The History of BMW Motorcycles

Today, BMW motorcycles are a household name. But it took the company years of dedication, cutting-edge advancements, and victories on the racetrack to earn that prominence. If you’ve ever wondered about the history of BMW bikes, keep reading! Then come visit Cross Country Cycle to see the latest motorcycle models. You’ll find us in Metuchen, New Jersey.

The Start of a Legacy

BMW motorcycles were the indirect result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The treaty banned BMW from making aircraft and aircraft engines. The company needed another way to make money by expanding its product line. The core engineer, Max Fritz, focused on developing BMW bikes. His creation, a flat twin “boxer” engine, was revolutionary. Fritz was so ahead of his time that some of those elements are still used in today’s BMW motorcycles.

The engine made its debut at the Berlin Automobile Show in 1923. It was installed in the R 32, which became very popular in a short matter of time. The model’s popularity allowed the company to sell it for much higher than comparable models of their competitors.

Creating Champions

BMW motorcycles were meant for more than casual riding. They offered too much power and too great of handling to be confined to city streets. They needed to showcase their potential on the racetrack. It didn’t take long for BMW bikes to make a name for themselves. From 1924 to 1929, they earned victory in all German championships in the 500 ccm category.

But BMW wasn’t content with that. There were other victories to claim, such as demolishing the absolute speed record. Erns Henne made his attempt on September 19, 1929 – and broke the record with his ride of 216 kph (around 134 miles per hour). Then on November 28th, 1937 he made the attempt again. This time, he rode the new BMW 500 ccm compressor machine. He hit the top speed of 279.5 kph (or around 173 mph). This record lasted for 14 years.

Back on the race track, a man named Georg Meier won the European Championship in 1938. He rode the 65 bhp BMW compressor machine to victory. The following year, he became the first non-Briton on a foreign bike to earn the Senior Tourist Trophy.

Innovating BMW Motorcycles

BMW bikes are born out of a legacy of innovation. The first model made after the war was the R 24. Before it could be built, the designers had to obtain a license from the Allies. They could only make a single-cylinder motorcycle of 250 ccm. But this limitation didn’t stop BMW from making a profit. In just two short years, it sold almost 30,000 units.

Another key innovation was the speed capacity of the BMW RS. It was released in 1954 and reached top speeds of 200 kph (or around 124 miles per hour). Many successful races were won using this model among others. By the end of 1974, BMW bikes claimed 19 world championships. Between 1955 and 1974, a BMW motorcycle won every brand world championship.

In 1988, the company became the first to use an electronic-hydraulic anti-lock system for motorcycles. They also released the first bike that used digital engine electronics. By 1999, the company shattered its record for the number of bikes sold (reaching 65,186 BMW motorcycles sold).

Every year, BMW motorcycles undergo innovations to improve the riding experience. Current focuses are on boosting performance as well as reducing environmental impact. The future looks promising for this iconic brand.

Ready to check out BMW motorcycles in person? Visit Cross Country Cycle. We proudly serve those in Metuchen, New Jersey as well as Staten Island, New York.