FIFTEEN MOTORCYCLISTS TO EMBARK ON THE "EVEREST" OF RIDES

Mid-Life Crisis or Adventure of a Lifetime? You Be The Judge.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ, May 4, 2000... On May 30, fifteen men and women - from all
walks of life - will put their careers and families on hold for two-and-a-half
months to ride their motorcycles through Japan, China, Russia/Siberia, Eastern
Europe and Germany on an adventure tour like no other. The tour will be led by
well-known motorcycle adventure traveler, writer and photographer Helge
Pedersen and his colleague John Stapsy, both of whom will be piloting
2000-model year BMW R 1150 GS adventure touring motorcycles. Pedersen is the
author of the recently published 10 Years on 2 Wheels, detailing a decade of
riding adventures across six continents, through 77 countries and over 250,000
miles (more than ten times the actual distance around the world).

This year's tour, titled "Globeriders World Tour- 2000" may not travel all the
way around the world, but seeks to traverse some of the most challenging and
exotic riding terrain in the world including: crossing the Great Wall of China,
riding through Inner Mongolia following in the footsteps of Genghis Khan into
the taiga of Siberia and navigating the densely populated cites of Japan and
Eastern China.

"Adventure traveling has become a new passion for those who seek more
challenge, more excitement and greater fulfillment in their daily lives. The
goal is to experience a lot, and overcome great obstacles in a relatively short
period of time," states Mr. Pedersen. "I can think of no better way of
challenging myself, as a person and as a rider, than on a great motorcycle
adventure."

For his famous ten-year trek, Pedersen chose to ride a BMW motorcycle, because
of the machines' exceptional performance and reliability. On this trek, the
brand is again BMW, because on a true adventure, with life and limb on the
line, reliability and performance cannot be compromised. The choice this time
is the new adventure tourer R 1150 GS, the production model of the machine that
recently took third place amongst an unprecedented top four BMW sweep of the
world's toughest off-road race, the Paris-Dakar-Cairo Rally.

THE "VIRTUAL ADVENTURE TREK"
Envious, but can't take the tour yourself? The solution is the "virtual
adventure trek". Pedersen and his fellow riders will offer tales and photos
directly from the road on BMW Motorcycles' newly enhanced web site
(www.bmwusacycles.com). Consumers will be able to check the web site every week
to see where on the map the tour has arrived, see the exotic surroundings for
themselves, and learn about the land and the people that the Tour riders meet
along the way.

"In the past, I had to wait many months before I could share my touring
experiences and feelings with people in a multi-media show or through my books
and articles," said Helge. "Now, people will be able to see the Trek through my
eyes, as it takes place, so they'll be able to go on the ride with me in
spirit, even if they aren't there in person."

Their unusual experiences will help complement BMW's innovative new advertising
campaign and Personal Motorcycle Ride Contest, developed in conjunction with
Merkley Newman Harty of New York. Building on last year's campaign, which
featured black and white photography of genuine motorcycle riders in real
situations, the 2000 campaign is based upon a real "road trip" that traveled
throughout the U.S. and cast motorcyclists and scenery as they were found.
Full-page print ads will run with three detachable inserts describing real life
riding adventures. These inserts, written by BMW riders, include detailed ride
descriptions, a map of the ride route, useful travel tips, scenic highlights
along the way and even advice on where to find good food and a good night's
sleep.

The three featured routes are: a ten-day adventure through Baja, California
wilderness across deserts and along the coast; an exhilarating weekend ride
through the snow-bound passes of West Virginia in the dead of winter; and a
two-person week-long journey around the Four Corners area of the American
Southwest.

PERSONAL RIDE CONTEST CHALLENGE
BMW's 2000 advertising campaign asks consumers to submit a description of their
own motorcycle riding adventures, either directly through the web, or via the
U.S. mail, to a Motorcycle Adventure Ride Contest. Contest entries will be
judged by a panel of representatives from BMW NA, as well as from Motorcyclist
and Rider magazines. Three grand prize winners will be selected to win a
motorcycle tour with Edelweiss Bike Travel (valued up to $5,000), and their
rides will be featured on the BMW Motorcycles web site in the fourth quarter.
Winners will be judged on a combination of writing skill and completeness of
information such as maps, photographs, points of interest and the quality of
the ride route from a motorcyclist's perspective.

"We hope that Helge's two-and-a-half month adventure trek, and our own call to
get out there on a bike, will inspire and challenge other motorcyclists to take
their rides up a notch, to experience new sights and sounds, and to take roads
less traveled with the wind in their hair and a smile on their face," said
Kerri Martin, Brand and Event Marketing Manager, BMW Motorcycles.
One thing is for certain, the fifteen members on the "Globeriders World
Tour-2000" will return to their lives after eighty days and many thousands of
miles, with a new appreciation of the term 'personal challenge.'

BMW IN AMERICA
BMW entered the U.S. market in 1975. Since then, the company has grown to
include marketing, sales and financial service organizations in the United
States; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; a design firm in California;
a technology office in Palo Alto and various other operations throughout the
country. BMW is represented in the U.S. through a network of more than 340 car,
300 Sports Activity Vehicle and 160 motorcycle retailers. BMW US Holding Corp.,
the Group's headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Information about BMW products is available to consumers via the World Wide Web
on the BMW homepage. The address is: http://www.bmwusa.com. Information about
BMW Motorcycles can be found at http://www.bmwusacycles.com. Information on BMW
Rider's Wear and Equipment can be found at http://www.BMWonline.com.