AC Schnitzer and their ultra-lightweight BMW M Bike Carbon Racer

By Ryan Konko

Posted on July 31, 2012

AC Schnitzer BMW M Bike Carbon Racer

Where weight reduction is king.

One of the core goals at AC Schnitzer is to reduce weight as much as possible in order to reduce a car’s environmental impact and improve overall performance. So, what better way to showcase your company’s new technology and dedication to reducing weight than with a new bicycle, especially with the Olympics in full swing?

The new BMW M Bike Carbon Racer boasts a weight reduction of 12.7 percent, taking the original weight of 17.4 lbs. (7.9 kg) down to just 15.2 lbs. (6.9 kg). The lower weight helps to improve the overall dynamics of the bicycle and increase the performance provided by the cyclist.

AC Schnitzer was able to bring the weight of the BMW M Bike Carbon Racer down to just over 15 lbs. thanks to the use of new lightweight materials like carbon fiber. The saddle, saddle, support, and crank were all made of carbon fiber, while both of the carbon wheels were developed alongside, Xentis, the Austrian bicycle specialists.

Much of the technology and experience gained by using lightweight materials has translated into the automobiles and products from AC Schnitzer. One example is the AC Schnitzer 99d based on the BMW Z4 sDrive23i, which saw a 506-lb. (230 kg) weight reduction. This enabled the coupe to accelerate to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds with its 190 horsepower engine and return 3.8 liters per 100 km of fuel economy and 99g of carbon dioxide emissions. Another model that benefitted from the lightweight transformation was the AC Schnitzer Raptor based on the MINI Cooper John Cooper Works Coupe that was given a 220-lb. reduction, and became the fastest MINI at Hockenheim.

A great deal of the weight reduction was also achieved through the use of forged wheels made from aluminum alloy. The forged wheels weigh approximately 25 to 35 percent less than traditional cast wheels, and improve the overall driving performance of any vehicle.