BMW Motorcycle Books - History and Models (3/4)

The BMW Motorcycle Story (Second Edition)

Over the past 80 years, BMW motorcycles have provided a unique alternative to those of other manufacturers. Some motorcycles may have been faster, certainly others were cheaper, but with their emphasis on quality and reliability, none have emulated the practicality of a BMW.

With its commitment to ease of serviceability, the BMW motorcycle has become the preferred choice for hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists around the world. BMW motorcycles are made to be ridden, and if the journey includes a mixture of straight roads and corners, there is no better motorcycle.

Ownership of a BMW is also generally a long-term affair. Because of long model runs, the designs are so well developed there seems little need to update on the whim of fashion. This is most definitely a refreshing change from the current trend towards instant obsolescence.

This new edition of Ian Falloon's classic book on the history of BMW Motorcycles brings the story right up to date, and now includes all models from 1923 right through to 2019.
Falloon is a prolific author and one of the world's foremost motorcycle historians with years of experience.

Information

Author:	Ian Falloon
Details:	304 pages, 28 x 22 x 3.1 cm / 11 x 8.7 x 1.22 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2019)
ISBN:	9781787113589

The Art of BMW Motorcycles

Presents the rolling sculptures that are BMW motorcycles in studio portraits, each bike accompanied by a short history of the machine.
All the classic bikes are here - pre-World War II BMWs like the R5 that defined performance in that era; the military R12 that carried the Wehrmacht as it blitzkrieged its way across Europe; the R75M that accompanied Rommel's Panzers in North Africa; the Earles-forked R69S that offered the perfect platform for mounting a Steib sidecar; the R90S café racer; and the GS (Gelände Sport) series that launched a dual-sport revolution.

All the bike families are covered: the side-valve machines from the early years, the early overhead-valve performance bikes, the postwar Airheads and Oilheads, the four-cylinder and six-cylinder touring bikes, the early pushrod singles, the modern overhead-cam singles, the latest parallel twins, and inline-four cylinder sport bikes.

From the first model, the R32 that launched BMW's motorcycle dynasty, to the latest (and fastest) model, the World Super Bike dominating S1000RR, this book captures nearly a century of motorcycling excellence.

Information

Author:	Peter Gantriis
Details:	208 pages, 28.5 x 25 x 2.4 cm / 11.2 x 9.8 x 0.94 in, hardback
Illustrations:	175 colour photos
Publisher:	Motorbooks International (USA, 2018)
ISBN:	9780760361535

BMW Century (2nd Edition)

Established in 1916, BMW is one of the automotive and motorcycle industry's oldest and most-respected manufacturers. Over the past 100-plus years, the company has passed through myriad incarnations. The BMW Century chronicles this remarkable transportation story through the cars and motorcycles manufactured, from the 1923 R32 motorcycle to today's sleek electric, hybrid, and high-performance cars.

"The BMW Century" showcases how the company's visionary team systematically rebuilt BMW in the post-World War II years into the spectacular success we know today - a company with sales in excess of two million cars annually, led by its top-selling 3-series.

BMW's motorcycle division is no less legendary. It began with the 1923 avant-garde R32, which featured a 180-degree, horizontally opposed twin, the engine configuration that would become BMW's hallmark.
Over the decades, BMW used that configuration to power groundbreaking machines like the R90 S, R100 RS, and R80 GS. Beginning in 1983, the company added add three- and four-cylinder machines to their offerings, culminating in today's spectacular S1000 RR sport bike.

From the pre-war motorcycles to the iconic R-series twins of the 1970s and '80s to the mighty M-cars and superbikes of today, The BMW Century offers a full review of German engineering at its zenith. The book is illustrated generously with hundreds of historic, contemporary, and racing photographs - many sourced from BMW's historic archives - and thorough text covering BMW's full history.

This is the one volume no BMW aficionado will want to be without.

Information

Author:	Tony Lewin
Details:	240 pages, 31.5 x 25.5 x 3 cm / 12.4 x 10 x 1.18 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Motorbooks International (USA, 2022)
ISBN:	9780760373774

BMW Motorcycles

Filled with brilliant photography and writing from a motorcycle expert that goes beyond mere facts and figures this book paints a picture of BMW, one of the world's great motorcycle manufacturers.

Information

Author:	Darwin Holstrom
Details:	180 pages, 23 x 23 x 1.3 cm / 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.51 in, paperback
Illustrations:	170 colour photos and drawings
Publisher:	Motorbooks International (USA, 2009)
ISBN:	9780760337486

BMW Motorcycles (1950-1971) - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the BMW motorcycles from the years 1950-1971. Describes the BMW R27, R67/2, R69S, R50, R60/5, R75/5 and US.

• The articles, taken from contemporary British and American motorcycle magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

Information

Details:	172 pages, 27 x 20 x 1.1 cm / 10.6 x 7.9 x 0.43 in, paperback
Illustrations:	300 photos
Publisher:	Brooklands Books (GB, 1997)
Series:	Gold Portfolio
ISBN:	9781855203778

More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

BMW Group: 100 Masterpieces

It all began with the development of aircraft engines, but the brand with the blue-and-white propeller would soon establish itself as one of the leading manufacturers of the automobile branch. Who has not heard of the countless classics, from the legendary BMW 328 to the BMW M1 super sports car?
And it is impossible to imagine the motorcycle world without these machines with their characteristic two-cylinder boxer engine.

One hundred masterpieces tell the exciting story behind the success: technical innovations, world records and victories in motor racing, entrepreneurial decisions and above all the individual performance of the staff combine to create a multifaceted portrait of BMW.

Features:
- Catalogue accompanying the official jubilee exhibition in the BMW Museum
- Masterpieces of design from the classic BMW 328 to the visionary BMW i3
- A thrilling story in fascinating pictures.

Information

Author:	Andreas Braun
Details:	236 pages, 27 x 32 cm / 10.6 x 12.6 in, hardback
Illustrations:	404 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Hirmer Verlag (D, 2016)
ISBN:	9783777425238

BMW Motorrad - Make Life a Ride

No other book on the market shows the fascination of BMW motorbikes in such a large format and in such diversity.
The almost 100-year history is not only shown by means of models, but is brought to life through trend-setting innovations, milestones in model history, groundbreaking successes in racing and exciting reports from excursions.

• 350 amazing photos
• The whole story of BMW motorcycles - authorized by the manufacturer!
• All the innovations of the last few years - including the R 18 that came onto the market in 2020!
• Now as an extended and revised edition!

Information

Details:	336 pages, 36.5 x 27.5 x 3.3 cm / 14.4 x 10.8 x 1.3 in, hardback
Illustrations:	155 b&w and 190 colour photos
Publisher:	teNeues Verlag GmbH + Co KG (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783961712731