BMW Celebrates 100 Years at Techno Classica 2016

Hubert Auriol rides the R 80 G/S in the Paris-Dakar Rally, 1984. This model and others will be on display at the 2016 Techno Classica, April 6-10, in Essen, Germany. (Photo: BMW)
Hubert Auriol rides the R 80 G/S in the Paris-Dakar Rally, 1984. This model and others will be on display at the 2016 Techno Classica, April 6-10, in Essen, Germany. (Photo: BMW)

2016 represents an important milestone for the BMW Group as it marks its 100th Anniversary, and the celebrations begin at Techno Classica, the largest vintage motorsports exhibition in the world, April 6-10, 2016. In addition to numerous automobiles, engines, and even an airplane, BMW will be displaying examples of rare and not-so-rare motorcycles, such as a 1950s-era R 67/2 that was prepared for the International Six Days Trials. (If you think riding a modern enduro motorcycle in the ISDE is tough, Google “R67/2 six days.”) The R 67 was BMW’s first 600cc model, and was originally intended for sidecar-pulling duty. The R 67/2 variant was more powerful and featured updated aluminum-alloy hubs and wheel rims. In 1953, three out of the five men on the West German Trophy Team rode the R 67/2, with two of them winning FIM Gold Medals and the team itself placing third overall.

The 28th Techno Classica takes place April 6-10, 2016, in Essen, Germany.
The 28th Techno Classica takes place April 6-10, 2016, in Essen, Germany.

Also on display will be an example of the first BMW “GS” model, and as the first large-displacement dual-sport bike ever made, the genesis of the adventure bike: the R 80 G/S. The R 80 G/S (G for Gelände, “off-road,” and S for Strasse, “street,” in German) featured an 800cc flat-twin, or “boxer,” engine and a newly designed single-sided swingarm/driveshaft combination with a single shock absorber. The R 80 G/S was another successful competitor in the International Six Days Trial, as well as winning the Paris-Dakar Rally four times in the 1980s.

We are certain BMW is planning numerous 100th Anniversary celebrations throughout the year, but if you’d like to go and you have the means to do so, the 2016 Techno Classica takes place April 6-10, in Essen, Germany. More information can be found at siha.de.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Too bad those old bikes are long gone. Todays BMWs are over engineered, difficult to repair, poor dealer network in the US and unreliable. I own four BM Trouble you. 1975 R75/6 , 1975 R90s , just keep running, probably for ever. K1200LT, ABS fails, mirrors fall off, fender cracks in half (twice) final drive failed and now the ABS unit. can’t even buy the part. The K1600 GTL that replaced the LT is placed with blown engine due to a lack of knock sensors (new models have it now after how many blown motors?), failed water pumps and the list goes on. The company no longer sell reliable bikes. They sell and image and the finance arm suckers buyers in with great deals. Too bad you’re upside down on the loan ( poor resale values) when the bike is out of warranty but they are happy to sell you a new one with a trade in of your failed Bmw.

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