In January 1955, BMW presented a new motorcycle generation at the Brussels Motor Show. The BMW R 50 and BMW R 69 were the first models with a full-swing chassis. Instead of the plunger telescopic suspension, the rear wheel was now mounted in a long swing arm and the cardan shaft was neatly supported in the right-hand swing arm. The telescopic fork at the front was replaced by a shifted swing arm. Alongside sporty touring riders, the BMW R 50 was also popular with police forces across the world, making the supply of motorcycles to government authorities a mainstay of BMW Motorrad.