BMW motorcycles

BMW came about in 1927 with the merging of two mechanical companies in Munich.  At the beginning, it was dedicated to making airplane engines.  It is for this reason that we have the current BMW brand emblem: The BMW symbol is reminiscent of a plane in motion against a blue sky.

But after Germany's defeat in World War I, Germany was prohibited from producing planes and plane engines in their country, so BMW was obligated to rededicate itself.  This prohibition was reflected in the Treaty of Versailles. 

It is for this reason, because of this prohibition, that BMW diversified their production and started to construct motorcycle engines.  In the beginning, they were copies of the Douala engine, with transverse side-valve engines.  These engines were sold to companies like Victoria or Helios.

But, in 1922, BMW bought Helios and began this German brand's adventure in the two-wheeled world.  So, in 1923 came the first BMW motorcycle: the R32, with a 500cc engine.  And one year later, the new model came out: The R37.

This machine was very modern for its time.  Only one year later, they came out with the R39, a 250cc, single-cylinder bike.  They also produced the same model with 200 and 400cc engines.  Three years later, in 1928, came the R63: a 750cc, single-cylinder bike.

Before World War II, BMW became a well-known brand because of the commercialization of many models with the 250 and 350cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke engines.  During World War II, BMW was made famous for its famous Afrika Korps model, a motorcycle with a sidecar and wheel attached.

From 1950 until 1972, BMW continued with its Flat-Twins with the series 2.  The bike colors were black, white and sometimes (though infrequently) red.  The German brand continued with the production of 250cc, single cylinder motorcycles, like the R25 of 1953 and the R27 of 1964.