BMW History | From Wings to Wheels

[@redblack8414]

I knew and worked with a German engineer in Montréal in 1981 who had worked with professor Porsche on the design and manufacturing of the first motorcycle suspension for BMW before the war. He was an expert in foundry sands. He was one of the nicest and knowledgeable gentlemen that I have ever met. Miss you Günther.

[@motorcyclelad]

After owning 12 different motorcycles over 26 years, I finally bought a BMW. It’s a 2004 R1150RS with 80,000 miles on it, and I love it. Full of personality and so far pretty easy to work on myself. A very unique riding experience.

[@assessor1276]

Great video (love my 1983 R100RS) but let’s be factual. Those “Phillips” head screws are actually Japan Industrial Standard or JIS screws (see about 22:20). These screws will strip with a Phillips driver but they do not strip if the correct (and greatly superior) JIS drivers are used. Also, for a clue about the logo…have a look at the flag and coat of arms of Bavaria (and note that it nothing to do with aircraft propellors).

[@andymueller82]

This is a great history recap on BMW motorcycles! Well done. With the 100th BMW Motorcycle Anniversary coming up, this was a great refresher!

[@AnalogDude_]

35:41 How does the telelever work: When you brake the bike wants to dive down, the "Querlenker" attached to the motor (structural part of the frame) wants to push the front wheel / fork assembly forwards due to the radius / pivot motion of the "querlenker", like a triangle with a variable side or like the swing arm on the back, but the braking action doesn't allow that to happen and thus neutralizing the dive effect. That's ingenious.

[@georgeh.5480]

all of the BMW history at the Anamosa motorcycle museum was amazing! It's too bad that museum is closing.

[@joelfeinberg3766]

I had a BMW R69S, it was the finest motorcycle of the 60's. The hand welds were superior to the later robot welds. The engine lasted longer between rebuilds than any other bike.

[@Keith-rk4td]

So true Joel. BMW STANDS FOR ,BEST MOTORCYCLE in the WORLD.Iput over 250.000 miles on my R80/7.Never had another motorcycle that was as reliable as (Bruiser)! I'm wanting to build a Rennsport street replica. /5 frame/2. 69s motor and earles front . My dream build👍🤠👍 Howdy from Texas!

[@Keith-rk4td]

There only main failure was the slinger rings. They would get stopped up. Easily cleaned with a bottom end teardown.

[@alyen11]

Amazing Legacy. For the Flat Twin lovers have a look at Meister Engineering, Geneva, Switzerland.

[@user-pm5jh8vj2x]

Great recap of BMW motorcycle history! My R100rs was built 65 years after the R23 was introduced. 118k miles later it is still running strong. Looking forward to many more miles on it.

[@redblack8414]

I saw in the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa a fighter jet that was brought back into Canada from Germany in 1945. The aircraft is a Heinkel 162 A-2. It's a single jet engine fighter made of monocoque plywood (metal was getting rare in Germany at the end of the war0. The jet engine is a BMW engine. There is no mention of a BMW jet engine in the documentary.

[@atomicdmt8763]

LOVE the animation at 44mins! I have an 85 K100~ explains why more vibration vs K75

[@clementrodrigue]

It's amazing. ----------------- Very nice work of historical documentation you have done here. Good work. Properly referenced documentation in the timeline is appreciated. This allows us to go directly to the parts that interest us the most. It's as bray as BMW is classic, as well as high quality. 👍🏾 It's a real archival document.

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Many thanks!

[@tonnynijholt7090]

The perfect couple at the end of the video ❤

[@julianpereira3015]

Very informative, interesting and fun to watch! Thank you for this Dennis Gage!

[@jdillon8360]

Great documentary!

[@iangreen180]

80th anniversary, and now a HUNDRED years! Congratulations BMW!

[@MisterOcclusion]

This fall I’ll be 10 years a BMW rider. It’s my second bike, my first BMW, and it’s the only bike that I ever want to own or ride until I am no longer able to. R1200GS

[@MyClassicCarTV]

The GS is a great model. It can do it all! I own seven Beemers and feel they’re the best machines on the planet!

[@number1Schumacherfan]

@@MyClassicCarTV I am a big fan of BMW cars and motorcycles. S1000RR for my first bike. I love it

[@voornaam3191]

​@@number1Schumacherfan You spoilt brat. I got an F650CS, and though that is not a super sports bike, I have had bikes that were harder to steer. Do you know there has been a BMW Dakar team, using these 650cc Rotax engines? Unmodified! I bet they wanted more horsepower, later, for racing 50ish hp is not a lot. However, that team has tried it, and very important, they always finished. This Rotax engine is very okay. Sure, more compression is possible. And I would like to give it desmo valves, but yeah, money. Or lower compression and install an electric compressor. That way you could build a high power one cylinder. But a Rotax 270° firing 1300 cc parallel twin (or a boxer, why not) would be the obvious next step. All based on the F650 line. Before you know it, this is a "new" BMW line.

[@voornaam3191]

Why the F didn't you buy a splendid SMALL bike? Are you already able to ride your R1200GS full throttle all the time? No? Then you got a bike you still can't handle. Be wise, buy a bike you need. Smaller.

[@richardreed2688]

The front FORK (singular) uses oil to DAMP bumps. Damn, I hate it when so-called experts mis-use these two words. A FORK uses two fork tubes to make a FORK. If you dampen something, you get it wet. To DAMP something, you add a slowness to the action of its system.

[@sandrewcarson6291]

From airplanes To motorbikes to vehicles this company is the tops among the greats

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Very cool vid!!! 👍👍👍👍

[@nielgregory108]

This is fantastic, thank you!!

[@DailyDrivenBikes_1]

The logo is even a sweeping propeller.

[@jonathanvince8173]

Feather bed had dampeners so did the Vincent HRD 1929 and the Brough Superior even an early Harly Davidson just a name a few.

[@nightflyer1100]

I love the feeling of opposed twin engine. It feels like flying airplane.

[@AnalogDude_]

People actually use R259 / R1100 engines for aeronautics.

[@williamwoolcock]

I had a 1974 R6/6. The hot one was the R69S

[@umarsaleh5538]

Love from malaysia, cool history

[@voornaam3191]

Weird, the R1100S had a 6 box too. Was it later than K1200RS? Why?

[@androidemulator6952]

yes, where the standard R1100 RS/RT/GS only had 5 speed boxes- and most of those riders wish for a 6th gear. So the R1100S was a weird hybrid ??

[@tomaskral4685]

Wasnt it the Czechia/Bohmerland motorcycle that used the drive shaft for the first time?

[@treborif]

I had an R90s and a laverda SFC wjich was worn out - so I put the Ceriani forks on the Beemer - anyone who rides Beemers knows about the utterly ridiculous top fork yoke which is a piece of stamped metal plate about 5mm thick - where did that come from??? the Ceriani front end had massive thick alloy yokes and fitted right on the Beemer steering head - didnt even change the head bearings - I relaced the bent 18in rim for a akront 19, lightened the flywheel by 5.5 pounds and raced the beast. With the Del Orto carbs and an Italian front end it was a real facist!!

[@allwinds3786]

When was this production done? The reason I asked it I went to BMW Detroit and there is nothing familiar, no flying brick, chain drive on some... don't know what to think about the R18

[@MyClassicCarTV]

This was shot back in 2002 for the 80th anniversary of BMW motorcycles.

[@paulpickford4074]

The comment about Japanese bikes and Phillips screws was incorrect, they are JIS. Once you have used JIS screwdrivers you won't use phillips screwdrivers unless you have to.

[@anthonydexter262]

Im sorry to say the drive came from Douglas motorcycles also as you know the boxer twin also came from Douglas, if ive missed anything from the video i apologise 👍

[@quasoul10]

Love from nepal ❤️🇳🇵🇳🇵

[@sunami808]

R65LS/R100RS/K100RS/F650CSは持ってました。

[@paulberger5718]

Interesting the k1300R or K1300S were not mentioned, its almost like the forgotten bike...nothing quite like the K1300R anywhere, I personally think its the best bike i have ever ridden...

[@MyClassicCarTV]

The K1300 came out in 2008. This piece was actually produced in 2007.

[@jochenstacker7448]

I have a '99 R 1150 GS and I wouldn't swap it for anything. It now is undergoing a long-term restauration project and I bought a '98 Transalp and it just doesn't compare, it's worlds apart.

[@umvhu]

Having owned quite a few BMWs this video carefully dodges some of the not so good models, for example the R65, this had a vibration band in top gear from about 60 mph to 80 mph, and it was so uncomfortable it made me stop riding for a couple of years. The F650CS, the belt drive was not suitable for the function, proper spec for the belt would have made it as reliable as a shaft drive.

[@chandersital513]

Ik heb een 1000 cc bmw motorfiets waar kan Ik onderdelen kopen

[@AnalogDude_]

Baboon parts.

[@ggalaxian]

Ar 22:09....Japanese bikes used Phillips and stripped out....cause they were JIS and not Phillips

[@441rider]

I have a nice 82 RT and you stay dry in the rain. They cost more than they fetch though, average $6000 in top shape.

[@sandrewcarson6291]

At 4:00....where have I seen this man before?......it's Max Headdroom that hacked that one channel in the 80s.......

[@BR.]

When was this filmed?

[@MyClassicCarTV]

2003

[@johneastman1905]

All very interesting to one owning a simple and humble old R-65 …

[@johneastman1905]

Just took on the full restoration of a 1968 R60/2 and ready enjoying it .

[@chuckweyant4872]

In 1972 I sold my 1970 cb750 and bought a 1972 R75/5 gold toaster. I really tried to love that bike. Sold it in 1973 for a new Honda cb750. I found the Honda to be a better bike in every way!

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Those are very different bikes. I still have my black 1972 toaster and think it’s one of the best all around bikes I’ve ever owned. It’s virtually bulletproof.

[@voornaam3191]

These K1100's were amazing! You'd almost ask, why didn't BMW construct a camshaft for K1100, turning it into a four cylinder with "double" cylinders, making it a two cylinder in fact? Sure it loses some power, but why not, it would win some torque. How intelligent were these new model designers? Did they even THINK of this solution to win back the boxer riders, getting them to ride a K series, that behaved like a twin? Did you think of that option? Did you? Why were you too slow? Think about this new K1100 camshaft, firing order of 0, 45, 180, 225 or even more than 45 degrees difference is still feeling very much like an 1100 twin. Why didn't BMW do this? I'd love it. Now K stands for boring 4 cylinders, and that should not have been the only option. Grrrr!

[@Woodbug-b7t]

I've owned 5 BMs, all were brilliant. But the 'Bond' cruiser & the 1800, both minus highway pegs, cannot in any way be thought of as cruisers. Cruising is laid back feet up & relaxed.

[@saginaw60]

Had a R1200C, a fun rig, but such junk. Always falling apart. Not reliable like the other models, sticking to my R75/6.

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

It is just a bit too biased at times and that is a pity, BMW does not need that. I own both BMW and Honda motorcycles from the early 90's and, when you are honest, the Honda engineering was absolutely better in those days. Always be critical about what you ride and look around. A BMW has its qualities, yet so has Honda, Ducati, Yamaha, Guzzi and so on...

[@waldemarg5924]

ABC 400 boxer was a first! Sorry

[@kevrobert2962]

despite the ype te 1200C was NOT a good bike , check the sales figures

[@HMATHION1]

If they dont make cheaper simple boxer bikes under 800c.c. maybe they will be extinct in 20-30 years

[@motorcyclelad]

Yes, hopefully they will go back to more simple/affordable/smaller. Smaller bikes are killing in the market right now.

[@a34rwl]

I'm Kent Brockman...

[@brandonbelongstocharlottef1798]

Here's your 🥪 Dennis 🤪

[@WE_OF_THE_NOV]

BMW makes great...well, everything, but let's be real for a minute, if you break it, you're screwed if you live anywhere but Germany or The UK. I've literally seen $31k+ REPAIR QUOTES, for a BMW bike! (2021 water damage, submerged for a week after run off road), a price that's more than the bike itself.

[@hgm8337]

Thank goodness they dropped the boxer for their sports bike line and produced the phenomenal straight four S1000RR; that blew the Japanese bikes out of the water..

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Those are pretty amazing bikes!

[@terrypickette118]

- 👍 👍 🔧 -

[@allwinds3786]

I've been riding my R100RS since '84. I'll never ride anything else.

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Beemers are great bikes! I have seven of them.

[@allwinds3786]

@@MyClassicCarTV I only need my one, I call it Rocinante after Don Quixote's horse.

[@allwinds3786]

A month ago I bought a '79 RT and it's my new favorite, I have to eat my words, I now own 2!

[@tonymunn]

1978 R100RS and a 1982 R100RT for me and I'm done.

[@MyClassicCarTV]

My first introduction to BMW motorcycles was a 1981 R100RS. I have bought 11 since and still own seven of them. Airheads, Oilheads, and K-bikes. They're all awesome and some of the best machines on the planet!

[@tonymunn]

@@MyClassicCarTV I love the motorcycle trips episodes on your show. I dream of riding with you. Keep up the good work. I'll see you on REVN.😀

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Cool! Hope to see you on the road someday. Ride safe!

[@Airforce1Gunny]

"Twin cylinder engine in the FW190"

[@DABrock-author]

The other twelve cylinders-“What are we, chopped liver?” 😡

[@johneastman1905]

I think this was referring to “Two Rows of cylinders” … so just relax.

[@EI6DP]

The modern BMW motorcycles are in my opinion desperate looking. It seems that BMW are emulating the American/Japanese style. There was a time when you could recognise a BMW from a distance, not anymore. There are many motorcyclist who prefer what is called the "retro" style of a motorcycle and one that is priced competitively and preferably without the computerised system.

[@jeremyhanna3852]

Why are bmw bikes so high quailty and great riders But there cars are so low quality and drivers are not great

[@MyClassicCarTV]

There’s some truth to the question you pose. 🤔

[@voornaam3191]

Last mean remark. Have you ever riden the Yamaha TDM900? It is not in production anymore, for exhaust figures. The next model has three cylinders, but not 15 valves. So, when will BMW finally produce a 270° twin, that is as good as TDM900 was? What the F is BMW waiting for? Do they really KNOW the best Japanese alternatives? Looking at cheaper and weaker oponents is very unfair. Besides, have you ever looked at how much customers pay for a new bike? It is far more than that great Honda! Or whatever brand. Do you really want things that are expensive and you don't care shit? Think about that, do you really want those poshy posh fools for customers? Shure they pay, but do you LIKE them? Honest?

[@MyClassicCarTV]

I own seven BMW motorcycles and think they’re some of the finest machines ever produced. So yeah, I really like them. Honest.

[@hasse7487]

👍