smelly people.

I actually wouldn't.

If given a choice between packing in biking altogether and taking a C1, I'd take the C1. That is a dilemma that might be presented to someone who had been involved in a serious biking accident or near-miss. I can't be the only person that sees it that way.

[Mr Gear]

defblade said:

srob said:

I give you the Quasar:

There's a part of me that's still an 8 year old boy in the 70's. And it WANTS that bike (and a Bond Bug ).

It's hard to say without it being parked next to a "normal" bike, but that looks really long.

[Mr Gear]

sprinter1050 said:

He ^ aint got room for a helmet on that anyway so non-starter there :

what was that bike that tilted that had 3 wheels-not the piaggio thing- more like stabilisers at the back ??
There was one at Goodwood FoS a few years back......... or am I losing it?

Carver? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_%28automobile%...

[Mr Gear]

sjtscott said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLP0PxZkJPg&fea...

Certainly in this one I'd like to be wearing a helmet and maybe boots at least.

Watch the other crash test videos too.

Well, the head didn't actually hit anything, but it came awfully close.

Note, if that had been a motorcycle, ankles/legs would have been squashed, but with your feet "inboard" a scooter is safer in that respect, roof or otherwise.

[Mr Gear]

How about... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX86tcpzW6g