BMW motorcycles were not the first bikes ever to have been made. And the plant where they were built was and is not the largest of its kind. However, more than any other manufacturer, BMW motorcycles stand for motorcycling in its purest form - for its appeal, its possibilities, the challenge it presents and for the sheer enjoyment of riding which is associated with it.
Forced by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 to stop the manufacture of aeroplanes and aeroplane machinery, BMW's head designer, Max Friz, decided to turn the company's energies to the production of motorbikes. Three years later the company took the world by storm at their first bike's premier at the Paris Salon.
From that day onwards, with the introduction of the Box Engine (which has remained standard on bikes ever since), BMW have become synonymous with technical innovation on two wheels. They were pioneers in hydraulically launched telescopic front-wheel forks, footrests, swinging arm suspension, electronic ignition, fuel injection, ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), digital electronics and catalytic converters. They have continually laid down the technological mark for other manufacturers to follow.
This book is a celebration of a 77-year tradition of technological innovation. With every motorbike featured and with a commentary on every model which give fascinating insights into what made each machine a pioneer of its age, the book is sure to become a collectors' for all motorbike enthusiasts.
