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

Ohlins Issues Recall Notice For BMW S1000RR And R1200R Steering Dampers

Ohlins is issuing a recall notice for select aftermarket steering dampers for the BMW S1000RR and R1200R. The company believes the bracket holding the damper in place to be improperly machined, and a probable material defect in the aluminum alloy could cause stress fractures. Ohlins states that although “there is no risk for losing control during normal riding,” there is a risk the bracket will fail during slow-speed maneuvers, where the bars are turned at maximum steering angle.

Second Annual Cirkus of Speed By Öhlins Suspension

  This year’s Cirkus of Speed by Öhlins Suspension features “police rodeo” star Ben Wolfe of Lock & Lean, performing precision motorcycle riding. Located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the second annual event is a combination of race machines, crazy customs, hot rods, exotic motorcycles and cars, V-Twins and race bikes, street and off-road machines. Scheduled to take place Saturday, September 28, other feature exhibitions include NHRA Top Dragster of Matt Cooke, the first production models from American-made Motus motorcycles, Triumph, an actual custom Honda Grom, custom Cycle World cover bike, Öhlins Harley demo rides, live music, food, racecar shake-rig demonstrations, motorcycle suspension seminars, and more, all taking place in the heart of the Appalachians’ best highways.

BMW R100RS by Ritmo Sereno

Ritmo Sereno is a Japanese motorcycle customiser specializeing in BMW and Moto Guzzi custom motorcycles. One of the greatest bikes created by them, shown to the public last year, is this BMW R100RS finished in official Bayerishe Motorwerke livery.The original bike, that was considered in the past like a sort of modern hypersport, received some radical changes that have updated the boxer powered motorcycle. It features new rims, so modern tyres can be used, a new exhaust system (2 into 1), the classic Ohlins fork with dark colour finish and the rear shock is Ohlins too.

BMW Reports Q2 2013 Results – 15.5% Increase Produces Record Quarter

BMW reported a record second quarter with sales of 40,209 motorcycles for the three months ended June 30, 2013. The quarter saw a year-on-year increase of 15.5% from sales of 34,816 motorcycles reported in 2012. For the year to date, BMW has sold 64,941 motorcycles, also a record for first half sales in the company’s 90 years in the motorcycle business (those numbers however do include 1,110 Husqvarna motorcycles sold in the first quarter before the brand was acquired by Pierer Industries.) The record half comes in the face of a worldwide decline of 7.1% for motorcycles 500cc and larger over the first six months.

The BMW-Powered Recumbent Motorcycle

As a lover of two wheels, I like to pedal my bicycle to stay in shape when I’m not riding a motorcycle. And in the bicycle world, much like the motorcycle world, there’s a subset of riders who often get snarky looks from the rest of us. Few are more polarizing than those riding recumbent bicycles — you know, the ones where you’re practically laying down while pedaling.

BMW Quitting WSBK After 2013 Season

BMW announced it will withdraw its factory support from the World Superbike Championship at the end of the 2013 season. According to BMW, the company will concentrate on its production models including the addition of new small-displacement models and reaching developing markets. BMW Motorrad will also shift resources to other motorsports activities such as supporting customer racing efforts in both international and domestic competitions.

Two-Time WSBK Champion James Toseland Gunning For Motorcycle Land Speed Record

In case you’ve been wondering what 2004 and 2007 World Superbike champion James Toseland has been up to these days, here’s your answer. Besides recording an album with his band Crash and pursuing a music career, Toseland is attempting to use two wheels to put his name in the record books one more time. Only this time, as he tries to break the 400 mph mark and set a new motorcycle land speed record.

WSBK 2013: Moscow Race Report

Marco Melandri captured his third win of the season, the Ducati 1199 Panigale scored its first podium while Sylvain Guintoli regained the championship lead despite dislocating his collarbone days before the race. But the big news at Moscow Raceway of course was the tragic death of Andrea Antonelli in the World Supersport race. The opening-lap crash in severely wet conditions naturally led to the cancellation of the rest of the events as the World Superbike community mourns the loss of the 25-year-old Antonelli.

2014 BMW HP2 Roadster Spotted

Spy photographers have snapped a picture of a new retro-styled BMW roadster. Dubbed the BMW HP2 Roadster by Italian site Insella.it which published the grainy photograph, the new boxer-engined streetbike is expected to be officially unveiled at November’s EICMA show in Milan. The spy photo reveals the HP2 Roadster uses BMW’s air-cooled R-series boxer engine and not the new water-cooled engine introduced on the 2013 R1200GS.

Dainese to Develop Airbag-Equipped Riding Gear for BMW; Technology Coming to BMW Motorcycles in 2015

BMW announced a new joint project with Dainese that would develop a new line of rider equipment using the Italian company’s integrated airbag technology. The two companies will also be working on integrating the technology to BMW’s motorcycles. The new line will make use of Dainese’s D-Air technology developed by MotoGP racers such as Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.