BMW R-series: Books - History, Types and Construction (1/2)

BMW Airhead Twins - The Complete Story

No motorcycle manufacturer is more closely associated with one type of engine than BMW: the air-cooled boxer twin or 'airhead'. It was included in BMW's very first motorcycle in 1923 and virtually every machine the company made, of every type, from radical road bike to TT winner, to land speed record holder, to 1970s style icon and even to the creation of an all-new adventure bike class with the R 80 G/S, right up to the mid-1990s.

Phil West celebrates the success of the BMW airhead twin motorcycles. This book, with over 290 photographs, includes a history of the company pre- and post-War; the personalities behind the development of the bikes; profiles of each of the 'R' bikes in turn, including detailed specification guides and production numbers.
These wonderful machines are regularly celebrated and now BMW itself is harking back to them with an all-new series of machines.

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BMW Boxer - 100 Jahre Faszination (Band 1) - 1920: der erste Motor / Die Gründerjahre: von der R 32 1923 zur R 75 1941

Half a liter of displacement and 6.5 hp: In December 1920, BMW's first boxer engine went into series production, initially as a built-in engine for Victoria and Helios motorcycles. Just in time for the "100 Years of the BMW Boxer Engine" anniversary, this book is a tribute to the founding years of the Bavarian motorcycle manufacturer, which presented its first complete motorcycle in 1923, the ingenious and epoch-making R 32 with a transverse boxer engine and shaft drive to the rear wheel.

On 176 pages, with informative texts and 380 contemporary photographs exclusively released by the Historical BMW Archive, author Hans-Jürgen Schneider documents the models of the first era up to 1944, type by type, from the tourer R 32 and the sporty R 37 or R 57 to the pressed steel models R 11 to R 16 to the style icon R 5 and the fully suspended models R 51 to R 17. The 19 models described are also shown in motorsport and in sidecar operation.

BMW's dealings with the Wehrmacht or police are not left out: 36 000 units of the 750 R 12 (mostly as sidecars) were delivered, mainly to government clients, and 18 000 units of the heavy 750 R 75 sidecar, specially designed for wartime use, rolled off the production lines.

Complete technical data, chassis numbers and an extensive register of names, places and institutions round off the work.

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BMW Boxer Zweiventiler ab /5 (1969-1984) - Alle Modelle mit zwei Federbeinen (Boxer im Detail Band 1)

The BMW "two-valve" boxer motorcycles are presented here in more detail than ever before. This series debuted at the end of 1969 with the /5 models. A long success story began and ended with the R 80 GS Basic in 1996 after more than a quarter of a million motorcycles were built.
This first volume presents all models with two spring struts. These are the machines from the /5, /6 and /7 series. There are also the R 45, R 65, R 65 LS models and finally the R 80 RT, R 100 CS, R 100 T, R 100 RT and R 100 RS, which were built until 1985.

Not only are all series models and never-before-seen prototypes described in detail, the fathers of these machines also have their say. All frame and engine numbers, visible and invisible changes to details, numbers built, tips on buying used, identifying and restoring these machines that have become classics complement this volume.

4th edition from 2013

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BMW Boxer Zweiventiler ab 80 G/S (1980-1996) - Alle Modelle mit Einarmschwinge (Boxer im Detail Band 2)

This second volume on the subject of BMW two-valve engines covers the models with one-sided rear suspension, often referred to as "single-sided swing arms", that rolled off the production line at the Spandau plant from August 1980. These are all G/S and GS models with two-valve boxer engines.
In addition, there are the R 80 ST, the R 65, R 80, R 100 RS and R 100 RT from 1985 as well as the R 100 R, the R 100 R Mystic and the Classic models from 1995.

The description of the machines is systematically based on the model of the first volume, which was met with great acclaim among BMW enthusiasts. The considerations and activities that preceded the appearance of the first R 80 G/S and its successor models with the two-valve engine are discussed in detail here.

3rd revised and expanded edition from 2017

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BMW Boxer - 100 Jahre Faszination (Band 2) - Die Nachkriegszeit: von der R 51/2 1950 bis zur R 69 S 1969

Passion, German engineering and major setbacks have shaped BMW's motorcycle history. After the Second World War, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy, but kept itself afloat with cooking pots and bicycles made from aircraft engine waste. It was not until 1948 that BMW was able to celebrate a revival as a motorcycle brand and found new courage with the R 24.

The second volume of the Boxer saga takes a look at the brand's history from 1945 to 1969. From the creation of the first post-war Boxer R 51/2 to the legendary motorcycles of the R 69 S series: knowledgeable texts and exclusive images from BMW's development department give a glimpse behind the scenes.

• Descriptions and background information on BMW boxer models from 1950 to 1969
• Numerous valuable vintage motorcycles in collectors' hands and on trips on Germany's roads
• Insights into the difficulties of motorcycle production in post-war Germany
• Approx. 380 historical photos and drawings from the BMW archives
• Detailed appendix with technical data and chassis numbers

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BMW Boxer - 100 Jahre Faszination (Band 3): Die Renaissance - Modelle mit Zweiarmschwinge 1969 bis 1985

NEW

The motorcycle industry experienced a worldwide boom in the late 1960s and early 1970s after years of decline. Young people discovered the motorcycle as the ideal companion for fun, sport and adventure.
BMW reacted promptly and in 1969 presented the completely newly developed series with the 750 cc two-cylinder boxer R 75/5 and two parallel models. These models corresponded to the modern lifestyle and immediately achieved outstanding sales figures, saving BMW's motorcycle division from ruin.

The renaissance of the motorcycle led to an increasing demand for high-displacement machines. In the 1970s, BMW served this development with legendary models such as the design icon R 90 S, the first fully faired touring sports bike R 100 RS and the long-distance boxer R 100 RT. The 600 and 750 models were replaced by 800 variants such as the R 80/7 or the R 80 RT.
In 1978, BMW launched the R45/65 models, a series for drivers who were satisfied with half a liter of displacement (or a little more). All boxer models of this time had the characteristic long-arm rear swing arm with two spring struts in common, which determines the selection of models in this book.

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BMW Boxer Zweiventiler (1973-1984) - R 90 S, R 100 S und R 100 CS (Boxer im Detail Band 4)

The fourth volume of the two-valve boxer series from Bodensteiner Verlag describes the legendary BMW R 90 S and its successor models with 1000 cm³ displacement.
The creator of the R 90 S, Hans A. Muth, who gave this motorcycle its unmistakable character, was co-author of this work and provided a glimpse into the development process behind the scenes of the marketing measures and press releases.

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BMW Boxer (1950-1955) - R 51/2 bis R 68 (Boxer im Detail Band 5)

A detailed look at the R 51/2, R 51/3, R 67, R 67/2, R 67/3 and R 68. The book gives tips on identification and restoration for solo machines and sidecars. Number ranges as well as information on model history, purchase, repair, maintenance, optimization and accessories for all "straight-line boxers".

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BMW Boxer - 1950-1996 - Alle Zweizylinder im Detail

Classic motorcycle fans still associate BMW motorcycles with the legendary air-cooled boxer engines. Brand expert Ian Falloon presents all the special features of the models and years with countless detailed photos. A must for every connoisseur and for anyone who restores their rubber cow true to the original.

Ian Falloon is one of the world's leading motorcycle historians. In his more than 25 years as an author, the New Zealand native has written for numerous motorcycle magazines all over the world and published more than 40 books.

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