BMW Motorcycles

About BMW

BMW's motorcycle history began in 1921 when the company commenced manufacturing engines for other companies. Motorcycle manufacturing now operates under the BMW Motorrad brand. BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) introduced the first motorcycle under its name, the R32, in 1923.

BMW merged with Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in 1922, inheriting from them the Helios motorcycle and a small two-stroke motorized bicycle called the Flink. In 1923, BMW's first "across the frame" version of the boxer engine was designed by Friz. The R32 had a 486 cc (29.7 cubic inches) engine with 8.5 hp (6.3 kW) and a top speed of 95 to 100 km/h (59 to 62 mph). The engine and gearbox formed a bolt-up single unit. At a time when many motorcycle manufacturers used total-loss oiling systems, the new BMW engine featured a recirculating wet sump oiling system with a drip feed to roller bearings. This system was used by BMW until 1969, when they adopted the "high-pressure oil" system based on shell bearings and tight clearances, still in use today.

The R32 became the foundation for all future boxer-powered BMW motorcycles. BMW oriented the boxer engine with the cylinder heads projecting out on each side for cooling as did the earlier British ABC. Other motorcycle manufacturers, including Douglas and Harley-Davidson, aligned the cylinders with the frame, one cylinder facing towards the front wheel and the other towards the back wheel. The R32 also incorporated shaft drive. BMW has continued to use shaft drive on its motorcycles and did not produce a chain driven model until the introduction of the F650 in 1994.

In 1931, BMW introduced the single-cylinder shaft-driven R2, which, as a 200 cc motorcycle, could be operated in Germany without a motorcycle licence at that time. The R2 headed a series of single-cylinder BMW motorcycles, including the 400 cc R4 in 1932 and the 300 cc R3 in 1936.

The BMW R12 and R17, both introduced in 1935, were the first production motorcycles with hydraulically damped telescopic forks.

In 1937, Ernst Henne rode a supercharged 500 cc (31 cubic inches) overhead camshaft BMW 173.88 mph (279.83 km/h), setting a world record that stood for 14 years.

Construction was so good that during World War II Harley-Davidson copied the BMW engine and transmission—simply converting metric measurements to inches—and produced the shaft-drive 750 cc (46 cubic inches) 1942 Harley-Davidson XA.

The terms of Germany's surrender forbade BMW from manufacturing motorcycles. In 1946, when BMW received permission to restart motorcycle production from US authorities in Bavaria, BMW had to start from scratch.

In 1955, BMW began introducing a new range of motorcycles with Earles forks and enclosed drive shafts. These were the 26 hp (19 kW) 500 cc R50, the 30 hp (22 kW) 600 cc R60, and the 35 hp (26 kW) sporting 600 cc R69.

On June 8, 1959, John Penton rode a BMW R69 from New York to Los Angeles in 53 hours and 11 minutes, slashing over 24 hours from the previous record of 77 hours and 53 minutes set by Earl Robinson on a 45 cubic inch (740 cc) Harley-Davidson.

For the 1968 and 1969 model years only, BMW exported into the United States three "US" models. These were the R50US, the R60US, and the R69US. On these motorcycles, there were no sidecar lugs attached to the frame and the front forks were telescopic forks, which were later used worldwide on the slash-5 series of 1970 through 1973. Earles-fork models were sold simultaneously in the United States as buyers had their choice of front suspensions.

In 1970, BMW introduced an entirely revamped product line of 500 cc, 600 cc and 750 cc displacement models, the R50/5, R60/5 and R75/5 respectively and came with the "US" telescopic forks noted above. The engines were a complete redesign. The roller and ball-bearings in the bottom end had been replaced by shell-type journal bearings similar to those used in modern car engines. The camshaft, which had been at the top of the engine, was placed under the crankshaft, giving better ground clearance under the cylinders while retaining the low centre of gravity of the flat-twin layout. The new engine had an electric starter, although the traditional gearbox-mounted kick starter was retained. The styling of the first models included chrome-plated side panels and a restyled tank. The /5 series was given a longer rear swingarm, resulting in a longer wheelbase. This improved the handling and allowed a larger battery to be installed.

The /5 models were short-lived, however, being replaced by another new product line in 1974. In that year the 500 cc model was deleted from the lineup and an even bigger 900 cc model was introduced, along with improvements to the electrical system and frame geometry. These models were the R60/6, R75/6 and the R90/6. In 1973 a supersport model, the BMW R90S, was introduced. In 1975, the kick starter was finally eliminated.

In 1995, BMW ceased production of airhead 2-valve engines and moved its boxer-engined line completely over to the 4-valve oilhead system first introduced in 1993.

Moto blog

BMW GS Rider Rescues Cow Calf From Canal [Video]

As a motorcyclist I’ve made it my duty to stop and lend assistance any time I see a fellow rider that looks like they’re in need, a sort of paying it forward mentality for the many times I found myself in need of a hand. In most instances the rider stopped on the road’s edge had pulled to the side temporarily to resolve an innocuous issue, but occasionally a rider genuinely needed my help. In either case the riders were grateful that a fellow motorcyclist was checking up on them.

French Moto Website Anticipates Versys 1000 at EICMA 2011

Musings of a liter-size engined Kawasaki Versys have circulated the web for a few years now, as loyalists of the likable Versys 650, as well as displacement-driven riders waiting in the wings, have pondered the potential of a more powerful adventure bike from Kawasaki that’s in the same league as BMW’s R1200GS and Yamaha’s Super Tenere. Alas, nothing of the sort has ever left the lips of Kawasaki, let alone go into production. Recently, however, the French motorcycle website, Moto-net.com, has produced convincing images that appear like photos of a complete Versys 1000, including matching hard luggage.

EICMA 2011 Preview: BMW Maxi-Scooters to Debut in Milan

BMW will present its 2012 lineup at the upcoming EICMA show in Milan, Italy, but the centerpiece will be the company’s first maxi-scooters. The German manufacturer is expected to reveal two scooter models, both derived from the Concept C BMW unveiled at the 2010 EICMA show. The two scooters are expected to be powered by a version of the parallel Twin engine used in the F800R, but with a lower displacement in the 500cc-650cc range.

Ridden: BMW R1200GS Adventure

My first meeting with a BMW GS was an unfortunate one. It was going back a few years now (certainly pre-Charlie McGregor era) Having just picked up this new model, I’d ridden 100 miles on a warm summer’s evening to reach my house by dusk. Mindful of the fact that said house contained two frenetic, bark-happy border collies and a small, sleeping child, I cut the ignition, whipped the clutch in and planned a gentle coast up to the area outside my front door.

Steve Jobs: Rest in peace

Like me you probably discovered the news of Steve Jobs' death on an iPhone, an iPad or iMac. Years before turning Apple into the cool brand that it is today, Steve Jobs rode round on an old BMW. Apple said his "brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives.

2012 BMW G650GS Sertão Announced

BMW has unveiled a new more off-road oriented version of the G650GS. Named for a dry backlands region of northeastern Brazil, the 2012 BMW G650GS Sertão adds longer-travel suspension and wire-spoke wheels to make it a more capable machine for off-road adventure riding. The Sertão’s 41mm fork offers over 210mm of travel compared to the regular G650GS’ 170mm.

BSB Superstock Championship Winning BMW S1000RR Stolen

British Superbike racer Richard Cooper’s BMW S1000RR racebike was stolen mere hours after winning the 2011 British national Superstock title. Thieves reportedly broke into the Buildbase BMW race team’s truck after it returned to the team’s base in Leicestershire, England, from the series-clinching round at Britain’s Silverstone circuit. According to the team, thieves optained the keys to a van holding Cooper’s winning motorcycle and Superbike class racer John Laverty’s BMW S1000RR Superbike.

Zero Demonstrates Technology to U.S. Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood received a personal demonstration of Zero Motorcycles’ 2011 product line in San Francisco. “We are honored to be here and to see the interest from Secretary LaHood.

My S1000RR has stopped but it's only a broken chain.

I know there has been a lack of blogging on my S1000RR recently and that’s because it’s broken, but only a little bit. On July 18th I was at Silverstone looking after some Bahnstormer BMW customers, when late in the afternoon something hit me on the back as I was charging down the Wellington Straight. At that precise moment I also thought I had hit a false neutral but it turns out the chain had snapped.

BMW Concept e Electric Scooter Revealed

This post has been updated with new photos thanks to BMW finally getting around to moving its concept models off the show stage and out to the better lit outdoor exhibit area. Details are still to come but these are our first pictures of the new BMW Concept e electric scooter. The electric maxi-scooter concept rode onto BMW’s main presentation stage along with the Husqvarna E-go youth-oriented electric motorcycle concept.