Last November, LEGO announced its first ever LEGO Technic model to be produced in cooperation with motorcycle manufacturer, BMW Motorrad. The LEGO Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure (42063) is a sort of two-in-one set that highlights BMW’s ingenuity in pushing the boundaries of technology and innovative transportation. The build is impressive in itself, being a faithful representation of BMW’s bestseller. When the set was revealed last year, one of the questions that struck me is the thought of as to why the LEGO Technic designers of the BMW R 1200 would opt to rebuild it as a hovercraft of sorts. Since it is a 2-in-1 build, it turns out that the alternate form of the BMW R 1200 is a futuristic hover vehicle – a kind of concept that seems to have been lifted from a not so distant advanced future.
As it turned out, there is a particular reason and story behind this move. A life-sized model of the BMW R 1200 GS in its Hover Ride mode will eventually be presented in the LEGO World Event in Copenhagen. Read on to know the details of this event in the press release below. The LEGO Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure (42063) will be available tomorrow Friday at shop.LEGO.com retailing at $59.99. Instructions for building its Hover Ride version can be downloaded here.
Getting ready to fly! LEGO Technic® BMW R 1200 GS Adventure Design Concept Hover Ride
– Unique design concept model – “Design Concept Hover Ride”
– Developed in collaboration with BMW Motorrad design teams
Munich, February 16th 2017 – BMW Motorrad partnered with LEGO® Technic to transform one of the best motorcycles in the world into a LEGO model. The BMW Motorrad R 1200 GS Adventure model celebrates innovative design and engineering. A pure building adventure in 603 pieces. The alternative model as part of the typical LEGO Technic 2-in-1 building set is now taking this icon one step further – into the future.
In a very creative and inspirational atmosphere design teams from BMW Motorrad and LEGO Technic joined forces andjointly developed the LEGO Technic Hover Ride complete with innovative functions and the signatory GS flyline allowing all fans to rebuild the BMW Motorrad R 1200 GS Adventure into a unique design concept model that removes all limits to motorcycles and allows imagination to fly without vesting technical plausibility.
“What would happen if we designed a bike together? What would happen if we removed all limits for the alternative model? So we set the BMW Motorrad and LEGO Technic design teams a challenge, a challenge that has resulted in this amazing bike. Collaboration between our two teams was driven by passion and respect for the DNA of each other’s brands. It was fantastic to see how engaged and inspired each team was by working together, but I don’t think either of us ever imagined that this project would turn out as it did. I guess it just proves that you can create anything with LEGO Technic. Even the future”, says Andy Woodman – Senior Design Manager for LEGO Technic.
“It was a great idea and a superb creative challenge to develop a fictitious model from the parts of the LEGO Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure set. Our concept not only incorporates the BMW Motorrad design DNA with typical elements such as the boxer engine and the characteristic GS silhouette, it also draws on the LEGO Technic stylistic idiom”, says Alexander Buckan, Head of BMW Motorrad Vehicle Design.
The life-size model of this design concept Hover Ride will be presented today during the LEGO World event in Copenhagen and will travel afterwards to different locations in Denmark and the “BMW Welt” in Munich.
40 years of LEGO Technic.
The highly detailed LEGO Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure contains not only this unique design concept model as part of the typical LEGO Technic 2-in-1 building set. There is also another surprise for collectors. As the LEGO Group is celebrating 40 years of LEGO Technic this year, a specially embellished LEGO Technic element is hidden in the set.