Engineering Magazines

Why The History Of BMW Motorcycles Means Adventure For You

If you love the BMW brand like I do, your enjoyment of the company isn’t complete without a brief history of their motorcycles. Over the years I have found that only a handful of people are even aware that BMW made motorcycles. Being so totally captivated by the current BMW car models, motorcycles by BMW have sort of become the “redheaded stepchild” of the business.

But, I plan to change that image right now.

Between 1920 and 1922 the Bavarian Motor Work made their first two-stroke three port motorcycle engine. At only 148 cc, this engine was affectionately called the Flink. With the engine mounted just in front of the foot pedals, this first model looked more like just a bicycle.

BMW had to start somewhere with its design and this was as good a place as any.

In the beginning, the Chief Design Engineer for BMW was Max Friz. Known for being demanding and not being satisfied with things as they are, Max introduced the new model BMW R32 at the Paris Motor Show in 1932. This model became famous for their blue and white paint.

Such developments as the pressed steel frame, telescopic fork, tubular frame and telescopic rear suspension all were important advances from 1935 to 1939. Can you imagine how different the ride must have felt back in the “old days” without modern tires and suspensions? Ouch.

1955 was really the next milestone for the BMW Motorcycle. Production models for the RS racing bike with the all pivot frame was introduced.

Do you know what the “slash five” was in BMW history?

Probably one of the most important upgrades to BMW motorcycles took place in 1970 with the development of the “slash five” series. The R50/5, R60/5 and R75/5 all have the same stroke engines only with different displacements. In addition, all these models had point ignitions. In 1979 these models were laid to rest and discontinued.

A new age begins for the BMW Motorcycle in 1980.

If you listen closely to the sounds of history, you might hear cheering fans as they applauded the latest improvements such as, updated suspensions, strengthened frames and electronic ignition replaced the points. High performance Brembo brakes and elimination of the heavy flywheel in favor of a stamped steel clutch carrier, were major advances at this time

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Why were these changes made to BMW motorcycles?

It all comes down to money. If BMW wanted to continue in the motorcycle business it was mandatory that they make changes in order to be more competitive with the Japanese and European bikes. In fact, the 1981 model was so much better than previous versions that the market for used BMW motorcycle was totally destroyed.

The fact is, everything BMW is about excitement and adventure.

You can prove this for yourself just by this little study of BMW history. The GS series motorcycle was introduced in 1981 and instantly labeled the “Adventure Touring Bike” . The whole concept of the “Adventure Tour Market” started with the BMW R80G/S. And what an adventure it has been ever since.

From 1985 to the present, much advancement has been made. Unfortunately, that story will have to wait and be the subject of one of my future articles.

So for now my friend, are you up for the adventure of a BMW motorcycle?

Chet Waters is the BMW Specialist. Learn How To Find Your BMW And At The Price You Can Afford. Go To:

http://www.bmwsauctions.com

A decade ago motorcycles had speed, looks, and style. They have certainly improved with each passing year. Year after year motorcycle manufacturers get more innovative, produce faster, lighter and more comfortable motorcycles, and learn what works and what doesn’t. What are the favorites from 2007?

- Yamaha V Star 1300 Tourer.

These motorcycles have a V2 engine with an electric starter and a liquid cooling system. The seat was 28.1 inches and the dry weight was 668 pounds. It was made with a double cradle frame and a telescopic fork front suspension with a swingarm rear suspension. These motorcycles had single disc rear brakes and double disc front brakes. They have a fuel capacity of 4.88 gallons.

- BMW R1200GS

These motorcycles have a two cylinder boxer engine. They also have an electronic fuel injection with an electric starter. These motorcycles had oil and air cooled engines and a 6-speed gearbox. At 438 pounds, they were meant for speed. These off road motorcycles came in desert yellow metallic, rock red metallic, ocean blue metallic, or granite gray metallic. Though the fuel capacity is a whopping 5.28 gallons, the consumption is 1.45 gallons for every 6.2 miles.

- Yamaha WR 450 F

These are also off road motorcycles. They have a single cylinder engine, with a liquid cooling system. At just 246 pounds, it is nearly two-thirds the weight of the BMW R1200GS motorcycles. The front suspension is a telescopic fork, the rear a swingarm. The fuel capacity on these motorcycles is a mere 2.10 gallons. These motorcycles had single disc brake systems for both front and rear.

- Yamaha FZ1 Fazer

These naked motorcycles had in line four engines with an electric starter. They also had a liquid cooling system, a final drive chain transmission, and digital ignition. Like the BMW R1200GS, these Yamaha motorcycles weighed 438 pounds. The frame was aluminum die cast and the front suspension was telescopic upside down forks. The rear a swingarm suspension. These motorcycles had double disc front brakes and single disc rear brakes. Fuel capacity on these motorcycles is 4.76 gallons.

- Harley Davidson VRSCX

These custom or cruiser motorcycles have a V2 engine. They have an electronic sequential port fuel injection system and liquid cooling system. The seat is a mere 27.1 inches high and the weight 637 pounds. These motorcycles are 5-speed with a final drive belt transmission. The front and rear brakes are both single disc four piston. These motorcycles came in two tone mirage orange pearl or brilliant silver pearl. It has a 5 gallon fuel capacity.

- Victory Vegas Jackpot

Like the Harley Davidson VRSCX, these motorcycles are also custom or cruiser motorcycles. With a V2 engine, an air cooling system, and final drive belt transmission, it has many of the same features as the Harley Davidson VRSCX motorcycles. It has an electronic fuel injection system and a 6-speed gearbox. These motorcycles had an even shorter seat at 25.7 inches high. Though the seat was lower, they were a bit heavier weighing 659 pounds. The fuel capacity was 4.5 gallons and colors included black, orange crush, or sunset red.

It is essential to understand how a motorcycle works before you take it out on the road. Lack of preparation and knowledge can lead to serious tragedies.

How does a bike stay upright?

This is a common question. Think back to riding a bicycle. Everyone knows that a stationary bike is going to tip over. However, when the bike is in motion it never tips. This baffles many people.

The answer lies within the realm of gravity and physics. Motion creates friction. Friction applied with subtle balancing techniques of the rider’s body help maintain a balanced bike.

Take a simpler example. Balancing a stick upright in your hand is a guarantee that the stick will tip over. If you move your hand, however, the stick will stay upright. The trick is to keep the object in motion.

How does a motorcycle operate?

Throughout the twentieth century, motorcycles have seen some changes. In the end, however, the motorcycles are all operated in the same manner. First things first, you have to turn the motorcycle on. Motorcycles come with either a key ignition with a push button start or a kick starter that turns the engine on.

The throttle increases the flow of gas to the engine resulting in increased speed. This throttle is your right handle grip. To move forward, the engine needs that gas.

Meanwhile, the clutch helps change gears. The left hand grip houses the clutch level. You pull it in to change gears and then release at a consistent and slow speed.

The pedal under your left foot is the gearshift. You use this pedal with the clutch to change gears, either up or down. The higher the gear, the faster you are moving.

The right handle grip also houses the lever for the front brakes. The front brakes contain up to 80% of your braking power. Pulling the lever towards you provides you with friction needed to slow and eventually stop your motorcycle. Again, you must pull the lever slowly and fluidly or you can brake too suddenly and flip.

A pedal on the right side under the foot contains the brakes for the rear tire. You should use the front and rear brakes together to prevent excessive brake wear.

A few higher priced motorcycle models have linked brakes. Here the brakes work in tandem by pressing the brake pedal under the right foot. They utilize disc brakes for all stopping and can create a smoother stop by gently using the disc to put pressure on the tires.

Almost all motorcycles have a kill switch. In certain cases, turning off the key from the seat can cause the motorcycle to go off balance and tip. Another example of kill switch use would be if you fall from your bike and need to turn the engine off to prevent further damage. In both cases, the kill switch prevents additional injury.

Other items that can be installed to increase performance include the mileage gauges, suspension, GPS tracking, and defogging mirrors. Not every bike will have these items, but many do.

We all know that car is one of the things we always need in our daily life. It always helps us in everything we do.  Car helps us from business to our personal uses.  So we should always take good care of it. So that It won’t give any problems in the future.  Here are some of the tips that all of us must do to take good care of our cars.

1. First of all we should always have to remember to always check our engine, break, fluids, battery, before using our car. We usually ignore these things because of our busy life. And always forget to check out our cars before we leave. I always remember what my father always told me when it comes to car. He said that the engine is one of the important parts of the car. Checking the engine periodically help us see what’s going to be a problem and will cost us much in the future. Have a full car engine check up. If you do know something about car engine then you can do it yourself. If you don’t. You can hire a auto mechanic. If ever try to hire someone who you do trust or someone who have a good reputation when it comes to car engine. Or you can check the car manual for some help. But be careful if you just used the car there are some part of the engine that are still hot so be cautious in checking your car engine. Check the engine oil level you got to see if the oil consumption is rapidly increasing. If so you got to go to a repair shop and have them check it out. Make sure the engine is off when checking the oil level. Then check the Transmission fluid read your manual about how to do this or have someone who is expect do this. Make sure you use the correct transmission fluid for your car. Next is the brake fluid this one is very important cause brake is really needed when driving a car. When the brake pads wear out the brake fluid level will drop slightly. But don’t worry this things are normal. If your brake fluid level drops in a short period of time that’s the time you got to have your brake check. Always put brake fluid that are approved in your brakes. And always keep it covered when you don’t have to fill it. And always make sure that you maintain a very high boiling point on your brake fluid. So don’t expose it to air cause this fluid will absorb moisture and that will lower the boiling point. Another thing is the Power Steering fluid. Check the fluid level and it should not change more than the normal range. You have to check it for leaks too. Then check the coolant. This one is very important because this one will really affect the condition of your car. Coolant is the one who help you when your car is overheating. So you got to check it if there’s any leak .Then the battery. Most battery today now offers a maintenance free meaning you can’t check the water level. But this doesn’t mean that we won’t check it out anymore.  We got to clean and dry the top of the battery and also check the terminal connection if it’s clean and tight. Then next is the windshield washer solvent. These solvents are available in any auto supply store and supermarket. So you won’t have any problem. Then we got to check the belts and hoses too. These things are usually done by your mechanic but just in case you have to do it on your own always remember to check it when the car is cold. Check the belt for any sign of crack and tightness. 2. The second important parts of the car are the wheel and the tires. Check the tires pressure. Tire pressures tend to rise as you drive due to heat build-up. So you should check it when they are cold.  Use the manufacturers recommended tire pressures for your tires. It is advisable to rotate your tires periodically. The front tire always wear faster that the rear tires. Having an uneven tire thickness will give you uneven braking specially during rainy days. By not doing this you will end up placing two new tires at front and will still find it uneven to the tires on the rear part. Then you got to place the other two rear tires to make it all even and balance. This will cost you a lot. Don’t forget to have a wheel aligning and wheel balancing check. Having a wheel that’s not aligned will wear your tire easily. If your want to know if your tires are not align.  First is to check each tires and look for uneven patterns. Or get a coin and put it in between each tire tread and see if there at the same length .If the tread is deeper on one side than the other that’s mean you need to have a wheel alignment. Having a wheel that’s not balance will give you hard time in driving with all of the vibration in the seat, steering wheel and floorboard. To know if your wheels are not balance is when one section of the tire is heavier that the other or the car vibrates at a certain speed. You got to call an auto mechanic to do a wheel balancing for your car. Don’t forget to check the wheel lugs too. Check the lock lugs if all are tight and are not heavier than the other. 3. Check all the light of your car from the inside light, headlights to the turn signal lights and brake lights. Don’t forget to check the electric wires of your car. Check if the wires are in good condition and have no crack or tear. There is one time I heard on the news about a taxi that just got on fire on the street and it’s all because of the faulty electrical wiring. We don’t want this to happen to us or to our car. Then check the windshield wiper. See if the blades have cracks or need to replace a new one. And then check if you need to replace the car filters. There are so many car filters that are replaceable. You can check them in your car manual. If you live in a dusty area then you should replace them frequently. Here are some of the filter u needs to check. First is the air filter this filter are use to filter the air going into an engine. You can replace this filter by yourself. Next is the fuel filter this one is found either in the engine compartment or near the gas tank. You got to let an auto mechanic to do this. Then cabin filter this filter are somewhere located under your dash they are the filter that filter the air conditioning system  that clean the air before going into the passenger compartment. 4. Schedule a day of car washing.  I know for some of us especially to busy people going to the car wash station are a big yes. And I know car wash provide good grooming tools for your car and will really give good clean. They have equipment and tools that will give your car a very nice and shiny clean finish. But it will be better and much cheaper to do it by yourself. Plus you will be sure that you can have the finish you will like because you do it yourself. And it’s one of the fun ways to spend a day with your family and love ones. Use cleaning products that are safe for your car. Wash and clean the outer part of your car depending on how frequent you use your car. If you use it every day and always driving in a muddy and dusty road I guess you got to wash it more often. Remove the dry mud and dirt under your car and around your tires. Because they do get dusty too. A good grooming car always gives a good appearance to anyone who sees it. Then after washing don’t forget to wipe it dry and check if there are any dirt that are still there. Vacuum the car seat and carpet of the car as often as you use it. Wipe the dashboard of your car because they do get dusty too. 5. Car wax is good to maintain its car paint color and shine. It always makes the car look new and it also protect the car paint from the ultra violet rays of the sun. And it didn’t get wet much when it rain. How frequent you car wax your car is depend on the type of wax you use. Some waxes do last longer than the others. When waxing always makes sure the car is totally clean and feels smooth to touch. And be sure to check the entire surface for any waxy residue, check the plates, emblems, around the tire trim and body seems.

Taking good care of your car will give you good advantage. If you have a good maintenance with your car it will perform well and will use less gas. Plus it won’t cost you more in a long run. Don’t forget to drive safely and responsibly. Remember we are not the only one who will get hurt if we have an accident while driving. The people who is driving with us and the people who is on the street are all in our hands and our responsibility. So always be responsible and be careful and alert whenever we start our engine and start driving.  Always remember that the car is just a machine it is our responsibility to take good care of it. I hope this few tips will help you and will be a reminder for you in maintaining your cars.