Clever rheocasting process used to reduce weight
A new BMW patent application has been published showing what appears to be the swingarm of the next-generation BMW superbike.
BMW has already officially shown the ‘2027’ M1000RR and S1000RR superbikes, with the ‘M’ version getting a new, thin-walled version of the cast alloy frame to cut weight while the S model gets new colours and revised accessory packages for next year. But it’s also been seen testing a near-production version of the Concept RR superbike that appeared at last year’s Villa d’Este concours. The next-gen bike appeared at a public event at the Nürburgring in Germany, and BMW Motorrad boss Markus Flasch has even posted an Instagram reel showing him closing a garage door on a dimly lit, but similar-looking machine. In short, BMW is already ramping up the hype train for the next-gen superbike, even if it turns out to be branded as a 2028 model.
The new patent application from the company shows a swingarm that looks identical to the design seen on the Concept RR and the prototypes spied at the Nürburgring, with a design that’s much more enclosed than the current S1000RR/M1000RR swingarm.
It explains that the new design is made using a rheocasting process, where the metal is ‘electromagnetically kneaded’ to reach a semisolid state that the patent explains has a texture like cold ice cream. Once in that state it’s pressed into a die or mould. The advantage is that this process allows the use of particularly thin walls, under 3.5mm thick, while retaining the desired level of rigidity and strength.
The patent shows that the swingarm is made from two main castings, the left and righthand sides, which are cast with strategically placed strengthening ribs on their inner surfaces and welded together to form the main swingarm structure. Additional panels are then welded into place on the inside to cover the rib structure.
While BMW has already revealed 2027 updates to the M1000RR and S1000RR, that doesn’t discount the possibility that the next-gen bike will be shown before the end of this year. We’ve seen similar things from BMW before, when bikes that are due to be superseded within months have, nonetheless, been given new colours and minor tweaks.
The impending new superbikes mean BMW has a bumper crop of updated machines on the way for launch soon. The brand has already started teasing the existence of the production version of the R20 Concept, powered by an enlarged version of the R18’s massive boxer twin, and recent spy photos in Germany, paired with a crop of trademark registrations, show that an M1300GS model is on the way. Beyond that we can also expect more machines based on the TVS-built F450GS twin-cylinder platform.
