Favorite BMW Motorcycle Books?

[schrader7032]

I don't have a very extensive library, but it seems it takes a range of books to figure things out. Here's the books that I have:

Roland Slabon - How to Restore Your BMW Motorcycle, Twing 1955-1906; currently out of print but can be found at various places; not really how to restore, but does provide good back ground on various model year changes.

Ian Falloon - Original BMW Air-Cooled Boxer Twins 1960-1996, Restoration Guide; like Roland's book, not really about restoration other than there's a lot of good pictures.

Andy Schwietzer - BMW Motorcycles from 1969 to 1985, Volume I Airheads with Twin Shocks; a bit focused on the European version, but some pretty neat inside looks and interviews with people like Hans Muth were were on the cutting edge of the RS and other bikes.

BMW Mobile Classic (was Tradition) - Motorcycles from Munich (1923-1929) and a companion book Motorcycles from Berlin (1969-1998); not much in details, but some different pictures and also interviews with people who were on the inside or are now on the inside.

LJK Setright - Bahnstormer, The Story of BMW Motorcycles; out of print, but more of a "text book" of the history of BMW through the late '70s. Some interesting black and white pictures and drawings of various models.

That's the basics of what I have. I've heard Darryl mention a book that must be bought in Germany...I think for the pre /5 era. That's something I think I'd like to get at some point.

Edit...re: repair manuals:

- for my /7, I have a Haynes, Clymers, Chicago BMW Electrical/Tuneup manuals, and a BMW repair manual

- for my /2, I have a Clymers, the BMW workshop manual (written in four languages), and soon-to-have Barrington's Motor Works repair manual

Kurt in S.A.

[Darryl.Richman]

I often refer to Illustrated BMW Motorcycle Buyer's Guide 2nd Edition by Knittel and Slabon. Lots of pictures (although because of the format, they are relatively small) and fairly detailed descriptions of year to year changes.

I think Kurt is thinking of BMW Fotoalbum produced by Johann Kleine Vennekate Verlag in Germany. It's basically a big collection of personal photos, ordered by the year taken, each with at most a paragraph (in German) as a caption. As sparse as that sounds, if you're looking to see what is "correct" or "period", this is your book. You can order it at http://www.kleine-vennekate.de via email, but I don't know how the payment will work.

The best two books, if you're interested in a particular model, are the Handbuch and the Ersatzteilliste (owners manual and parts list).

[Bruce Frey]

Two other excellent books are:

BMW Motorräder 1923-1939 by Stephan Knittel, 3-613-87146-7 It has German text, but it is worth it for the pictures.

BMW Motorrader Typen und Technik by Heinz Hartel, 3-7606-0102-3 In my view, this is the best of the historical reference books. It is long out of print, but used copies are not too hard to find. It is a 'must have' along with Slabon's book and Mobil Classic's Motorcycles from Munich 1923-1969.

....and who can resist the eye candy in the Guggenheim's Art of the Motorcycle.

Bruce

[Bruce Frey]

This is my library/wish list as of 2005 or so. I have most, but I am still looking for a few of the military bike books. I also need to update the list to include the BMW Fotoalbum and a couple other that have been published recently. My interest (up until recently with the addition of a R90S) is primarily prewar.

Art of the Motorcycle - Guggenheim Museum - 0-8109-6912-2 - If you love motorcycles this is a MUST. Awesome pictures!

Bahnstormer - Setright, L .J. K. - The story of BMW motorcycles. - Interesting reading.

BMW Classic Motorcycles - Morley, Don & Woollett, Mick - 1-85532-275-7 - BMW history and pictures. About 40% devoted to >1969

BMW Motorcycle Illustrated Buyers Guide - Slabon, Roland & Knittel, Stephan - 0-7603-082-8 - Indespensible! The first book a vintage BMW collector should buy

BMW Motorcycles-The Complete Story - Preston, Bruce - 1-86126-005-9 - History and pictures. 50%>1969

BMW Motorcycles Gold Portfolio 1950-1971 - Clarke, R. M. - 1-85520-3774 - A 172 page soft back compilation of BMW road tests from the old magazines

BMW Motorräder 1923-1939 - Knittel, Stephan - 3-613-87146-7 - German text. It is worth it for the pictures.

BMW Motorrader Typen und Technik Hartel, Heinz 3-7606-0102-3 Excellent technical reference. Must have!

BMW Post War Models Twins and Singles 1949 - 1969 Bacon, Roy 1-85579-016-5 A 55-page, pocket size soft back on our BMWs.

BMW R69 and R69S Super Profiles Harper, Roy 0-85429-387-6 One of the "Super Profiles" series containing archive road tests and modern colourplates.

BMW Twins - The Complete Story Walker, Mick 1-86126-153-5 A history of the BMW motorcycle factory's output from the start to the present.

BMW Twins 1955 - 1985 - Restoration Walker, Mick 1-85532-191-2 Probably not as good as Slabon's book but not bad all the same.

BMW Twins and Singles Bacon, Roy 0-85045-699-1 192-page history of BMW's post war range (including BMW "copies")

Classic BMW Motorcycles Wilson, Hugo 0-7894-3508-X Pocket size picturebook

Deutsche Seitenwagen-Motorräder Knittel, Stephan & Vollmar, Klaus 3-613-87052-5 German text. German sidecars up to the early 80s. Good pictures

Down the Road Wilson, Hugo 1-85960-651-2 Genuine mileage on classic Brit bikes. Very British!

German Military Motorcycles in the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht 1934-1945 Hinrichsen, Horst 0-7643-0192-6 Photographic history. An interesting book.

German Motorcycles in WWII Knittel, Stephan 0-88740-205-4 Photographic history. Good pictures.

German Motorcycles World War II Oliver, Tony 0-85524-297-3 55 page soft back mainly of illustrations of German military motorcycles.

Heavy Sidecar Motorcycles of the Wehrmacht 1935-1945 Hinrichsen, Horst 0-7643-1272-3 Softback 48 page photographic record in this author's normal style"

Histoire de la Moto Militaire Schutz, Jean-Paul ? Small paper back French language booklet on military motorcycles (illustrated)

How to Restore Your BMW Motorcycle Twins 1950-1969 Slabon, Roland 0-87938-933-8 Indespensible! This is the second book a vintage BMW collector should buy!

Illustrated History of BMW Motorcycles Bacon, Roy 1-85648-168-9 Photographic history. 50%>1969

Illustrated History of Military Motorcycles Ansell, David 1-85532-584-5 An excellent book, superbly illustrated and written. Both black and white and colour plates.

Inside Harley-Davidson: An engineering history of the Motor Company 1903-1945 Hatfield, Jerry 0-87938-388-7 Book on Harley engineering development. Good discussion of the XA BMW copy, Excellent assortment of photos as well.

Military Motorcycles Ansell, David 0-7134-3837-1 Unusual hard back book of line drawings of military motorcycles from 1908-1980

Military Motorcycles of World War 2 Bacon, Roy 0-85045-618-5 Beautifully illustrated and detailed text of the various military motorcycles produced for the last world war.

Million Miles Ago (A) Shilton, Neale 0-85429-313-2 The story of Neale Shilton's involvement selling Norton and BMW motorcycles from the factories to the police forces.

Motorcycle Cavalcade Ixion 0-85409-695-7 An intriguing compilation of period motorcycle articles by Ixion of "The Motorcycle”

Motorcycles from Munich 1923-1969 BMW Mobile Tradition ? BMW histry and data - Must have


Motorcycles of the Wermacht Hinrichsen, Horst 0-88740-685-8 In the same style as Hinrichsen's "German Military Motorcycles”

Motorcycling in the 50's Clew, Jeff 1-874105-46-4 A very evocative look at how we were in the 50's (UK style)

Our Sidecars Axon, Jo ? A 160 page, soft back interesting book on the British sidecar scene.

Restoration of Vintage and Thoroughbred Motorcycles Clew, Jeff 0-85429-853-3 An invaluable companion for anyone involved in the restoration of old bikes and sidecars

Sidecar (The) - A History Brazendale 0-9534961-0-4 Photographic history of sidecars - almost exclusively British

Sidecar Motorcycles Young 1-56065-225-X Childrens book. Big print and pictures.

Sidecars Axon, Jo 0-7478-0344-7 A 32 page softback look at the British sidecar scene

Side-Cars Cent ans d'historie Salvat 2-85120-479-3 French Text Worthwhile for the pictures!

The Goulding Album ? ? A 46-page soft back, A4 size history of the Goulding sidecar company.

Zundapp KS 601 A Legend - The Green Elephant Scharfenberg, Reiner 0-7643-1291-X 50 page softback, superbly illustrated record of these classic flat twins

Zweiradfahrzeuge Aus Ostdeutschland Schwietzer, Andy 3-921796-22-9 A German language booklet covering MZ, IFA, Simson, AWO and EMW (1945 - 1940)

Bruce

[Motorman]

Wow Bruce!

Quite a collection. You must have a bookcase devoted only to BMW books!
Thanks so much for your time and effort in posting. I'm sure it's a help to us all.

Charles

[R.D.Green]

"BMW Motorcycles - The Ultimate Riding Machines"

Covers R32 through Oilheads. Includes 128 black and white photos including early racing and factory scenes. Beautiful shots with fine detail. I saw it on clearance at Barnes & Noble a couple of years ago for $5.00 a copy. Bought all they had and gave them away to friends. Still available through Amazon.

"Art of BMW". New publication. Got it for Christmas. Highlights Peter Nettesheim's collection. Exquisite and clear color shots of antique, vintage, classic, and modern bikes with text. Great reference and just a great all-around BMW ogle.

[John Woods]

to help you locate those hard to find titles, try www.bookfinder.com

[VBMWMO]

Since I am planning on building a small library of BMW Motorcycle books, I thought I would ask you well informed BMW fans what were your favorites???
I did check the books in the listing, but it's a tough call on which are the better publications.

Thanks a ton for your comments,

Motorman

[Darryl.Richman]

To see an extensive list of BMW books, just click on the Bibliography button on the left sidebar.

I just added one today that I think is excellent, BMW Motorräder 1923-1969 by Stegmann and Vennekate. Although it's in German, it's a wonderful book, even for just the tables in the back that summarize each model. There are also a ton of great photos and ads, and every bike gets at least four pages.

[AKHANZ]

Bruce... how could you have missed this...

BMW Motorcycles, Darwin Holmstrom and Brian J Nelson 2009

The history of BMW Motorcycles, interesting, great photos and discriptions of the model as the years changed. It was a little bias and anti non BMW with a few jabs here and there. Over all though a very good read and really enhanced my understanding of the marketing ideas and successes and mis-steps by management.. It has a good discussion of the issues with the closeout of production on airheads.
Bike photos are very good.

jim dahl