Lightweight construction saves energy, improves driving dynamics and has long been one of AC Schnitzer's core skills. With the BMW M Bike Carbon Racer by AC Schnitzer, the Aachen company showed what weight saving could achieve on an unusual subject: a vehicle without an engine, powered purely by muscle.
On a road bike every gram counts, which made the result all the more impressive. The specialists cut the weight by 12.7 percent, from 7.9 kg as standard to just 6.9 kg, and the dynamics of the BMW M Bike Carbon Racer improved noticeably as a result.
New carbon wheels, developed together with the specialist Xentis, led the changes. A carbon saddle, a carbon seat post and a new crankset saved further weight and made the bike more dynamic for the same effort from the rider. The parts list also included a SRAM Red cassette, a Ritchey WCS handlebar, Continental 4000 S tyres, Tune components and Look Keo Carbon pedals.
The idea mirrored AC Schnitzer's work on cars. What muscle power is to the bike, the engine is to BMW and MINI models by AC Schnitzer, and there too the company relied on lower weight for better dynamics, exactly as it had done on the road bike.
Key facts
- Weight cut from 7.9 to 6.9 kg
- 12.7 percent lighter
- Carbon wheels developed with Xentis
- Carbon saddle and seat post
- SRAM Red cassette, Look Keo Carbon pedals
