detailed model history

Some years ago a buddy recommended Karl Ludvigsen's book on model history for early Porsche's. The detail by year, model changes, history and excruciating detail from the book proved invaluable when selecting a car. It has the type of detail i've seen here in the forums...details such as the year the turn signals began being mounted on the license plate, and such manner of detail.

As much as I like information on the internet, often it is nice to have a single comprehensive volume in your hands when doing research (probably give my age away saying that though); https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525101179/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i34

Does anyone know if there is a book of similar quality and scope for the BMW motorcycles or BMW airheads specifically? Somazzi's book has high reviews on Amazon, but it seems kind of light for covering 70ish years so I'm skeptical. I'm looking for something meatier if there is anything.

Thanks

There is no just one book on BMW Motorcycles. It really takes a collection of books. Some have better pics and some have better text. Some on the list.
BMW TWINS All BMW TWINS, 1955-1985 RESTORATION
Mick Walker 1992. ISBN 1-85532-191 2
BMW TWINS The Complete Story by Mick Walker 1998 ISBN 1 86126 153 5
BMW MOTORCYCLES THE EVOLUTION OF EXCELLENCE
BY Kevin Ash 2006 ISBN-13. 978-1-884313-57-8 ISBN-10:
1-884313-57-4
Taking a break, more coming.

Welcome to the forum! My thoughts on books are:

- Original BMW Air-Cooled Boxer Twins 1950-1996 by Ian Falloon

- BMW Motorcycles from 1969 to 1985 Volume 1 - All Airheads with twin shocks by Andy Schwietzer

I'm not aware of a Volume 2, but Volume 1 is a good book with lots of details about the first half of the Airhead run.

2 book series of magazine articles on BMW motorcycles soft back. Compiled by R.M. Clarke
BMW MOTORCYCLES Gold Portfolio 1950-1971
ISBN 1-85520-377-4
BMW MOTORCYCLES Gold Portfolio 1971-1976
ISBN 1-85520-378-2

2 book series from BMW Mobile Tradition
BMW PROFILES 1 AND 2
Motorcycles from Munich 1923-1969
1997 BMW order no. 01 09 0 035 256
BMW PROFILES 1
Motorcycles from Berlin 1969-1998
1998 BMW order no. 01 09 0 035 281
BMW PROFILES 2

Two more books by Ian Falloon

BMW Boxer Twins All air-cooled models 1970-1996 except R45, R65, G/S & GS 2009
ISBN 978-1-84584-168-3
BMW BOXER TWINS 2004
ISBN 1 85960 963 5

A Couple More

BAHNSTORMER
The Story of BMW MOTORCYCLES
L.J.K. SETRIGHT 1977
ISBN 0 85184 021 3

BMW TWINS & SINGLES
Roy Bacon
Foreword by Reg Pridmore
The Postwar 250 Singles and 450 to 1000 Twins
1982, 1984
ISBN 0-85045-470-0

BMW MOTORCYCLES by Darwin Holmstrom and Brian J. Nelson 2009 ISBN 978 0 7603-3748-6

The ART of BMW
85 YEARS OF MOTORCYCLING EXCELLENCE
2008
Peter Gantriis
ISBN-13: 978-0 -7603-3315-0

20774 said:

Welcome to the forum! My thoughts on books are:

- Original BMW Air-Cooled Boxer Twins 1950-1996 by Ian Falloon

- BMW Motorcycles from 1969 to 1985 Volume 1 - All Airheads with twin shocks by Andy Schwietzer

I'm not aware of a Volume 2, but Volume 1 is a good book with lots of details about the first half of the Airhead run.

Click to expand...

There is a volume #2 1986 to 1995) and volume #3 (R90S) but both are available only in German.

Some more BMW Books

BMW MOTORCYCLES
The Complete Story by Bruce Preston 1996,2002
ISBN 1 86126 005 9
Revised and Updated Edition

Motorcyclist BMW Files
Selected Road Tests
From the editors of Motorcyclist Magazine
2003 ISBN 0-7603-1695-3

2 Workshop Manuals With a Lot of History

BMW TWINS
ALL BMW FLAT TWINS, 1955-1985
RESTORATION By MICK WALKER
The essential guide to the renovation, restoration and development history of all BMW flat twins 1955-1985
Osprey Publishing 1992 ISBN 1-85532-191 2

How To Restore Your BMW TWIN 1955-1985
Mick Walker
1992 Osprey Publishing
2005 Motorbooks -- MBI Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-2262-8
ISBN: 0-7603-2262-7

These 2 books are almost identical; just a heads up. Both are good references along with a true workshop manual.

Illustrated BMW Motorcycle BUYER'S GUIDE
Boxer Twins, Singles, K Series, Military and Rennsport Racers, 1923-current. Stefan Knittel Roland Slabon
1990 ISBN 0-87938-404-2 Soft addition

CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES BMW
DON MORLEY & MICK WOOLLETT
1992 ISBN 1 85532 275 7
I have read and used all these books to help me understand and study BMW
motorcycles.

Another One

How to Restore Your BMW MOTORCYCLE
TWINS 1950-1969 Roland Slabon
Guide to Authenticity
Encyclopedia of Original Parts
Options, Serial Numbers, and More
1994
ISBN 0-87938-933-8