BMW were latecomers to motorcycling as they did not manufacture their first complete motorcycle under their own name until 1923. They had made aircraft engines during the 1914-18 war, as instanced by their logo which depicts an aircraft propellor spinning against a blue sky. The Treaty of Versailles meant they could no longer make them and so, after a brief diversion producing office furniture and agricultural machinery, they started making motorcycle engines instead. Their first twin cylinder model was based on the British made Douglas but they then saw advantages in following the engine layout of the ABC, in which the horizontally opposed engine was mounted transversely in the frame. Thereafter their twin cylinder models followed a similar arrangement, building the engine in unit with the gearbox and adding the sophistication of shaft final drive. Most manufacturers also had at least one cheaper model in their range and, to achieve this objective, they introduced a single cylinder machine in 1929. It was claimed to be the first ohv single cylinder engine to have its valve gear fully enclosed. Like its larger brothers it was not particularly cheap but the quality was certainly there. It was not until 1948 that BMW were permitted to again resume the production of motorcycles and initially they were restricted to a capacity of 250cc. After a couple of years the familiar black and white twins reappeared and by 1960, the first of their memorable R50S and R59S models made their debut, with their distinctive Earles-type front fork. Today they have acquired a collectors value and good examples will realise high prices at UK motorcycle auctions. The late sixties saw the birth of a new generation of twins, the 5 series, the larger capacity examples of which coincided with the superbike era. They added a new dimension to BMW ownership with their refined handling and outstanding mechanical quietness. 50 articles covering the singles & twin bikes including road tests, engine analysis, touring, specifications, new model introductions, technical features & record braking. Models covered: R27, R67/2, R69S, R50, R60/5, R75/5 & US.
