BMW Motorcycle History
Step into any motorcycle dealership and you're bound to find plenty of BMW motorcycles. The company is known for its high performance and its high-style bikes are often seen claiming victories on the race track. These machines are built to excel! To learn more about the company's history, read on. Then come over to BMW Motorcycles of Burbank to check out a variety of new and used BMW motorcycles. We are located near Los Angeles, California.
The Creation of the BMW Motorcycle
They say necessity is the mother of invention, which is true with the BMW motorcycle. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, banned the company from manufacturing aircraft and aircraft engines. BMW’s core engineer, Max Fritz, then turned his attention to designing a motorcycle. He created a flat twin "boxer" engine which was a revolution at the time. In fact, Fritz was so ahead of his time that some of those core elements are still used in many BMW motorcycle models today!
The iconic engine was unveiled to the world at the Berlin Automobile Show in 1923. The engine was installed into the R 32, which was a reliable and easy-to-handle motorcycle. No surprise, it became quite popular. In fact, its high demand allowed it to be sold for more than similar competitors' models.
Making Champions
The BMW motorcycle was destined for more than leisure riding. Machines these powerful need to strut their stuff on the racetrack! One motorcycle model, called the R 37, emerged as a champion waiting to be crowned. Its specs were twice as impressive as the R 32, which is all the more impressive considering there were only a few years between the models. Between 1924 and 1929, a BMW motorcycle claimed victory in all German Championships in the 500 ccm category.
The next big challenge for the BMW motorcycle? Breaking the absolute speed record. Ernst Henne achieved this claim to fame on September 19, 1929. He demolished the previous record and replaced it with an astonishing 216 kph - around 134 miles per hour!
But Henne knew he could aim higher. He later challenged himself on November 28th, 1937 and rode the new BMW 500 ccm compressor machine. His record of 279.5 kph (about 173 mph) stood strong for 14 years.
The following year, Georg Meier claimed victory in the European Championship in 1938. It was his first victory and he rode atop the 65 bhp BMW compressor machine. The next year, he was the first non-Briton with a foreign bike to win the Senior Tourist Trophy.
Innovating the BMW Motorcycle
The R 24 model was the first one created by the company after the war. To build the model, the inventors had to get a license from the Allies. The restrictions meant they could only build a single-cylinder bike of 250 ccm. Within two years, it sold almost 30,000 units.
In 1954, the BMW RS hit top speeds of 200 kph (about 124 mph). This model claimed many victories by different riders. BMW motorcycles earned 19 world championships by the end of 1974. From 1955 to 1974, a BMW motorcycle earned every brand world championship victory.
In 1988, BMW became the first company to utilize an electronic-hydraulic anti-lock system for motorcycles. Later that year, they also released the first motorcycle using digital engine electronics.
Every year saw new innovations and advancements for the motorcycles. Each change only cemented the motorcycle's popularity among consumers. In 1999, the company broke its record for the total number of motorcycles sold (65,186).
BMW motorcycles today are focused on using all the performance advancements over the years alongside decreasing their environmental impact. The future is bright for this industry giant!
When you are ready to check out a BMW motorcycle for yourself, visit BMW Motorcycles of Burbank! We offer a range of new and used motorcycles. We proudly serve those in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Fernando Valley, California.