Škoda reimagines its L&K motorcycle for the modern era

Škoda says its passion for design has been a driving force for 130 years, and that iconic models from the brand’s history continue to provide design teams with inspiration. To highlight Škoda’s ‘back catalogue’ of classics, the brand has developed a series of re-imagined icons, with its latest concept not only being ‘the boldest yet’ but also the first to incorporate the brand’s ‘Modern Solid design language’.

The new concept blends minimalism with strength, focusing on bold shapes, clean lines, and functional forms. It also reflects a shift towards electric mobility, sustainability, and digitalisation, taking its inspiration from the Slavia B motorcycle. This was designed and built under the Laurin & Klement brand (the company that would eventually become Škoda Auto) and was deemed ‘incredibly advanced’ for its time and responsible for ‘cementing the brand’s reputation for innovation’.

The concept was led by French designer Romain Bucaille, who normally works on Škoda car exteriors. He said: “I wanted to go back to the brand’s roots; and as someone who also loves motorcycles, this was a refreshing change and a great creative challenge.”

Sporting legacy
The front of the concept reflects Václav Laurin’s pioneering work in motorcycle geometry and control, while a minimal, floating seat and integrated leather tool bag reference the bike’s sporting legacy and is a ‘subtle homage’ to Narcis Podsedníček, the factory rider who famously finished the 1901 Paris-Berlin race aboard a Slavia B.

Mr Bucaille said the design process was hands-on from the start. “I began with pencil sketches; and while it had been a while since I had drawn a motorcycle, the great thing about sketching on paper is that it’s instant. No need for a screen, just ideas flowing freely.”

Those sketches eventually evolved into a trio of digital renders, each exploring different aspects of the concept’s form before the final design emerged. This reinterpretation of the Slavia B is not destined for production, but it does serve as ‘a compelling statement of intent’. Škoda said that with more iconic reworks to follow, the company is showing that ‘its future vision is firmly rooted in a rich and inventive past’.