A hundred and thirty years ago there was no such thing as bicycles or motorcycles as we know them today. In 1868 Michaux Perreaux designed and patented a steam engine which was later placed on a bicycle to make the first steam-powered bike on the market. In 1894, the Wolfmüller brothers, Hildebrand and Alois, patented a twin-cylinder, water-cooled gasoline engine, attached it to a bicycle frame, thus inventing the first internal combustion engine motorcycle.

The Art of the Motorcycle not only spans an entire century of mass motorcycle production and its development, but also takes a look at technological progress, as well as the cultural, sociological and economic factors which define and characterise the twentieth century. Moreover, it follows market trends, commercialisation and the consumer expectations and desires reflected in motorcycle components and contours. The total number of motorcycles available (regular models, special factory-built prototypes, custom-built models, sidecars and tricycles, just to name a few) is enormous. In order to represent the history of motorcycles and all it entails, the selection process was based on a series of elements that clearly define the twentieth century: aesthetics, technological innovation, excellence of design and social impact. All of the motorbikes in the exhibition are the product of more than one of these criteria and some of them, such as the BMW R32 or the Honda Super Cub, are a harmonious blend of all three.

As pointed out by Thomas Krens, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, "In the past ten years, the Guggenheim Foundation has seen great expansion, both in terms of exhibition space and programming. As an institution, it has broadened its mission to include a more in-depth exploration of twentieth-century culture in all of its manifestations. Motorcycles embody so many of the relevant themes of this century-technology, speed, rebellion, change-that they are the ideal vehicle, so to speak, for exploration of this type. It is in the context of the Guggenheim's enhanced mission that this extraordinary exhibition has been put together."

In the words of Richard Gaul, Corporate Communications Director of the BMW Group, "it is an honour and a pleasure for BMW to be able to sponsor an exhibition which we consider such a relevant contribution to understanding the transcendental interaction between technology and culture. Motorcycles provide us with a global view of the very nature of mobility. They are one of the images in our century that stands for important achievements, both in terms of technology and culture. With regard to the exceptional exhibition presented here, we would like to extend our thanks to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and its staff."