This year BMW is celebrating 100 years of BMW motorbike history. There is also a large anniversary exhibition at the BMW Museum.

MOBILITY/MOTORBIKES: This year BMW is celebrating 100 years of BMW motorbike history. There is also a large anniversary exhibition at the BMW Museum.

More than 55 original BMW motorbikes and themed course with 15 special stations.

In honour of the motorised two-wheelers that have always supported the sporty, dynamic image of the Bayerische Motoren Werke and today make a major contribution to its economic success, the BMW Museum is displaying more than 55 original motorbikes from ten decades in its world-famous museum bowl.

The circular building, created in 1973, whose architecture still fascinates visitors today, offers a themed tour consisting of around 15 stations. Five larger exhibition levels are dedicated to the most famous BMW Motorrad designers, the different customer interests, the most interesting motorbike pairings as well as special model parades. A separate platform also showcases special treasures from the BMW Group Classic’s historic vehicle collection for the first time.

An exciting journey through 100 years of BMW motorbikes history.

Original motorbikes from 100 years are at the centre of the exhibition. They aptly describe the development of the BMW Motorrad brand. In addition, exciting lines of development from the past to the present are drawn using tanks, seats, lights, rider helmets, frames and smaller technical details. Special aspects such as motor sports, electromobility, research & development and advertising find just as much space as the fascinating world experienced by two globetrotters on their BMW motorbikes. Internationally, the so-called authority vehicles, which have been exported to more than 110 countries to date, play a significant role. The BMW Motorrad Clubs, which are organised around the globe, also have their say.

Exciting motorbike pairings from the past and present. Racers, designers and developers from 100 years of BMW motorbike.

The concept of the anniversary exhibition is based on motorbike pairings in its wide-ranging content: A current vehicle is juxtaposed with a historical one. This results in many interesting juxtapositions on the subject of innovations, super sports, sidecars, full fairings or urban mobility. The most valuable pieces of the exhibition can be found on the way from Platform 2 to Motorsport. Here, two machines are presented that are associated with the victory in the legendary Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man: Schorsch Meier was successful in this probably most difficult road race in the world on his BMW R 255 Kompressor and 75 years later Michael Dunlop crossed the finish line first on a BMW S 1000 RR.

The anniversary exhibition thus pays tribute to the riders, designers and developers from 100 years of BMW Motorrad history and at the same time draws attention to the fascinating production at the BMW Group plant in Berlin-Spandau.

A highlight of the exhibition is the parade of fascinating BMW R 18s, presented in different model variants. This also applies to the fully disguised powerhouses from the likes of a BMW K1 and BMW R 1250 RT. The final highlight is the BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100 vision vehicle, which has been known since 2016 and provides a glimpse into the future of motorbikes.

Interactive stations encourage visitors to actively engage with the exhibition. For example, a special photo station on platform 2 creates unforgettable souvenir moments of the exhibition visit. Two original BMW motorbikes – here, too, we meet a couple – allow visitors to sit on them. Visitors can take a seat on the handlebars of a BMW R 25 from the 1950s and on a current BMW S 1000 RR.

The permanent exhibition offers even more BMW motorbikes. Since its reopening in 2008, the BMW Museum has dedicated around ten rooms and stations to the history of BMW motorbikes. Various topics deepen the view here, be it the very first motorbike, the BMW R 32, an overview wall with around 25 milestones or impressive examples from motorbike racing.