BMW has made a name for itself with its acclaimed straight six power units that have been used in the Bavarian company`s cars for more than seven decades. Now, BMW`s Motorrad division (the motorcycle division of BMW) are determinted to drop a six cylinder engine in a series production motorcycle and make it work perfectly. This is highly challenging as not many other companies have tried to do this, yet alone succeed.

The German automaker and motorcycle producer has unveiled the BMW Concept 6. The BMW Concept 6 features a sum of aerodynamic components, including air guide elements derived from the new BMW S 1000 RR Supersports and twin tipped engine spoiler for example. Still, it is not exactly sure how much of the design shown on the BMW Concept 6 will make it into a production series version, but BMW has confirmed that they will expand the K-Series in the foreseeable future. The new 1.6 liter straight six cylinder engine for motorcycles is making its debut on the BMW Concept 6. BMW has also revealed that a top of the line BMW touring machine will be the first model to be introduced with the straight six cylinder engine.

The 1.6 liter straight six cylinder engine is said to be approximately 100 millimeter (4 inches) slimmer than all former straight six production engines and only a bit wider than a large capacity straight four cylinder engine with conventional technology. This is an important feature of the compact power unit with cylinders tilted to the front.

The engine also gets dry sump lubrication while the oil reservoir is provided by an oil tank integrated at the rear of the engine block. The BMW Mottorrad Concept 6 will thus have one hell of an engine from which to get its power.

In pure terms of performance, the 1.6 liter engine will have an output in the same range as the 1.3 liter straight four cylinder engine of the Bavarian company which is about 175 horsepower while the torque will be at the top of the range which is more precisely 130 Nm available from 2000 revs per minute up to almost 9000 revs per minute, as BMW says.

A fully controlled catalytic converter is found on the 1.6 liter straight six cylinder engine, which helps to return better fuel economy than a comparable four cylinder under normal touring conditions, as BMW claims.