BMW Motorcycle Parts & Accessories

The non-riding majority immediately associates BMW with luxury cars and SUVs. But in the motorcycle world, BMW is one of the most prominent names as well. BMW has been manufacturing motorbikes for almost a century and currently offers everything from comfortable RT tourers to adventure-ready GS motorcycles to furious S1000RR sport bikes under the BMW Motorrad brand. Although it is indisputably a historic motorcycle make, BMW has been a bit of an odd duck for its unique approach to building bikes, but it is the very approach that has established a huge and loyal customer base – those who need the Ultimate Driving Machine. BMW motorcycles are reliable, practical, and somewhat controversial because of the way they combine eccentric and conservative qualities. And that's what these machines are known and loved for.

For BMW as a motorcycle manufacturer, it all began back in 1921 with the introduction of the M2B15 flat-twin engine. It was developed by Max Friz, one of the most brilliant German engineers, and was originally meant for industrial use. Instead, it was a booming success among motorcycle makers, including Victoria and Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, which was a standalone manufacturer at the time. This engine was torquey, well-balanced, and its protruding cylinder construction allowed for natural air cooling, solving the issue of uneven cylinder cooling on a motorbike for good. The first BMW motorcycle saw the world five years ahead of the first BMW car – it was the R 32 introduced in 1923, which laid the foundation for all further-developed Boxer-powered BMW bikes. The R 32 was equipped with a 486cc flat-twin that was good for 8.5HP and allowed the bike to develop a top speed of 60MPH. This engine was a technological breakthrough, featuring a wet-sump oiling system versus total-loss oiling systems widely used at the time. This engine design is still an important part of BMW engineering, still being fitted to most BMW bikes almost 100 years later.

In 1935, another revolutionary design was introduced – hydraulically damped telescopic forks used on BMW R12 and R17 motorcycles. These forks are still the motorcycle industry standard. The R 37 carved the way to the motorcycle racing world for the German maker in 1925, and by the end of the 1930s, BMW became a dominant force there. 1937 marked the legendary speed record: the supercharged 500cc motorcycle by BMW became the world's fastest two-wheel machine, reaching 173 MPH. During World War II, BMW supplied military motorcycles to the Wehrmacht; the R75 was a standout, copied by Harley-Davidson. After the war, motorcycle building in Germany was prohibited as part of surrender terms. The production was restarted in 1947, with German engineers having to start from scratch as factories and tool machines had been ruined, and all schemes and blueprints had been captured or destroyed.

With a long period of restoration after the war and rough times for the company's motorcycle division in the 1960s, it was only in the 1970s that BMW managed to regain high production figures. Fully faired bikes were gaining in popularity. The R100RS was actually the first motorbike of this type, while also being the originator of the sport-touring category. The end of the decade marked the company's comeback to off-road racing. 1980 was a turning point for BMW – the legendary R 80 G/S saw the world. Now, the BMW GS is the German make's best-selling model of all time. It is a capable travel enduro built to be equally adept on-road and off-road and praised for comfort during long-distance rides. In 1983, the K Series was introduced, defined by its longitudinally-positioned four-cylinder and the first-ever implementation of electronic fuel injection on a motorcycle. In this decade, BMW became the first motorcycle manufacturer to use the paralever system, ABS, and digital engine electronics.

BMW's motorcycle department continued to flourish in the 1990s. In 1991, they celebrated their 1,000,000th bike produced. With emissions standards becoming stricter, BMW was the first to equip all bikes with catalytic converters. In 1993, an all-new F Series was created, with the first representative being the Funduro F 650. It marked the return of a single-cylinder engine and helped attract new customers to the brand, including female bikers. The R Series lineup was expanded, gaining new members like the R 1100 GS enduro, R 1100 R roadster, and smaller R 850 R. In 2005, BMW ventured into a small segment of exclusive hand-built motorcycles with the HP2. The S1000RR superbike was launched in 2009, built specifically for the Superbike World Championship, with a limited number available to the public. Another innovation came in 2011 with the first use of a 6-cylinder engine on a BMW bike, powering the K1600 sport tourer.

BMW is the major force in motorcycle innovation, known for producing excellent machines for many riding styles. These are rugged, reliable bikes that are comfortable to ride and trouble-free to own. For your bike, we carry a full range of premium BMW motorcycle parts and accessories for maintenance, repair, and upgrade. In our BMW motorcycle accessories selection, you'll also find riding gear to keep you safe and stylish, including helmets, boots, head gear, and suits. It all comes from the biggest names in the motorcycle industry that you know and trust. You can't settle for anything less than quality products when it comes to keeping your bike looking and performing great. Our BMW motorcycle accessories will meet your expectations.

Owning a car gives you comfort, owning a motorcycle gives you freedom. Your bike is your therapy, your passion, and your access to off-the-beaten-path places. In our selection of motorcycle accessories and parts, we have everything you need to keep your BMW running, show some love to your prized possession, and hit the road or trail with confidence. We take the hassle out of your motorcycle maintenance, repair, and tune-up experience.