BMW motorcycles are produced by BMW Motorad, a German company that has been in this business since the early 1920s. Although the beginnings of the company are closely related to the production of aircraft, it was in 1923 that the first motorcycle was produced in a BMW factory. At present, the company has plants in Taiwan, China and Austria, besides the main Berlin factory. The motorcycle categories produced under the BMW brand vary from 450cc to 1300cc cylinder capacity. Some are designed for touring activities while others correspond to sport, off-road and dual purpose applications.
The fame of BMW motorcycles has increased over the years thanks to the many victories in prestigious races and competitions both national and international. One fine example here is the Dakar Rally, organized between Europe and Africa yearly. BMW motorcycles have always participated to this race, not to mentioned that they have won six titles in this competition so far. In 2008 and 2009, BMW motorcycles were part of the Superbike World Championship with the BMW S1000RR too.
Anyone who wishes to buy a BMW motorcycle can choose from several product categories.
First, there is the F series with a cylinder capacity of 800 cc; BMW motorcycles in the F series use either a belt drive or a chain.
A smaller category, the G series has engines with a cylinder capacity between 450cc to 650cc. They have a single cylinder and they feature a chain drive. The G series is produced exclusively in Asia, with the 650cc engines made in China and the 450cc models in Taiwan.
There are two models available in the R series: R1200GS, R1200T. They all have 1200 cc capacity, twin cylinders and a shaft drive.
The K series includes larger BMW motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of 1200-1300 cc and four engines. These too are large models, and you can choose between K1200LT, K1200R, K1300GT, K1300S and K1300R.
And finally the S series includes the popular BMW sports bikes with an inline-four engine and a 999cc capacity.
Before you purchase any type of bike, it is essential to take some drive tests. The selection criteria for BMW motorcycle should include the purpose, the riding style, the budget and the rider’s preference. You can get technical information and consultancy in any BMW dealer shop, or online.
Then, the price varies according to the category, the cylinder capacity and the overall technical design. The 450 and 650 cc BMW motorcycles are the cheapest, but the lower price is also justified by the fact that these models have lower manufacturing costs.
John has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Automotive, you can also check out his latest website on direct tv reviews and How to Watch HD TV through PC.
