A Century of BMW Motorrad Design Highlights

They say music turns hard life into poetry, so what does that say about motorcycle design? Where do metal, rubber, gas, melody, and emotion intersect in the face of a century of world wars, financial collapse, transportation, and economic growth? 

According to the International Council of Design, regardless of the application, designers follow methodology and a set of fundamental notions, which inform their approach. Designers also strive to ‘do more with less,’ and they maximize economy (of materials, of investment, of energy, etc.) through creativity and ingenuity. 

Celebrating and analyzing 100 years of BMW Motorrad design, one can argue that its hall of fame includes Max Friz, Bob Lutz, Paul Bracq, Hans Muth, Karl Heinz Gerlinger, Laszlo Peres, Karl Heinz Abe, Dr. Herbert Diess, David Robb, Hendrik von Kuenheim, Edgar Heinrich, Ola Stenegärd, Markus Poschner, Stefan Zeit, Roland Stocker, Rudolf Schneider, Markus Lederer, and Rainer Beaumel, among others. The list includes CEOs, engineers, designers, and department heads. This is a snapshot of their contributions, highlighted by the historic models they produced.