In 1997, BMW entered the burgeoning cruiser market with the R 1200 C, which combined retro-inspired design (from a new team led by David Robb) with BMW’s largest boxer engine to date. The raked-out Telelever front end was sculpted in polished aluminum, and the extended Monolever exposed the rear shock and suspension linkage. The R 1200 C debuted in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, and in November 1998 Lothar Schuettler purchased the R 1200 C seen here. “I’ve been riding BMWs since I was 17, and this bike was totally different than anything BMW had made before,” Lothar says.

For more pictures and information on this or any other vehicle in the Motorcycles exhibit, check out the exhibition book in our store!