R1200RS / R1250RS Pedigree

Lineage
Video Documentary - BMW Motorcycles

Lineage

1923

BMW R32 - the original boxer

In 1923, BMW's first in line crank with two horizontally opposed air cooled cylinders boxer engine, the R32, was designed by German mechanical engineer Max Friz. Friz was the key contributor of engine design and innovation that led to the founding of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) in 1917.

BMW oriented the boxer engine with the cylinder heads projecting out on each side for cooling as did the earlier British ABC. The R32 also incorporated shaft drive. 

1950 - 1956

R51/2 to R69

BMW boxer twins manufactured from 1950 to 1956 included the 500 cc models R51/2 and 24 hp (18 kW) R51/3, the 600 cc models 26 hp (19 kW) R67, 28 hp (21 kW) R67/2, and R67/3, and the sporting 35 hp (26 kW) 600 cc model R68. All these models came with plunger rear suspensions, telescopic front forks, and chromed, exposed drive shafts.

In 1955, BMW began introducing a new range of motorcycles with Earles forks and enclosed drive shafts. These were the 26 hp (19 kW) 500 cc R50, the 30 hp (22 kW) 600 cc R60, and the 35 hp (26 kW) sporting 600 cc R69. 

1970

Complete engine redesign

In 1970, BMW introduced an entirely revamped product line of 500 cc, 600 cc and 750 cc displacement models, the R50/5, R60/5 and R75/5 respectively.

The engines were a complete redesign. The roller and ball-bearings in the bottom end had been replaced by shell-type journal bearings similar to those used in modern car engines. The camshaft, which had been at the top of the engine, was placed under the crankshaft, giving better ground clearance under the cylinders while retaining the low centre of gravity of the flat-twin layout. The new engine had an electric starter, although the traditional gearbox-mounted kick starter was retained.

The styling of the first models included chrome-plated side panels and a restyled tank. The /5 series was given a longer rear swingarm, resulting in a longer wheelbase. This improved the handling and allowed a larger battery to be installed.

The /5 models were the first to be built at BMW's new motorcycle factory in Spandau, West Berlin. 

1973

The beautiful R90S/6

In 1973 a supersport model, the BMW R90S, was introduced.
Read: THE R90S - The BMW That Invented Sport-Touring (Cycle World, September 23, 2015)

1977

The RS is born

In 1977, the product line moved on to the "/7" models. The R80/7 was added to the line. The R90 (898 cc) models, "/6" and R90S models were replaced by updated versions with a new 1,000 cc; engine, the R100/7, the R100S and the new super sport model the R100RS (Reisesport or “travel sport”) with a full fairing.

This sleek model, designed through wind-tunnel testing, produced 70 hp (51 kW) and had a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). The R100RS had a shorter rear end ratio to overcome the higher wind resistance of the full fairing. Many period motorcycle tests in Germany (Das Motorrad) indicated it was actually slightly slower than the R100S with only 65 hp.

1983 - 2005

R1100RS - the first "oilhead"

Between 1983 and 2003, BMW introduced a number of motorcycles including the R Series (oilheads) including the R1100RS. The R1100RS was manufactured between 1993 and 2001, and was the first BMW motorcycle to use the new R259 "Oilhead" boxer engine. Oilhead engines feature air-cooled cylinders but oil-cooled heads. The R1100RS was marketed in the United States from 1994, when it was chosen as Cycle World's best standard motorcycle of 1994.

In 1995, BMW ceased production of airhead 2-valve engines and moved its boxer-engined line completely over to the 4-valve oilhead system first introduced in 1993.

In 2005, bikes with the opposed-twin-cylinder "boxer" engine were also revamped. The new boxer displacement is 1,170 cc (71 cubic inches). 

2015 - 2018

The water-cooled RS

The  R1200RS was presented in September 2014 at the Intermot Show after an absence of 14 years. The road-oriented allrounder is equipped with a water-cooled boxer engine and assembled at the BMW plant in Berlin.

Production began on 9 February 2015 and was launched on 12 May 2015.

Video: BMW Motorcycle Production

2020 - Present

New 1250 engine with ShiftCam

After 5 successful years, the 1170cc watercooled boxer engine was replaced with the variable timing 1254cc engine, with ShiftCam technology. In Europe and elsewhere the bike was released as a 2019 model.

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