A rare beast. Stef Hegyi's K75 fitted with an Ongar RS fairing. This fairing was specially made in small numbers by Ongar Motorcycles in the UK based on the R/RS fairing with special lowers to fit the K Series

Below are photos of the last remaining machine from a batch of K100's that were specially built by BMW in Germany for the Metropolitan Police Special Escort Group. The machines are a K100 with specially modified K100RT lower fairing panels and a K75C headlamp cowling. This machine served with the SEG from 1988 until its retirement in 1997. Photos are courtesy of Kurt Anderssen.

Few riders using Krauser panniers on their machines realise that Mike Krauser, who designed them, was a successful racer. In 1956 he raced a banking sidecar similar to the design used before the war by a famous British racer, Freddie Dixon. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

Joseph Steltzer and Karl Zall in 1927 with their winning R47's. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

 

Geoff Duke, one of the greatest racers ever, on a works Rennesport. Alas, it was not a successful pairing.

Courtesy of Bruce Preston

Doctor of Engineering Max Friz joined Rapp as Chief Design Engineer in 1914. His speciality was designing aircraft. When Rapp combined with Otto and became BFW he continued to design aeroplanes but the end of the war meant there was no longer any need for these. He maintained his involvement, though, and in 1919 designed a BMW engined aircraft that achieved a world altitude record of 32,000 feet (9,754 metres). He designed a butterfly valve for this engine which gave it the edge over its competitors. Friz designed both the six and twelve cylinder aircraft engines and these set a total on ninety eight world records. He then brought his considerable talents as an aircraft designer to bear on motorcycles. Not satisfied with the Helios' engine, he designed the first ever BMW motorcycle, the R32, a machine that was the forerunner of all air cooled BMW twins to this day. His contribution to the success of BMW was incalculable and he was a 'motorcycle constructor' from the beginning of his involvement with BMW until his retirement in 1945. In that time he was responsible for many of the brilliant innovations introduced by BMW. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

 

Fifty years after winning the Senior TT, George Meier returned to the Isle of Man. This was not his winning machine for the rubber gaiters give it away as a post war version. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

 

 

Martin Stolle, who with Max Friz was the father of the M2B15 engine. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

The Flink (Speedy) - the original involvement of BMW's predecessors in motorcycling. Built in 1920, it was the first motorcycle of the BMW company. The design of the machine equipped with a 148cc single cylinder, two stroke engine came from the Berlin engineer Curt Hanfland. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

The first post WW2 BMW bicycle made from scrap metal. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

The Deutche Reichpost used a special sidecar made by Royal. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

Martin Stolle with his mechanics and the first ever M2B15 motor in a Douglas frame. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

A very early factory photo - most likely 1923 as the R32's have no front brake. Courtesy of Bruce Preston

The Rennesport of Ed La-Belle (USA) seen in the paddock in the Isle of Man, June 1959

 

Dickie Dale with his Rennesport in the Isle of Man in 1959

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