History of BMW motorcycles
At the end of World War I, the Treaty of Versailles demanded that BMW cease production of aircraft engines.
To remain in business, the company began producing small industrial engines (along with farm equipment, household items and railway brakes).
[4] 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; a design which BMW used until 1969.
It was either licensed to the Soviet Union in 1938 or just copied there,[10] resulting in the Dnepr M-72 (produced from 1942 to 1960) and IMZ-Ural (modernised version still in production) motorbikes .
The BMW R 75 performed particularly well in the harsh operating environment of North Africa, partly due to the protruding cylinders of the flat-twin engine providing more effective cooling than other configurations which overheated in the sun.
The head office of BMW, based in Munich, had no control over the operations in East Germany.
[12] In West Germany, many of BMWs facilities had been badly damaged during the war, including the Munich factory which was in ruins.
The R 24 was reverse-engineered from the pre-war BMW R 23 motorcycle with several improvements[13] and powered by a 247 cc (15 cu in) single-cylinder engine.
Motorcycle sales in Europe plummeted as the 1950s progressed, with three of BMW's major German competitors going out of business in 1967.
In 1955, BMW began introducing a new range of motorcycles with Earles forks and enclosed drive shafts.
However, by the late 1960s, sidecars were no longer a consideration of most riders; people were interested in sportier motorcycles instead.
[15][1]: 126 The camshaft was now chain-driven and located underneath the crankshaft instead of at the top of the engine, in order to lower the centre of gravity.
In 1973, the rear swingarm was lengthened, which improved the handling and allowed a larger battery to be installed.
The introduction of the "/5" models coincided with production relocating from Munich to a new factory in Spandau, West Berlin.
The BMW R 100 RS also used "Telelever" front suspension (where braking forces are transferred horizontally to minimize "fork dive") and a stressed engine.
The revised K Series range of water-cooled inline-four cylinder models began in 2004 with the BMW K 1200 S a sport-tourer.
[21] The K1200S was primarily designed as a Super Sport motorcycle, albeit larger and heavier than the closest Japanese competitors.
The R Series range of flat-twin models was also updated in 2004, beginning with the BMW R 1200 GS dual-sport, which was powered by a new 1,170 cc (71 cu in) "oilhead" engine.
In 2007, the HP2 Enduro was joined by the road-biased HP2 Megamoto fitted with smaller alloy wheels and street tyres.
The BMW G650X series range was introduced in 2006, co-developed with Aprilia and powered by a Rotax single-cylinder engine.
[26] In 2007, BMW acquired Husqvarna Motorcycles, including its production facilities and staff, from Italian manufacturer MV Agusta.
[27][28] BMW's ownership of Husqvarna ended in 2013, when the company was sold to Pierer Industrie AG.
[29] The BMW S 1000 RR sport bike was released in 2009, to compete in the Superbike World Championship.
