100 years of bmw

1 01 9 1 7On July 21st, 1917, under the leadership of KarlRapp and Max Friz the Bayerische Flugzeugwerkerenames itself Bayerische Motoren Werke (BavarianMotor Works). Their logo, representing an airplanepropeller in the blue sky, would remain throughoutthe company’s history. At 3,400 employees, BMWrecruited Franz Joseph Popp from Daimler tobecome it’s managing director. The company’s pri-mary output; the v12 airplane engine.

1 9 1 8BMW, in the midst of an economic boom funded bythe German air force, takes its 3500 employees andgoes public. Primarily focused on manufacturing forthe Fokker DVII – arguably one of the best aircraft ofthe time – the future appears to be all blue skies forRapp, Friz, Popp and company.

1 9 1 9With the Treaty of Versailles (signed June 28th) end-ing WWI, Germany is now forbidden to manufactureairplanes. Max Friz, the head designer for BMW atthe time, reluctantly looks to motorcycle and auto-mobile engines to sustain the company’s economichealth. A sharp turn away from the 6 and 12 cylinderairplane engines the company was making, Friz putshis aero-engineering knowledge to work and withinfour weeks of being commissioned has blueprints forwhat would become the infamous "boxer" engine.

What would eventually become the Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) began as two sepa-rate companies. Gustav Otto’s Flugzenmaschinenfabrik (Air Plane Factory) in Munichmerged with Karl Rapp’s Flugwerke Deutschland on March 7th, 1916 to become theBayerische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Airplane Works). Initially specializing it the design andmanufacture of airplane engines, the company would manufacture for Germany’s fledglingair force, including the Baron Von Richten, better known as the Red Baron.

heritage/history www.bmwmotorcycles.com

2 01 9 2 0Kurt Hanfland designs the "Kurier" engine, a tiny 2-stoke, 148cc motor. Eventually it is incorporated intoa combination bicycle/motorcycle called the "Flink"(a word ironically meaning ‘speedy’ – which the Flinkwas not). The heavyish bike with its under-poweredengine requires vigorous pedaling to start. The Flinkflunks and is never sold under the BMW name.

1 9 2 1Max Friz and Martin Stolle collaborate on the M2B15– the first "flat twin" or "boxer" engine. Based on theBritish Douglas design, it is manufactured by BMWbut used in the motorcycles of other brands likeCorona, Heller, Helios and Scheid. In this same yearthat BMW sells off the assets of the original OttoFlugzenmaschinenefabrik which continues its ownmanufacture of Flottweg motorcycles. BMW will buythe works back in 1937.

1 9 2 2Rudolf Schleicher develops the first light-alloy cylin-der head. It proves to be on of the essentialimprovements that leads to the second, and ulti-mately more successful, version of the boxer engine.Meanwhile the M2B15 is only moderately successfulas a motorcycle engine. Some speculate this isbecause BMW’s heart is still in airplanes.Regardless, toward the end of this year Max Frizpushes to improve on the flat twin.

Only a few years before, Germany was a booming industrial power. But, in the aftermath ofWWI, high inflationary rates and a general lack of money for luxury items placed economicpressure on domestic manufacturers. Fortunately, motorcycles were seen as an importantmeans of transportation (especially with so few cars available) and 80% of BMW’s prod-ucts went to business clients. Even in a tight economy BMW didn’t skimp on parts orprocess. The years between 1923 and 1939 would be looked back upon historically asBMW’s heyday.


2 01 9 2 3The R32. It is Max Friz’s reluctant (his heart is still inairplane engines) improvement on the earlierM2B15 engine designed with Martin Stolle thatleads to BMW to its first serious motorcycle. Usingother design developments like RudolphSchleicher’s aluminum-alloy cylinders, Friz engi-neers a motorcycle with a 486cc engine that at8.5BHP reaches a top speed of about 60mph.Characterized by the transversely mounted M2B32‘flat twin’ engine, a gearbox which forms a singleunit with that engine and a driveshaft as opposedto a chain and sprocket drive, the R32 becomes thefoundation for all future machine designs until theintroduction of the K Series in 1983. It would alsowhet the appetite for racing motorcycles that wouldcome along in a few years.

1 9 2 4After only one year in the motorcycle business,BMW wins it’s first German racing championship,setting the groundwork for a history of trophy tak-ing. Ruldolph Schleicher is named chief designer,replacing Friz who returns to his first love, airplanes.Because he is a racer, Schleicher brings a passionto his designs. This passion would set the bar forexcellence which BMW would continually striveto raise.

1 9 2 5Schelicher’s first original design, the R37, is intro-duced this year. Very obviously a racing version ofthe R32, it achieves a modest 11mph more than itspredecessor but has twice the power (500ccwith16BHP @ 4000rpm) and humorously, nospeedometer. The R37 goes on to win 100 races inGermany. But it is an expensive machine to manu-facture and only 152 are ever made. BMW’s firstsingle cylinder bike, the R39 makes its debut thisyear also. And while on the subject of speed, itshould be noted that the R32 is given a much-needed front brake this year as well.


2 01 9 2 63000 R32’s have been sold by this time. Thoughmore expensive than competitor models, theBMW name seems to warrant the expense inthe public’s eye. 1926 is a good year for racingtoo and Rudolph Schleicher wins theInternational Six Days Trial for BMW. It isGermany’s first ever gold medal in the event.Perhabhp out of jealousy, Grenville Bradshaw ofEngland accuses BMW of copying the ABCengine. The claim cannot be backed up and ismore or less ignored.

1 9 2 7Another excellent year in racing for BMW. PaulKoppen earns his first of two (and three consec-utive for BMW) wins at the Targa Florio in Sicily.BMW has by this point manufactured 25,000motorcycles with its newest model, the R47 sell-ing 1720 machines in 18 months. An extraordi-

nary pace at the time. Cheaper than the R23,the R47 would replace it in production as well asreplacing the R37 and R39.

1 9 2 8BMW releases its first 750cc motorcycle, theR62. Designed as a touring machine (but withheadlights costing extra!) the R62 holds BMW'slargest engine (the M5651). Reaching a top


3 01 9 3 0Though having made a name for itself in racing,BMW temporarily retires from competition to attendto business needs – namely a national economicdownturn. It manufactures its smallest bike, the198cc R2. The R2 is the first motorcycle to use aone-piece ‘tunnel’ crankcase. Marketed as a com-muter bike, the R2 is a very successful model forBMW. They go on to sell 15,207 of them. Much ofthe success lies in German transportation law, whichimposes no road tax or special license requirementsfor small motorized vehicles.

1 9 3 2Smaller motorcycles continue to thrive in a question-able world economic environment. In fact it is so badthat the onslaught of the Great Depression forces17,000 German companies to file bankruptcy. BMWis hit hard, but manages to stay in business bydeveloping more economy models like the R4.Similar in principle to the R2, it has a 398cc single-cylinder overhead valve engine that can achieve12BHP of power at 3500rpm.

1 9 3 3The R4 continues to sell well attracting the attentionof the growing Third Reich. BMW’s 4,720 employeesare commissioned by the German military to produceR4’s in the army’s olive drab. Between 1932 and1938 about 15,000 R4’s will be manufactured for mil-itary use. This arrangement helped BMW stay inbusiness despite worldwide economic problems. Sodoes the first automobile made entirely at a BMWfacility – the 303 – which makes its first appearancethis year as well.

While America’s economic woes began to influence the German economy, BMW continuedits charge forward in the middle of its hey day years. The release of the next generation oftwins, plus a foray into smaller, fuel-efficient models sustained BMW through lean years. Bythe decades’ end, with the rumblings of WWII growing louder, BMW had kicked into high-gear, manufacturing heavily for the German war effort.


3 01 9 3 5BMW introduces the R12, a motorcycle most notableas the first production model with hydraulicallydamped telescopic front forks. This advancement isa major leap forward in motorcycle manufacturing. At745cc the R12 achieves 20 BHP at 3,400rpm buttrades off on its power with its enormous weight of408lbs. Despite its bulk, the R12 can reach a topspeed of 75mph. It is the most successful model inthe inter-war years, propelling BMW to 11,113employees and 128million Reichmarks of businessannually. This is the first year BMW produces morethan 10,000 bikes in a single year.

1 9 3 6Wiggerl Kraus brings BMW back into racing fullthrottle by riding the supercharged Kompressor com-petitively. The Kompressor goes on to win numerousraces for BMW and Germany including the renownSenior TT at the Isle of Man. It is a variation onRudolph Schleicher’s new R5, itself considered bymany to be the best bike of the 1930’s. With the R5,BMW returns to tubular frames and introduce rear-plunger suspension. Topping out at 87mph, the R7 ispowered by a 500cc twin camshaft engine. Its stylingdefines a ‘classic beauty’ that will last until the1960’s.

1 9 3 7On 11/28 Ernst Henne again breaks the land-speedrecord, this time raising it to 173mph and is named"The Fastest Man on Two Wheels." His record willstand for 14 more years. Also in racing, EnglishmenJock West rides a Kompressor at BMW’s first visit tothe Isle of Man Senior TT. Again BMW’s reputationfor power and performance garners the attention ofthe German military which orders 15,000 340cc R35singles (an update of the earlier R4). The R35 is thelast single to use the pressed steel "star" frame. Itgenerates 14BHP of power at 4500rpm and a topspeed of 62mph.


3 01 9 3 8BMW delivers its 100,000th motorcycle from the production line. By now the company hasintroduced rear suspension on all production bikes beginning with the R61. BMW introduces atotal of six new models this year including the last single before the war, the R23. Other modelsof note in this year were the R51 which was popular with traffic police and the R66, the mostpowerful twin yet offered to the public (597cc, 30BHP at 5300pr). The R71 is also introducedthis year and is the last ever of BMW's side valve engines.

1 9 3 9The beginning of WWII finds BMW employing 27,000 workers. Many at the company have beenturned to aircraft manufacture, developing the 14 cylinder 810 radial engine that is fitted intothe Focke-Wolf 190 fighter plane. In fact, BMW’s entire corporate strategy has turned towardmilitary applications as have its competitors. But motorcycles still figure largely into BMW's rep-utation and this year Georg ‘Shorsch’ Meier becomes the first foreigner on a foreign machine (aKompressor) to win the Isle of Man Senior TT. British teammate Jock West brings BMW a sec-ond place finish in the same event. -


4 01 9 4 1BMW's primary motorcycle contribution to the war effortwas the specially designed R75. Equally efficient on and offroad it would spur numerous imitations. 18,000 R75s weremade based on Alex Von Falkenhausen’s design. With itsoverhead 750cc engine it could achieve 26BHP at 4000rpmand had a drive mechanism for the sidecar wheel as wellas hydraulically assisted breaks. The extra braking beingnecessary to stop its 925lb girth. With an extra large gastank, two seats and a sidecar, the R75 was used forreconaissance, communication and attack (when mountedwith a machine gun). It is also the ‘stereotypical’ WWIImotorcycle as seen in many movies on the subject.

1 9 4 5Just before the end of WWII, the German governmentordered BMW director Kurt Dornarth to destroy the Munichproduction facilities. This order Dornarth promptly ignored.A year later, the occupying American military will make thesame request. And again Dornarth will ignored it. Instead,BMW survives by manufacturing farm equipment, bicycles,utensils, pots and pans – supplies to help the now impov-erished German people.

1 9 4 6The Eisenach facility, which is surrendered to the Soviets,continues to carry out the production of Russian imitationtwin motorcycles using BMW designs. These R35’s arebranded EMW (Eisenach Motoren Werke) and are markedwith a logo similar to BMW’s, but rendered in red andwhite. Forbidden by the Allies to manufacture their ownmotorcycles, BMW continues to stay in business by doingrepair work on Allied military vehicles.

With WWII raging on, there was little new development in motorcycling at BMW. In fact,development would slow considerably until as late as 1952. BMW, like most German indus-trial companies, was focused on outfitting the Wehrmacht (German army) in the early partof the decade. And after Germany’s ultimate defeat BMW was faced with bombed out facil-ities and near dismantlement by the Allied powers.


4 01 9 4 7With the restrictions banning the manufacture of motorcycles relaxed by theinternational Control Commission, BMW begins to draft blueprints for what willeventually become the R24. The designs are composed entirely from the spareparts left over from pre-war motorcycle manufacturing. Not ready to roll out itsown motorcycle yet, BMW keeps an adequate cash flow by making 22,000 bicy-cles in this year.

1 9 4 8Using the R23’s running gear and powered by a modernized single cylinder,BMW officially begins motorcycle manufacture again with the R24 – it’s firstpost-war bike. Running on a 250cc engine (the maximum size allowed by thesupervising Control Commission), the R24 is equipped with centrifugal ignitiontiming and ratchet-action pedal shifting for its four-speed transmission. At thesame time, BMW draws up the plans for its first foray into 2-stoke motorcycles.It was a simpler design owing to the shortage of available materials at the time.

1 9 4 917,000 R24s have been produced by this time and BMW is beginning to recoverfrom the aftermath of WWII. It is in 1949 that BMW introduces the R50/2 andR51/2. These machines are criticized as the first evidence of compromise by thecompany. Referring back to Karl Popp’s "only the best is good enough" philoso-phy, motorcycle enthusiasts are not pleased when they discover the rear mainbearing had been moved into the crankcase instead of given its own housing. Itnow requires replacement every 10,000 miles. Adding to the disappointment, thecentrifuge system’s ‘thrower plates’ are unable to handle the post-war low-grade fuel, frequently clogging with unburnt particles and blocking oil flow. -


5 01 9 5 0BWM enters the new decade in top form. R24 pro-duction is up to 17,000 units and the new R25 withplunging rear suspension is poised to replace theR24. The R23 has now become the most-producedmotorcycle in BMW's history with an astonishing47,700 machines having rolled off the factory floor. Itis in this year too that BMW releases the R51/2, itsfirst twin (based on older designs) since the war. Anupdated version of the R5, its 500cc overhead valveengine musters about the same power as its prede-cessor, achieving 24BHP at 5,800rpm.

1 9 5 1The R68, which comes to be known as the "100 mileracer," is the first German production bike to hit100mph. First presented at the International Bicycleand Motorcycle Exhibition, it signals the return ofBMW to the list of top manufacturers. The R68 gen-erates 35BHP at 7000rpm, the greatest power andhighest revs yet. BMW also introduces the R51/3 thisyear. It is the first of the newly designed post-warmachines and the first ever BMW engine without anychains in the motor. Other innovations includeDynamo electrical generation, which produces anastonishing 160watts (60 being the average at thetime) and a ‘tunnel casting’ crankcase which wouldcontinue to be used until 1969. BMW is operating atfull capacity with production jumping from 9,450 to17,100 in a single year.

1 9 5 2BMW answers the market demand for a sidecar out-fitted motorcycle with the R67. It is BMW's first600cc overhead valve twin and the first machine


With time, the stringent post-war restrictions on Germany were relaxed. BMW was finallyfreed to continue production across all its divisions. In short time they re-established theirworld reputation as a preeminent motorcycle manufacturer. The production of hand-madesports cars also resumed. Even the airplane engine division won lucrative contracts. Buttoward the end of the 50’s, with motorcycle sales slumping, the era of "Wirtschaftswunder"(economic miracle) came to an end plunging BMW into financial worries again.

5 0over 500cc made since the war. Twin leading shoe front-brakes are introduced on this model and the bike will remainunchanged until 1954. BMW motorcycle production continuesto grow and is now at 25,000 total units per year.

1 9 5 3Utilizing a swinging arm rear suspension system and pivotforks with sprung struts, BMW begins development of theRennesport (RS) series. Front forks are improved with theintroduction of two-way damping and front fork gaiters. BMWalso updates the R25 single with the R25/3, it’s most suc-cessful bike to date. Topping out at 73mph, the R25/3 goeson to sell 47,000 units during its production run largely due tothe improvements in the carburetion and engine, yielding avery efficient 98 miles per gallon fuel consumption. WhileBMW has now sold its 100,000th motorcycle since the war,demand for the heavier bikes is waning.

1 9 5 4A year after initial development, the RS series, specialized forcompetitive racing, makes its production debut. BMW begins


5 0to establish a reputation in sidecar racing this yearas Wilhelm Noll and Friz Cron win the World SidecarChampionship. BMW will go on to dominate theWorld Sidecar Championship every year from 1955until 1974.

1 9 5 5BMW, hampered by the high cost of automobile pro-duction, breaks its connection with the Eisenachfacility, which becomes the AutomobilwerkeEisenach. In motorcycle manufacture, the R50(26BHP at 5800rpm) with full swinging arm rear sus-pension and leading link front forks replaces theR51/3. The bike is criticized for looking dated andcombined with a growing slump in motorcycle sales,BMW begins to face economic uncertainty. The R26,acclaimed for its comfort and style, is also releasedthis year introducing Earles Type forks to the BMWmotorcycle catalog.

1 9 5 6New models released by BMW meet with meagersales. Only 3,500 R60’s are purchased and only1,300 of its more powerful cousin, the R69, are sold.Feeling the economic decline, German companiesbegin to downsize. BMW lays off 600 employeesshrinking motorcycle production from 23,531 in 1955to 15,500 in ’56. With warehouse surplus for the big-ger machines growing and the oil shortage causedby the Suez Crises compounding matters, BMWshifts its focus to fuel-efficient machines.

1 9 5 7Things go from bad to worse this year. Total motor-cycle production at BMW drops yet again - from15,000 to 5,429 this time. Rival manufacturers likeAdler, DKW and Horex all scrap motorcycle produc-tion in general. BMW pulls back from designing newmodels, focusing instead on shipping the majority ofits machines overseas to the United States orto England.


5 01 9 5 8The financial bubble finally bursts for BMW. With its money reservesdepleted talk of mergers and buyouts begins to circulate. Though produc-tion is up slightly to 7,156 machines, the future of BMW is uncertain atbest. No new models are released this year or the next.

1 9 5 9Dismal sales (production is only at 8,412 machines for the year), surplusinventory and complete depletion of financial reserves leave BMW operat-ing in the red. Competitor Daimler-Benz eyes BMW for a buyout andrumors begin to circulate. But Dr. Herbert Quandt, a banker of somerepute and a motorcycle enthusiast himself, backs the troubled company.His confidence proves contagious and soon other investors fund BMW.MAN, a well-known heavy vehicles manufacturer, buys BMW’s airplanedivision in Allach and covers other debts. While this signifies the final endof BMW's involvement in aero-engineering, the company does manage toremain in business. -


6 01 9 6 0This is the year of the R69S (s for ‘sport’ model).Considered by many to be the ‘classic’ BMW motor-cycle, the R69S is the fastest boxer to date achiev-ing a top speed of 109mph at 42BHP/7000rpm. Ituses gear-driven cams and has bearings "every-where". Also released this year is the R27 single withits rubber mounted engine to cut down on vibra-tions. It will be the last single until the F650 Fundurobut it sells a healthy 15,000 units in its seven yearproduction period. The R50S is another notablerelease as it becomes BMW’s highest revving 500ccengine. However its bark was worse than its bite andthe R50S never catches on, with sales at only 1,634machines after 3 years.

1 9 6 1A big year for BMW, the R69S and competitive rac-ing. After setting a new World 24-Hour record of95.6mph come wins at the Barcelona 24 Hour andThruxton 500 mile. The year concludes with morerecording breaking at Montlhery in the 24 hour(109.34mph) and 12 hour (109.24mph) respectively.It’s no wonder the R69S’s reputation earns BMWwidespread acclaim. In this same year, BMW shiftsfrom handmade cars to assembly line models withthe release of the BMW 1500. Another ‘classic’ in theBMW stable, the 1500 would pave the way for futureBMW automobile fame and sales in the automobilecategory begin to skyrocket.

The sixties are a slow growth decade for BMW motorcycles. As they emerge from neareconomic extinction a temporary shift away from motorcycle manufacture allows the com-pany to aggressively build out its automobile offering. While BMW remains low-profile inmotorcycle racing, sales continue to rise based on an impressive competitive track recordand some timely innovations and options.


6 01 9 6 3There isn’t a lot of innovation happening in this year, but share-holders in the company are happy nonetheless. For the firsttime since WWII BMW pays its stockholders a dividend basedon a profitable year. BMW is back on the road.

1 9 6 7BMW sells its 250,000th bike since WWII. And though thecompany itself is focusing more on the exploding automobilemarket (up 133%), motorcycle manufacturing continues to holdits own, if a little quietly (6000 machines produced this year).No new models are released from 1961-1969 but specialUnited States export versions of the R60 and R69 (called theR60US and R69US respectively) see BMW switch back to tele-scoping forks from the Earles Type Fork. This change wouldset the standard for the Stoke 5 series of 1969.

1 9 6 9Beginning with BMW moving its motorcycle manufacturingoperations to the Spandau suburb of Berlin, 1969 finds thecompany rededicating its efforts in motorcycle innovation afternearly a decade of relative silence. The Stoke 5 series hasmore modern appearance, electric starters and car-like engi-neering. It is the first of the light weight production 750ccengines since 1941 and marks the most dramatic changesince the R32 rolled out in 1923. The R50/5, R60/5 and R75/5are all released with telescoping front forks. However, theboxer engine is ‘flipped’ with the camshaft now below thecrankshaft and the pushrods banished to tubes on the sideand below the engine. In 1969 BMW finally begins to offercolor options though initially only in the conservative black,white and silver. Sidecar use is no longer authorized on BMWmodels as the company begins to look to the future. -


7 01 9 7 3In BMW's 50th Anniversary year its 500,000th motor-cycle is produced. But times have changed and thisis apparent by BMW's new R90S. A 900cc 67BHPracing monster is the company’s largest and fastestbike ever, conquering the 50-year-standing 750ccbarrier. At a glance, the full cockpit fairing andsmoked gray finish earn this machine its reputationas "Germany’s sexiest superbike." 24,000 are pro-duced in the next three years. The Stoke 6 series isalso launched this year in 600, 700 and 900cc guiseswith 55,000 sold. The Spandau facility is now work-ing at full capacity, cranking out 25,000 motorcyclesa year. And BMW's reputation only continues togrow with the recognition of the Maudes Trophy atthe Isle of Man tournament that year.

1 9 7 4The /6 Series goes into mass manufacturing and forthe first time BMW offers 5 speed gearboxes on pro-duction motorcycles. The R75/6 becomes the firstproduction machine to utilize a single-disc frontbreak. In true BMW form Helmut Dahne rides hisR75 from Munich to the Isle of Man Production TT,finishes 3rd and rides it back home.

1 9 7 5Drilled discs are the innovation introduced to BMWmotorcycles this year, greatly improving wet brakingtimes. And an old motorcycle archetype, the kick-start, is finally eliminated as a standard componenton production machines. Employee Rudiger Gutschbuilds his own private enduro motorcycle this year. Itis later used as the basis for developing theonroad/offroad BMW offering of 1980.


BMW Motorcycles would again begin to manufacture at volumes reminiscent of its hey dayperiod. Between 1969 and 1973 35,370 R75/5’s would be sold. Changes to the /5 serieswould be minor, if at all, reflecting the BMW tradition of refining out of necessity not fash-ionability. Investments in the tooling at the Spandau facility transform it into a full produc-tion plant and all motorcycle parts are now being manufactured in-house. Horst Spinteralso fights a general worker shortage by hiring non-German workers, growing the BMWmotorcycle division from 850 – 1500 people.

7 01 9 7 6BMW ubhp the ante again designing the Stoke 7 1000ccR100/7. Its sporting sibling, the R100RS, is also launched.Like the R100/7, it has a 1000cc engine generating 70BHPof power at 7,250rpm for a top speed of 125mph. It is thefirst production motorcycle to offer full fairing. This fairingdesign will stand largely unchanged until 1993. TheR100RS is offered in a very untraditional smoked red.Despite an onslaught of four cylinder competitors, BMWtwins hold their own as Reg Pridmore wins the ‘76 AMAsuperbike title on his R90S.

1 9 7 7The R80/7 attracts the attention of police forces worldwideas a brilliant compromise between the power of the 1000ccengines and the sweet ride of the 750s. To some it is thebest of all the Stoke Series models. Diminishing sales ofthe twin in the lucrative US market (BMW fell from 6th to11th in popularity) send a signal to BMW and the companyresponds by beginning to look at other designs.

1 9 7 8A trend-setter in luxury touring motorcycles, the R100RToffers the rider a full touring-style fairing in 1978. While rac-ing oriented motorcyclists balked at its bulkiness, long dis-tance riders loved the machine for its comfort. It is offeredin the popular smoked-red and some not-so-popular colorstoo: bottle green and a brown and cream combination. Atthe other end of the size spectrum is the R45, BMW'ssmallest twin, which also makes its first appearance thisyear. A 473cc engine with a power capacity of 27BHP per6500rpm, the R45 is a hit with insurance companies and adud with consumers who are hungry for power.

1 9 7 9BMW wins the German Off-Road Championship andbegins to build a reputation in the category. Meanwhile,British sales balloon by 61% despite poor sales figures inthe US. The success of BMW in England is due largely tothe police force there which has come to prefer BMWmotorcycles. Fully 86 BMW dealerships have sprouted upin the U.K. to meet the increased demand. -


8 0deal of anticipation for the coming year. Simultaneously, andunwilling to abandon the boxer, BMW produces a pure roadversion of the R80G/S called an R80RT.

1 9 8 3For the first time since 1923 BMW makes a drastic departurefrom the twin by introducing the K100. It is the first of thewater-cooled K-series machines and quickly earns the nick-name "flying brick." Developed by Joseph Frizenwenger whotook a longitudinally mounted in-line engine and turned it hori-zontally, the K100 musters 90BHP at 8000rpm and reaches atop speed of 132mph. It is the first production motorcycle withelectric ignition and fuel injection. A racing version of the fourcylinder K100, called the K100RS is also rolled out. Not to beeclipsed by the new machine, the twin claims another Paris-Dakkar victory under the skilled maneuvering of Hubert Auriol.

1 9 8 4Hubert Auriol continues to wrack up Paris-Dakkar victories thistime accompanied by teammate Gaston Rakier. A touring ver -sion of the K series is released (K100RT) and BMW announcesplans to continue the manufacture of both 4 cylinder and flattwin engines in a ratio of 60%-40% respectively. The year’s newboxers are all equipped with a lightweight clutch and lowerpowered engine giving them a characteristic pleasant, smoothride.

1 9 8 5BMW's designs its only three cylinder motorcycle to date, theK75C. Using 50% common parts with it’s older brother theK100 it has excellent fuel economy (57 miles per gallon), morenimble handling and considerable power (75BHP at 8500rpm)reaching a top speed of 124mph.

1 9 8 6The addition of a sports fairing and other minor modificationsturns the K75C into the K75S – BMW's only three cylindersports motorcycle. Boxer innovation keeps pace with the re-


8 0launch of the limited edition R100RS now with monolever rearsuspension and a 60BHP engine. Though produced as a limitededition machine it goes on to become very popular. BMW isnow offering motorcycles in 48, 50, 60, 70 and 90BHP options.

1 9 8 7The R100RT is re-launched this year with monolever rear sus-pension and a smaller 60BHP engine (the original was 70BHP).BMW's double-jointed single sides swing arm Paralever systemmakes its debut this year. And again, BMW continues to pro-duce for both the twins and K-series by offering the 1000ccK100LT luxury cruiser a 580lb behemoth generating 90BHP at8000rpm.

1 9 8 8Known as the ‘biggest dirt bike in the world’ and weighing in ata healthy 463lbs, the R100G/S goes into production this year.Utilizing a stronger frame with longer forks, BMW touted thenumerous modifications on this model by claiming you can"count the number of unchanged component on one hand."The R80G/S also goes into production with an optional Paris-Dakkar version complete with larger fuel tank. Continuing toveer away from its traditional aesthetics, the new motorcycleswere offered in classic black and also yellow. BMW is the firstcompany to make machines with electronic/hydraulic ABS, con-sidered motorcycling’s safety aid of the decade.

1 9 8 9Designed the year before, BMW puts the futuristic K1, theirfastest road-going machine, into production. Overseen by thecurrent head of design at the time, Martin Probst, the avant-garde motorcycle comes complete with the first-ever digitalengine electronics system. With a 1000cc, 4 cylinder engine itcan generate a massive power output of 100BHP at 8000rpmand is clocked at 143mph. The K1 alienates some BMW tradi-tionalists with its flashy bright red finish and yellow graphics butit garners numerous headlines throughout the year flying in theface of the conventional perception of BMW. -


9 01 9 9 0A four-valve modified version of the K100RS islaunched this year. It will go on to be named motor-cycle of the year five years running. 35,000K100RS’s have been sold since its first productionperiod in 1983. ABS is now standard on all K-seriesmachines, a trend not adopted by other manufactur-ers except on their high-end machines. BMW is pro-ducing motorcycles at a robust rate of 26,000 peryear.

1 9 9 1On March 18th 1991 the one millionth BMW motor-cycle rolls off the factory production floor. It is athree cylinder K75RT that is eventually donated tothe Red Cross. Since it began producing motorcy-cles BMW has now sold 230,000 singles, 634,000twins and 136,000 multis. And of this army ofmachines, 50% are still reported to be on the road.Not content to rest on its laurels, BMW begins outfit-ting all its motorcycles with three-way catalytic con-verters. It is the first company to do so. And as aseeming tip of the hat to its heritage, BMW re-releas-es the R100R, last seen in 1976, complete withretro-styling. It turns out to be a popular decisionand 8,041 are be sold by 1992.

1 9 9 2BMW continues to produce machines to meetincreasing demand. 25,761 R series (twins) and11,408 K-Series, including the new K1100LT aresold. This in a year when worldwide motorcyclesales are dropping. Despite initial fears of the boxersdemise during the early K-series years, the flat twincontinues to sell (and perform) well with 100,000

Having charged headlong into the future of motorcycle design with the K-series the decadebefore, BMW continued to innovate while still remaining true to its heritage and its clientele.The K-series received more updates and improvements and the twins, on top of receivingtheir share of engineering finesse, also saw a an ancestor from 15 years ago come back tolife.


9 0units sold since the first K-series was released in1983. This number is all the more impressive whenconsidered against the roughly 600,000 twins thathave been sold since the R32 in 1923. In fact, BMWoffers eight boxer models in this year.

1 9 9 3With the second generation ABS system introducedthis year a new generation boxer appears as theR1100RS sports tourer. Powered by a fuel-injected,8 valve, twin cylinder engine (model name R259) itachieves 90BHP at 7250rpm. The new twin is fittedwith both Paralever rear suspension and the newTelelever front suspension. BMW also releases theK100RS, which sports the new ABSII. In off-road,about 62,000 G/S and GS machines have beenbought.

1 9 9 4BMW’s production single in 30 years, designed theyear before, is the F650 Funduro. It is actually theresult of a joint effort by the new European Union.BMW, along with Italian manufacturer Aprilia andAustrian brand Rotax designs this 650cc, 4 valvesingle with power output measuring 48BHP at6500rpm. The R1100GS enduro is also rolled out thisyear featuring an ABS breaking system which can beturned off during off-road use. In a departure fromtheir current designs, BMW makes the R850R andthe R1100R twins - unique as they are the firstBMW's in years to have no form fairing.

1 9 9 5Comprehensive fairing characterizes the R100RTtouring machine that is unofficially named the mostweatherproof high speed machine ever. Aside fromincluding catalytic converters standard on all motor-cycles, BMW initiates a retro-fitting program toupgrade older models. For the first time in its history,BMW produces over 50,000 motorcycles in one year.However, this is also the last year that the two-valvetraditional boxer is produced.


9 01 9 9 6With the new year, the old two-valve boxers and thethree cylinder K 75 Series are phased out of produc-tion. This signals the end of a 70-year period ofGerman motorcycle history. Since 1923, 685,830 oldboxers have been sold with 467,900 of them havingbeen produced in Berlin since 1969. But while theydid away with the old, they also ushered in the new,introducing the company’s most powerful motorcycleto date, the 4 cylinder liquid-cooled K1200RS.

1 9 9 7In response to a drop in demand for sportingmachines, BMW markets its first-ever chopper/cruis-er the R1200C. It is based on the stripped down"hogs," characterized by the substitution of lightercomponents and the elimination of unnecessaryparaphernalia. Dr. Walter Hasselkus, the President ofBMW since 1993 is considered the godfather of the1200C and it is David Robb who brings the projectto production. An instant icon, the machine is fea-tured in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.In this same year, the R1100RS is voted theMotorcycle of the Year in the United States, Japanand Australia.

1 9 9 8After a 12 year absence BMW re t u rns to the ParisDakkar Rally with F650 competition motorcycles pilot-ed by four time Paris Dakkar winner Edi Orioli, 2ndplace winner Oscara Gallaro, 5th place winner JeanBrucy and Ladies Cup Winner Andrea Meyer.-


002 0 0 0Releasing a much-anticipated update of the GSseries, the R 1150 GS boosts power from 1085cc to1130cc without compromising its 10.3:1 compres-sion ratio. 50% of the power gain is attributed to animproved exhaust system. Also released this year isBMWs most powerful luxury tourer, the 100hp 4-cylinder k 1200LT. Rounding out the new millenni-um's offerings is BMW's most powerful motorcycleever, the K 1200 RT with 130 horses and 86 lb-fttorque. All this attention to power pays off asRichard Sainct repeats his Paris-Dakar-Cairo victoryagain this year.

When you consider how much has evolved at BMW since 1923 its easy to imagine someincredible progress in the coming years. Already the new millennium has been kind toBMW with continued success both in competition and the marketplace. But despite all thechanges past and to come, in the end, it still boils down to one thing: As long as there areriders, real riders, who demand only the best, BMW will continue to up the bar and thenleap over it.


100 years of bmw

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