Back in 2016, both Ducati and BMW announced new carbon-framed sportbikes. Both shown at EICMA, the Ducati 1299 Superleggera and BMW HP4 Race impressed with their use of the lightweight material. Both made use of carbon fiber frames, subframes and wheels. The Superleggera, however, had a slight edge with a carbon fiber swingarm compared to the HP4’s alloy swingarm.
All that makes it ironic that it’s BMW and not Ducati that won an innovation award for developing a carbon fiber swingarm. The award was handed out by the JEC Group, a composite material organization, recognizing innovation in composite materials for the sports and leisure category. BMW beat out a carbon hydrofoil surfboard and a carbon/polyethylenimine hockey stick.
BMW’s swingarm is of a modular design, with a carbon-fiber swingarm with various additional reinforcement materials to adapt the swingarm for different demands, all using a single injection mold. BMW’s process boasts high scalability and reduced costs, claiming a cost of 25 euros per unit for the basic swingarm design without the additional add-ons. At the moment, the carbon fiber swingarm has not been introduced to any production motorcycle, but we should expect to see it on an updated HP4 Race in the near future.
Begin Press Release:

BMW Motorrad receives JEC Innovation Award. Prize-winning rear swinging arm made of carbon fibre
Munich. On 7 March 2018, BMW Motorrad was presented with the 2018 JEC Innovation Award in the Lei...