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90 Years in 90 Seconds

Nicely done. Too bad BMW didn't use it for their "TV" commercial instead of the one they did use...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0SGLWzFZ-U4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here's an older one.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tfRpcPcK7rM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Nicely done. Too bad BMW didn't use it for their "TV" commercial instead of the one they did use...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0SGLWzFZ-U4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here's an older one.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tfRpcPcK7rM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Geez........I liked the one with the fan
 
That son of yours....

the dare devil ...he's always on that motorcycle reving the engine....

Saw this one the other night.... peel your eyes and tell me if you see what I see....

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kZuyQ10Ga9I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Yes it is worth watching, but I did not see any flying bricks. Did I miss something?

You probably missed checking the sales figures.

The large amount of the 90 seconds devoted to the R80G/S demonstrates accurately that BMW is a GS company and a boxer twin company.

Omission of much in the way of R90S would reflect its not-so-stellar success in the crotch rocket market, although it's making a comeback with a bike NOT named K, i.e. S1000RR.

It's good to recall that 1984 saw BMW calling the boxers "last editions" and that R80G/S sales were not so hot either. Introduction of the fairly flawed Ks convinced BMWs customers they were not ready to give up boxers as BMW thought they should, and the rest is history and the R100GS saved the division.
 
Actually, there's a couple K1 shots -- clearly, the bikes selected are not based just on sales figures! And in fact, it looked to me like the K1 shots were much longer than the total of all the Wedge K shots.

Also, there are several racing shots from the late 30s. I can't tell precisely, but it could well be picturing Schorsch Mayer at the '39 Isle of Man TT. The 30s were a period of huge development for BMW's bikes.
 
You probably missed checking the sales figures.

The large amount of the 90 seconds devoted to the R80G/S demonstrates accurately that BMW is a GS company and a boxer twin company.

Omission of much in the way of R90S would reflect its not-so-stellar success in the crotch rocket market, although it's making a comeback with a bike NOT named K, i.e. S1000RR.

It's good to recall that 1984 saw BMW calling the boxers "last editions" and that R80G/S sales were not so hot either. Introduction of the fairly flawed Ks convinced BMWs customers they were not ready to give up boxers as BMW thought they should, and the rest is history and the R100GS saved the division.

Geez.........I never knew the company was "saved" by the GS line. No wonder Cadillac spends its time selling pimped out Suburbans to Sunbelt dwellers that just have to have 4WD to traverse the terrain to the Mall.

As one of those lowly types with fond memories of the inadequate k75 I owned for 13-yrs, I guess I'm sorry I led the company astray from its destiny as the builder of 2-wheeled Hummers.

There..........how many folks did I manage to offend with that little rant........
 
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The 30s were a period of huge development for BMW's bikes.

The German government was providing support. Winning races was part of the propaganda effort.

In addition, motorcycles were a critical element in the German deployment of light infantry forces.
 
The German government was providing support. Winning races was part of the propaganda effort.

In addition, motorcycles were a critical element in the German deployment of light infantry forces.

True, but even before the German government got into it, and during the depths of the Great Depression, BMW was spending a lot of their own money on the effort.

Beginning in 1929, BMW was going out after, and capturing, land speed records. Between 1929 and 1937, BMW owned the land speed record 5 times, getting up to 173 mph.

Also, each year from 1930 to 1934, the R11 and R16 models got significant upgrades. If you're interested in owning one of these bikes, it's very difficult to get one that is all of one year, because BMW was making so many changes along the way.

And then, there's the fabulous art deco R7 that BMW was working on during 1934 -- a bike they developed to a preproduction prototype level and then dropped. Although it looks similar to the R16 and R17 models that surrounded it, it actually had new tooling for just about everything. The drivetrain was hung from a backbone frame, and it presaged the first ever oil damped telescopic forks that appeared on the R12/R17 bikes.

When the R12/R17 were introduced in 1935, they were really only intended to be one or two year models, because BMW was already developing the R5, a completely clean sheet design. It was introduced in 1936, but it had already been seen in BMW's racing program. BMW continued to update that model each year and then produced the R51 with a rear suspension in 1938.

So, the early to mid thirties were very active times at BMW, which mostly predates the government's involvement.

And while motorcycles were bought in big numbers for the Wehrmacht, from BMW they mostly bought the outdated R12, in preference over the newer R71 (which was built on the plan of the R51). They continued to buy the R12 into 1941; then bought a relatively small number of R71s, as a stopgap until the R75WH, a purpose built sidecar machine with a dual range transmission and a lockable differential for two wheel drive, finally became available late in 1941.
 
True, but even before the German government got into it, and during the depths of the Great Depression, BMW was spending a lot of their own money on the effort.

Beginning in 1929, BMW was going out after, and capturing, land speed records. Between 1929 and 1937, BMW owned the land speed record 5 times, getting up to 173 mph.

Also, each year from 1930 to 1934, the R11 and R16 models got significant upgrades. If you're interested in owning one of these bikes, it's very difficult to get one that is all of one year, because BMW was making so many changes along the way.

And then, there's the fabulous art deco R7 that BMW was working on during 1934 -- a bike they developed to a preproduction prototype level and then dropped. Although it looks similar to the R16 and R17 models that surrounded it, it actually had new tooling for just about everything. The drivetrain was hung from a backbone frame, and it presaged the first ever oil damped telescopic forks that appeared on the R12/R17 bikes.

When the R12/R17 were introduced in 1935, they were really only intended to be one or two year models, because BMW was already developing the R5, a completely clean sheet design. It was introduced in 1936, but it had already been seen in BMW's racing program. BMW continued to update that model each year and then produced the R51 with a rear suspension in 1938.

So, the early to mid thirties were very active times at BMW, which mostly predates the government's involvement.

And while motorcycles were bought in big numbers for the Wehrmacht, from BMW they mostly bought the outdated R12, in preference over the newer R71 (which was built on the plan of the R51). They continued to buy the R12 into 1941; then bought a relatively small number of R71s, as a stopgap until the R75WH, a purpose built sidecar machine with a dual range transmission and a lockable differential for two wheel drive, finally became available late in 1941.

The enabling act of 1933 made Adolph Hitler dictator of the Reich. The racing efforts at BMW, NSU and Mercedes were used in the government propaganda. Remember, the party was the national socialists......the party was integrated with the middle class and business to promote the economy and prevent the communists and anarchists from coming to power.

Is that bad? I can't say, but it is the model that the US has used since the end of WW-II for our defense industry efforts and government supported research (DoD, DoE, NASA, NSF, NIH) at government, university and private labs and facilities.

Trying to delineate the events in germany, from 1933 to the end of the war, from the Nazi's is typically an effort in picking a better shade of lipstick for the pig.
 
It cannot be denied (not that I was denying it) that the Nazi government insinuated itself into all the manufacturing industries. BMW's board was purged of Jews and those who weren't party members. In the late 30s, all transportation manufacturers adopted common guidelines for parts numbering, anticipating the huge need for organizing supplies during the coming war (for example, a leading 2 on a part number indicated a part was intended for a motorcycle).

But as I pointed out, BMW was already on a trajectory of racing, land speed records and continuous improvement of their products, in spite of the Great Depression, before the Nazis grasped the levers of power.

I was also trying to point out that, while the German government certainly was contributing to and in significant was controlling BMW's driection, what BMW produced was not necessarily what the government and the army wanted. It wasn't until the army had already reached its fullest advance that BMW (and Z??ndapp) began production of motorcycles expressly designed to support the war effort.
 
the dare devil ...he's always on that motorcycle reving the engine....

Saw this one the other night.... peel your eyes and tell me if you see what I see....

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kZuyQ10Ga9I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

At the very end it states that MVR Ins. since 1923
 
You probably missed checking the sales figures.

The large amount of the 90 seconds devoted to the R80G/S demonstrates accurately that BMW is a GS company and a boxer twin company.

Omission of much in the way of R90S would reflect its not-so-stellar success in the crotch rocket market, although it's making a comeback with a bike NOT named K, i.e. S1000RR.

It's good to recall that 1984 saw BMW calling the boxers "last editions" and that R80G/S sales were not so hot either. Introduction of the fairly flawed Ks convinced BMWs customers they were not ready to give up boxers as BMW thought they should, and the rest is history and the R100GS saved the division.



What do you mean "fairly flawed Ks"? Remember, there are many BMW owners that feel that the K75 is one of the best, if not the best two wheel machine BMW has ever produced. Period. Personally, I think the R80 has a slight edge, but that's just me. If you get on a K bike expecting a boxer, you will be disappointed. Kinda like biting into an apple and expecting an orange.

Considering that BMW had been producing twins for about 75 years or so, they had plenty of time to refine the boxer engine design and riders knew what to expect. Then they came out with the the flying brick, and of course the public was not prepared for a non boxerish motorcycle. People don't like change and BMW owners are no exception.

Turn to history and you will see the flying brick has held up well over the years. Much better than the air cooled R60, the entry level bike just a few years before. If you compare the basic K75 to a entry level boxer like a R65, you can see, the K bike was a lot of bike for the money. If you take in to account the fact it was a radically new concept of machine for BMW, you have to admit, they did a damn good job.
 
Considering that BMW had been producing twins for about 75 years or so,
Actually, it was 60 years (1923 - 1983).

Turn to history and you will see the flying brick has held up well over the years. Much better than the air cooled R60, the entry level bike just a few years before. If you compare the basic K75 to a entry level boxer like a R65, you can see, the K bike was a lot of bike for the money. If you take in to account the fact it was a radically new concept of machine for BMW, you have to admit, they did a damn good job.

You're right about an apples to oranges comparison! An R60 had 40 HP; the K75 had 75 HP. Even the R65 only had 50 HP. The K75 was also significantly more expensive than either of the Boxers.

OTOH, I think you're right that the Ks, and especially the K motors, have stood the test of time very well.
 
Actually, it was 60 years (1923 - 1983).



You're right about an apples to oranges comparison! An R60 had 40 HP; the K75 had 75 HP. Even the R65 only had 50 HP. The K75 was also significantly more expensive than either of the Boxers.

OTOH, I think you're right that the Ks, and especially the K motors, have stood the test of time very well.

As I recall, an R80 produced 50-hp and an R100 produced 60-hp. The K75 produced ~70-hp in US spec and the K100 was claimed to produce 90-hp.
 
Well Guys, I did say ABOUT seventy-five years. It was a guess on my part.

I have to admit, I would love to have another airhead, but not at the cost of loosing my K75. However, I never realized that the small boxers had such a low horse power rating. Only 40 HP for my old R60. Wow. No wonder it was so gutless.

The bike was under powered and the brakes sucked and the whole time I owned it, I could never claim that I had nothing to do. It seemed like there was always something to going on. Adjust the valves, change the points, etc. Always something. And yet, for some reason, people seem to love these underpowered machines over the black sheep K bikes. Why?

I have come to the conclusion that the early K bikes are the Rodney Dangerfield of BMW motorcycles. They don't get any respect.
 
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