BMW motorcycles began life in 1923 with the production of the R32. This 8bhp boxer engined, shaft driven motorcycle was to form the blueprint for the vast majority of BMW's future models.

Some of the company's most memorable bikes were produced in the fifties and sixties. Models such as the R60 and slightly less powerful R50 were hugely popular due their reliability and smooth running engines good for top speeds of around 90mph.

It is during this period that BMW's reputation as a producer of solid and long legged touring motorcycles was established. Their original flat twin engines have been refined over the decades since to produce greater power and reliability. Some consider them old fashioned and heavy but why fix something that's not broken?

In the 1970's models such as the R90s battled with the Japanese competition for supremacy. Although slower heavier and in many cases twice as expensive as other comprable models the high quality and long life of these bikes ensured a loyal following. It is testament to this quality that many bikes from this era are still going strong long after the Japanese models with which they competed have been scrapped.

In the 1980s BMW released it's K series models of three and four cylinder bikes such as the K100 and the bizarre K1 but demand for the traditional boxers remained strong. In 1993 the R1100RS was released. This bike was a revelation with it's powerful new engine and quirky telelever fork arrangement. The Telelever forks were a huge success, providing a smooth ride and eliminating much of the front end dive experienced with traditional telescopic forks. The R1100RS also featured anti lock brakes many years before this became an option on other bikes.

In the 1990s BMW greatly widened their range of models. The R1100GS trail bike and R1100S sports bike were variations on the same traditional engine layout but the F650 was a whole new direction.

Built in conjunction with Aprilia and featuring a frame layout derived from that company's successful trail bike the Pegaso, the F650 was a small and cheap BMW.

The F650 was also a first in that it had a chain drive, something no prior BMW model had. There were several variations suited to trail, city and sports riding giving the F650 a very broad appeal. This and it's affordability made it a huge success which took everyone by surprise, including BMW themselves.

In recent years it has been the R1200GS that has been grabbing the public's attention. Featured in actor Ewan Macgregor's TV show Long Way Round this bike has become the first choice of many long distance tourers for it's rugged looks backed up by very real all road abilities.