Yeah, I had one lady ask me when BMW started making motorcycles (duh, before they started making cars). Motorcycle history is part of this avocation.
It has been my experience that BMW motorcycle people are often a little older (sometimes a lot older) and typically better off financially (sometime a lot better off) than bike owners of other brands...including Harleys. And that is definitely not a knock against Harleys..It is just that a lot of new riders think they need to own a Harley in order to have a "real" motorcycle. Those that stick with the sport learn that there are a number of great brands and fantastic bikes that are neither Harley nor BMW.