Welcome to the Adventure BMW Blog

Here is a brief introduction to the history of BMW Motorcycles. Originally an aircraft engine manufacturer, BMW Motorcycles has been around since 1923. The first BMW, the R32, was presented in Paris, France. The R32 instantly created a sensation. Up until 1926, there were an impressive 3000 R32's built in that time.

The public loved the R32, that included a low-wear universal drive in combination with an easy to maintain and durable engine. The quality and reliability of those early models exists even today, with the modern advancements that have been made over the last 90 years.

Around the same time BMW aircraft engines were making the headlines with record flights to the Middle East, Africa, North and South America.

Some key points in BMW Motorcycles history:

• 1937, a man by the name of Ernst Henne achieved the world motorcycle record of 174.68 mph, riding a BMW motorcycle on the Frankfurt-Darmstadt motorway.

• Then in 1938, BMW delivered it's 100,000th motorcycle. They have always been an innovative company.
• In 1976 BMW Motorcycles introduced the first fully faired serial production motorcycle in the world, the R100RS.

• Later in 1980, BMW made another revolution in motorcycling, with the enduro model R80GS, at the same time they introduced the single-sided swing arm for the rear wheel, the so-called BMW Monolever. The R80GS started a segment of motorcycles that continue to this day in a large variety of models.

The R80GS became a winning motorycle ridden by Hubert Auriol, in the Paris-Dakar Tally in 1981 and 1983. Those achievments were repeated in 1984 and 1985 by Gaston Rahier. Because of these successes and many others that followed, BMW defined its place in motorcycling by through two model segments; Sport Touring bikes and Enduros.

Over the years BMW made more models and styles of motorcycles, but another incredible addition to BMW is that it became the first manufacturer in the world to introduce a motorcycle Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). This set a new safety benchmark for motorcycles thoughout the world. By 1991, BMW produced its one millonth motorcycle at the Berlin plant.

BMW continues to have success by challenging the motorcycle world with innovative and groundbreaking motorcycle technology. Many of todays motorcycles use BMW technology in their designs. BMW continues a trend of creating new and revolutionary motorcycles, while still upholding their belief about great design and high safety standards.

Hope you enjoy our blog! We look forward to bringing you the latest news about BMW Motorcycles, REV'IT riding apparel and anything else that we find exciting at BMW!