BMW is known across the globe as a pinnacle of engineering and luxury, and their motorcycles certainly live up to the reputation. They set a standard for dependability and power while experimenting with design aesthetics and underlining it all with racing prestige. Today, BMW offers a wide selection of bikes, from sleek sport and touring bikes to deceptively humble street motorcycles.

At CalMoto, we love our BMW motorcycles. That’s why we’ve taken the time to create this short guide to the history and current lineup of wonderful motorcycles. Read on for more information, or if you’re ready for a test ride, call ahead then visit us in Mountain View or Livermore, California. We’re proud to serve Tracy, San Jose, and the greater San Francisco, California area.

History of BMW Motorrad

BMW Motorrad is the branch within the company responsible for motorcycle design and production. The core engineer behind BMW Motorrad was Max Fritz, who joined the company in 1917. After the first World War, the treaty of Versailles banned aircraft and aircraft engine production within Germany. Fritz thus began focusing solely on motorcycle creation. His innovation was the flat twin “boxer” engine. This revolutionary design still has core components used today in BMW’s boxer series. The engine got its world premier in 1923 at the Berlin Automobile Show. It was in the R 32, whose perks included safe handling, easy maintenance, and high reliability. It quickly became a crowd favorite and helped create the storied history of BMW racing.

BMW continued developing their bikes and reaching milestones. They produced their 1,000,000th motorcycle in 1991. They broke a record in 1999 for total number of bikes sold: 65,186. With the start of the new millennium, designers focused on reducing the environmental impact of bikes and improving bike safety. It’s exciting to imagine what the next years have in store!

BMW Motorcycle Families

There are several great BMW motorcycle families to choose from, each with a different niche and specialization that should help you narrow down your choices.

Touring Bikes

The BMW Touring family offers superior performance, fuel efficiency, and comfort for riders looking at the long road ahead. Large displacement engines mean you’ll have all the power to zip down freeways and carry whatever load you can fit on board. Your passenger will enjoy a virtual throne with a comfortable backrest complete with armrests, and the Electronic Suspension Adjustment technology reduces vibration under bad road conditions. These bikes symbolize independence with the reliability of German engineering.

Sport Bikes

You won’t have to compromise in the pursuit of pure two-wheeled power with the Sport family of BMW motorcycles. Large displacement engines up to 1,300cc deliver all the horsepower you could ever want. These bikes have riders sitting forward, ready to pounce like a powerful predator. Get extreme power on short trips and long-lasting fun on longer journeys. BMW sport bikes come with standard automatic stability control, and can even be mounted with saddlebags and luggage racks for a unique twist among bikes of its class.

Street Bikes

Also known as roadsters, the BMW line of street bikes offers powerful machines filled to the brim with modern technology in an affordable package. BMW roadsters handle impeccably, and offer engines that’ll have you zipping past slow traffic, making the morning commute or race across town that much more fun. Lightweight frames mean great fuel economy, adding to the cost efficient price. High-performance models brings extra power to the table, and have features like a multi-ride mode system, traction control, and standard automatic stability control.

BMW motorcycles combine sleek modern design with a history of outstanding engineering to produce some of the best bikes in the world. Whether you’re looking for a touring bike for the long road, a sport bike for the race track, or an urban monsters to devour city streets, BMW has a motorcycle for you. Head into CalMoto for a look at our stock of BMW motorcycles or call ahead to arrange a test ride. We’re located in Mountain View and Livermore, California, and we’re proud to serve Tracy, San Jose, and the greater San Francisco area. Come in today and let our team of knowledgeable and courteous professionals answer all your questions and help you find the motorcycle of your dreams!