Motorcycle Views

BMW Motorcycle History and a Quiz Too

By Walter F. Kern

Learn about BMW Motorcycle History and Take a BMW Quiz Too

The F650, K-bikes, and the Quiz

In 1997, BMW introduced the F650 motorcycle into the USA market after several years in other countries. The F650 was different from anything BMW had produced to date. This 652cc single cylinder, water-cooled, chain-driven bike was made under BMW control by Rotax in Austria and assembled under BMW control by Aprilia in Italy. The F stood for Funduro indicating its enduro capabilities.

Also in 1997, BMW introduced an enhanced series of K-bikes beginning with the K1200RS and later with the K1100RS and K1100RT models. Finally as a direct stab at Honda's Gold Wing touring machines, BMW introduced the futuristic K1200LT. The Honda Gold Wing has countered BMW's K1200LT with its 2001 1800cc Gold Wing.

Currently, BMW sells both R-bikes, K-bikes and the F650 series. BMW is also a motorcycle survivor having successfully sold motorcycles for over 75 years.

Riders of BMWs are fiercely loyal to the brand. There are many BMW motorcycle clubs and rallies. See the Resources section above for the Web sites of the two major owner groups, BMWMOA and BMWRA. Also, checkout the two books, BMW Motorcycle Illustrated Buyer's Guide and The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle, used in this research.

BMW holds a special place in my motorcycling development. I was first introduced to motorcycles by my brother-in-law who rode a 1984 BMW R100RS. His whole family including his wife and two sons all rode BMWs. He belonged to a BMW motorcycle club, The Dinky Dozen, in Illinois USA. When I went looking to buy my first motorcycle, I saw my first used BMW for sale. I couldn't get over those long horizontal cylinders on that Beemer. I also marveled that most non-motorcyclists didn't even know that BMW made motorcycles. Also they called BMW cars Beemers when they should have called them Bimmers.

Do you know the difference between a beemer and a bimmer? Take the short 10-question trivia quiz on BMW motorcycles. This should be as easy as finding your BMW R100RT boxer in the parking lot at the Milwaukee factory of Harley-Davidson.

Take the BMW Motorcycle Quiz (Currently, the quiz does not work on mobile devices.)

=> Back to Page 1: The Beginnings of BMW

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