1990 – 1999: A Success Story in White and Blue

With a completely redesigned Boxer engine and a new chassis concept with Telelever and Paralever BMW Motorrad underlined its role as a technical pioneer and trend setter. A broader model range, a return to single-cylinder business and courageous steps like the C1 scooter, consolidated the company’s successes.

1993 BMW R 1100 GS (left) and F 650 (right)

1997 BMW K 1200 RS

The reunification of Germany and the increased attractiveness of the motorcycle as a leisure vehicle meant that the German motorcycle market was riding the crest of a wave in the 1990’s. With over 150,000 motorcycles sold, by 1992 Germany ranked second only to the United States in terms of worldwide registrations and at the end of the decade there were more than 180,000 newly registered motorcycles per year.

For BMW Motorrad the 1990s were a multi-layered period of innovative development that was characterised by rising sales figures. In short: a true success story. From 1991 onwards, BMW Motorrad customers could order a closed-loop three-way catalytic converter ex works as part of the optional extras for K models. This was a pioneering technical innovation in standard motorcycle production. However, there can be no doubt that the most important development step was the fully redeveloped Boxer engine. This was unveiled at the Cologne IFMA in September 1992, while the first completely new Boxer model since 1969, the R 1100 RS, followed in 1993. Air-oil cooling, fourvalve technology, electronic fuel injection and 66 kW (90 hp) from a 1085-cc engine were the most arresting features of the new model. Another innovation in the new Boxer model was the camshaft in the cylinder head (CIH = Camshaft In Head), while the valves were actuated by means of barrel tappets, short push rods and rocker arms.

The completely revised chassis concept of the new R 1100 RS was almost more impressive than the new engine. While the Paralever swing arm with torque support was already familiar, the Telelever front wheel control caused a real sensation. A telescopic fork controlled the wheel, while the suspension and damping functions were transferred to a central spring strut by means of a triangular control arm. This resulted in the separation of the wheel control and suspension/damping functions — still the greatest disadvantage of a conventional telescopic fork. As well as responsiveness, the Telelever design resulted in an antidive system that almost completely prevented diving by the front section when braking.

Another milestone was set by the new R 1100 RS with its chassis concept. This was the first large series motorcycle that no longer had a main frame in the conventional sense. Instead, the engine acted as the supporting element, holding a tubular steel steering head mount to the front and supporting the swing arm in the gearbox housing.

In subsequent years, this new overall concept replaced all previous Boxer models and the R 1100 GS (1994) and the R 1100 R (1994) with 59 kW (80 hp) and the R 1100 RT (1995) were born. In 1994, the R 850 R made its debut as the smaller version of the R 1100 R with an output of 52 kW (70 hp). 850-cc versions followed later for the GS and the R 1200 C, a cruiser designed for plenty of torque. With the 72 kW (98 hp) R 1100 S, BMW Motorrad pointed the way to a new, significantly more sporty future.

The K series also became more sporty. At the beginning of the 1990’s, the K models were equipped with the four-valve technology introduced with the K1, as well as a 1092-cc engine. In 1997, the K 1200 RS marked another major step forward. With a 1171-cc engine and an output of 96 kW (130 hp), it could achieve top speeds of 245 km/h. The next year, the K 1200 LT offered a luxury supertourer based on the fundamental concept of the K 1200 RS, retaining the longitudinal four cylinders aluminium bridge frame and the Telelever at the front and Paralever at the rear.

In 1993, after almost three decades of abstinence from singlecylinder models, BMW Motorrad took the step of offering something in this segment, too. The F 650 was produced, its 35 kW (48 hp) water-cooled single-cylinder engine developed at Rotax under the direction of BMW Motorrad. This nimble endurostyle motorcycle was the first model from BMW Motorrad with a roller chain as secondary drive and was produced by Aprilia in Noale, Italy.

At the end of 1999 BMW Motorrad once again moved into a new segment. The two C1 scooter models were developed with 125 and 200-cc engines.