The year 1923 saw the creation of the BMW Motorrad corporation, a brand used by the German company BMW for the motorcycles it manufactures. The history of the BMW motorcycle originally began in 1921 though. The company was founded originally as an aircraft engine manufacturer in World War I and the first motorcycle wasn’t introduced until 1923. The first motorcycle introduced by BMW Motorrad was the R32 with the flat twin boxer engine most associated with the company’s history.
The BMW motorcycles are manufactured at a plant in Berlin, Germany, the only BMW Motorrad plant in the world. Other engines manufactured by the company are produced in China, Austria, and Taiwan. 2008 was a banner year for BMW Motorrad, which sold over 100,000 motorcycles, where the most popular models was the R1200GS. The BMW G450X motorcycle was released in 2008, entering BMW Motorrad into serious motorcycle competition. The customers of BMW Motorrad can also purchase carbon fiber helmets from their collection of motorcycle gear.
There are four main series currently in production by BMW Motorrad. The F series, the G series, the R series, and the K series are the four main series manufactured by BMW Motorrad. The G series features single cylinder engines, the R series features twin cylinder boxer engines, the F series features parallel twin engines and the K series features four cylinder engines. The Isle of Man TT race was won by BMW Motorrad in 1939, the first time a non-British manufacturers won the race. The 2009 Superbike World Championship features Team Alpha BMW for the first time in the history of the company. Spanish rider Ruben Xaus and Australian rider Troy Corser will lead the factory team for BMW Motorrad. BMW Motorrad also manufactures BMX helmet for BMX enthusiasts and Motocross helmets for motocross enthusiasts. Side car motorcycles were manufactured by BMW Motorrad in the past as well. Because side car motorcycles could hold more than one person they were extremely popular during World War I and World War II. Collectors covet the BMW Motorrad motorcycles manufactured during the pre-war era. The Mid-America Auction is held each year in January in Las Vegas, Nevada, where historic BMW Motorrad motorcycles are sold.
