Introduced to the European market in 2000, the BMW C1 interpreted urban riding unusually: a roof frame rose above the rider, a windscreen had its own wiper, and the seat came with belts. Together, these elements defined its tall, immediately recognisable silhouette.
Bertone assembled the C1 in Italy. Its drivetrain paired a single-cylinder four-stroke engine with a continuously variable transmission. The C1 200 joined the range in 2001 with a 176 cc engine: the number in its name was not its exact displacement.
As a design, the C1 is interesting for its change of priorities: the space around the rider became the centre of the composition. Viewed today, it shows how the everyday desire for shelter from the weather can reshape a familiar two-wheeled form.