100 YEARS OF BMW MOTORRADConcorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2023

100 Years of BMW Motorrad: Make Life a Ride

The history of BMW Motorrad is powered by the desire to move forward. It has been driven by challenges and successes. But setbacks and persistence have also played their part. Giving up has never been an option. This is all about individuals who share a passion: adventurers, dreamers, hobby mechanics, sports fans, visionaries – men and women alike. People who want to revolutionise the roads with big ideas on two wheels. 100 Years of Make Life a Ride Spirit.

It all started with Chief Designer Max Friz. He designed the first BMW motorcycle, presented at the German Motor Show on 28 September 1923. Friz was followed by designers, racing riders and visionaries who also wanted to challenge the status quo. In 1924, Rudolf Schleicher led development of the engine for the BMW R 37, the first sports model to be produced by BMW Motorrad. In 1937, Ernst Jakob Henne broke the World Speed Record riding a supercharged fully-faired BMW 500 Kompressor with a speed of 279.503 km/h. Georg “Schorsch” Meier was the first non-British rider to win the Senior TT on the Isle of Man riding a supercharged BMW motorcycle.

Last year, the strongest sales in the history of the company bear witness to the popularity of the attractive BMW Motorrad product portfolio with its customers. This is complemented by the innovative E-Scooter CE 04 with a strong contribution made by nearly 5,000 units sold already during the year of its market launch. The message behind these facts is crystal clear. The future of urban mobility is electric.

What’s more, the tradition and history of BMW Motorrad is inseparably linked up with the legendary Boxer engine. The exclusive limited edition models R nineT 100 Years and R 18 100 Years are each restricted to a run of 1,923 examples to reflect the roots of the brand. Historically inspired contours and details reprise the authentic ride feeling typical of BMW Motorad.

In 2023, customers and fans can look forward to a number of surprises celebrating the centenary of BMW Motorad. The highlights include the BMW Motorrad Days being held in Berlin from 7th to 9th July 2023 for friends of motorcycle culture, music and art. Furthermore, new products like the BMW M 1000 R and a number of world premieres of new models will create the best framework conditions for another successful year in order to underpin the leading position of BMW Motorrad in the premium segment.