BMW Motorcycles to 1969
BMW R-12 750cc
Production years: 1935-42
Power: 18 CV at 3.400 rpm
Capacity: 745cc
Engine:
Boxer 4-stroke, sidevalve
Transmission:
Cardan
Maximum speed: 110 Km/h
Weight: 185 Kg approx.
BMW R-17 735cc
Production years: 1935-1937
Power: 33 CV at 5000 rpm
Capacity: 735cc
Engine:
Boxer 4-stroke, overhead valve
Transmission:
Cardan
Maximum speed: 140 Km/h
Units produced: 434
Weight: 183 Kg
In 1935 BMW introduced two models with telescopic forks, the R-12 and the R-17, the first to incorporate shock absorbers. The design has certainly stood the test of time.
BMW R-2 198cc
Production years: 1931-1936
Power: 4.5 CV at 3500 rpm (with Amal, 6 CV)
Capacity: 198cc
Engine: single cylinder.
Maximum speed: 95 Km/h
Weight: 122 Kg
BMW R-2 Series 1 from 1931
BMW R-2 Series 2A from 1932
BMW R-2 Series 2/33 from 1933
BMW R-2 Series 3 from 1934
BMW R-2 Series 4 from 1935
BMW R-2 Series 5 from 1936
BMW R23 250cc OHV Single
Production Years: 1938-1940
Displacement: 247cc
Engine: 4-stroke OHV Type 223/1
Cylinders: 1
Power: 10hp at 5400 rpm
Weight: 135kg
Top speed: 95km/h
Production numbers: 8,021
BMW R35 350cc OHV Single
Production Years: 1937-1940
Capacity: 340cc
Engine: four-stroke OHV, types M69 and 235
Cylinders: 1
Power: 14hp
Weight: 155kg
Number Built: 15,386
BMW R37 1925-1927
The R37 established the BMW racing heritage in its first year of motorcycle racing. Released in 1925, it was the first motorcycle engine to be equipped with aluminium alloy cylinder heads which, combined with overhead valves gave the machine almost twice the horsepower of earlier engines giving the R37 a substantial advantage over the competition.
The R25 absolutely blitzed the racetracks, taking 91 European wins in 1925, 105 in 1926 and a just extraordinary 171 in 1927. BMW R37 riders won the German championship every year from 1925 to 1929.
As indicated by its star status in Munich's amazing BMW museum, it is one of the most famous - and rarest - of all BMW motorcycles.
Image courtesy Moto Talbott Collection
BMW R-4 400cc
Production years: 1932-1937
Power: 14 CV at 4200 rpm
Capacity: 398cc
Engine: single cylinder.
Maximum speed: 100 Km/h
Weight: 137-148 Kg
BMW R-4 Series 2 from 1932
BMW R-4 Series 3 from 1934
BMW R-42 500cc
Production years: 1926-1928
Power: 12 CV at 3400 rpm
Capacity: 494cc
Engine: Boxer 4-stroke, sidevalve
Transmission: Cardan shaft
Maximum speed: 95 Km/h
Units produced: 6,502
Weight: 126 Kg
BMW R47 500cc OHV Twin
Developed from the R37, the OHV R47 shared many features with its new sidevalve sibling, the R42. Much effort had been expended creating a machine which was both considerably more powerful and much cheaper to manufacture. Available with numerous options including horn and electric headlight, it had improved brakes, with the rear brake mounted on the cardan shaft.
1720 of these were sold over its two year production life, fully ten times more than the R37.
Production Years: 1927-1928
Displacement: 494 cc
Engine: 4-stroke OHV Type M 51
Compression Ratio: 5.8:1
Cylinders: 2
Power: 18 hp @ 4,000 rpm
Weight: 130 kg dry
Top speed: 110 km/h
Fuel tank capacity: 14 litres (larger available as an option)
Production numbers: 1720
BMW R-5 494cc OHV Flat Twin
At the 1936 Berlin (Germany) Motor Show, BMW launched its most sporting motorcycle to date, the 494cc R5. The newly designed engine used a tunnel-type crankcase similar to the R2 single engine. The R5 engine retained pushrod-actuated overhead valves, and used hairpin valve springs from BMW's race bikes rather than the traditional coil-type valve springs.
More on the BMW R5
BMW R-50/2
Production years: 1960-1969
Power: 26 CV at 5800 rpm
Capacity: 494cc
Engine:
HO Twin, OHV
Transmission:
cardan
Maximum speed: 140 Km/h
Weight: 195 Kg solo
Number Produced: 19,036
BMW R-52 500cc
Production years: 1928-1929
Power: 12 CV at 3400 rpm
Capacity: 487cc
Engine: Boxer, 4-stroke, side valve
Transmission: Cardan
Maximum speed: 100 km/h
Units produced: 4377
Weight: 152 kg
BMW R-51 1938
Production years: 1938-1940
Power: 24 CV at 5600 rpm
Capacity: 494cc
Engine: Boxer 4-stroke, overhead valve
Transmission: Cardan
Maximum speed: 140 Km/h
Units produced: 3,775
Weight: 182 Kg
BMW R 51/3
Production Years; 1951-1954
Engine Capacity: 494cc
BMW R 51/2
Production Years: 1950-1952
Engine: Four-stroke HO Twin, Type 254/3
Capacity: 494cc
BMW R-60/2 1960-1969
Power: 30 KW at 5800 rpm
Capacity: 594cc
Engine: air-cooled, four-stroke, boxer twin cylinder, 2 valves per cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed, manual
Suspension: Earles forks front, plunger rear
Weight: 195 Kg (sans sidecar)
BMW R62 1928-1929
Units produced: 4,355
Engine: M56 745cc SV HO Twin
Bore x Stroke: 78 x 78 mm
Power: 18 hp at 3,400 rpm
Compression Ratio: 5.5 : 1
Gears: 3-speed
Electrical System: Bosch magneto, Bosch lighting
Tyres: 26 x 3.5 or 26 x 3.25 front and rear
Fuel Capacity: 12.5 litres
Performance: 115 km/h
Weight: 155 kg wet
Notes: The later R11 is similar but has pressed-metal forks
BMW R-67 1951
Production years: 1951
Power: 26 CV at 5.500 rpm
Capacity: 594cc
Engine: Boxer 4-stroke, overhead valve
Transmission: Cardan
Maximum speed: 145 Km/h
Units produced: 1.470
Weight: 192 Kg
BMW R67/2 600cc
Production Years: 1952-1954
BMW R67/3 1955 600cc
Production Years: 1955
Engine cc: 600
Top Speed: 145 km/h with 28 HP.
Production numbers: 700 units.
BMW R-68 1952-1954
Production years: 1952-1954
Power: 35 CV at 7000 rpm
Capacity: 594cc
Engine: Boxer 4-stroke, overhead valve
Transmission: Cardan
Maximum speed: 160 Km/h
Units produced: 1,452
Weight: 193 Kg.
BMW R69S
Production years: 1960-1969
Power: 42 CV at 7.000 rpm
Capacity: 594cc
Engine: Twin Cylinder, boxer, four stroke
Transmission: Cardan
Maximum speed: 177 Km/h
Weight: 202 Kg wet.
List of BMW Motorcycles 1920-1969
1920s
Flink 1920
BMW R 32 1923-1926 68 x 68mm, 247 cc. Prod. 855
BMW R 39 1925-1927
BMW R 37 1925-1927
BMW R 42 1926-1928
BMW R 47 1927-1928
BMW R 63 1928-1929 750cc
BMW R 57 1928-1930
BMW R 52 1928-1929
BMW R 62 1928-1929
BMW R-11 1929-1934,
750cc SV
BMW R 16 1929-1934
:
1930s
BMW R 11 1929-1934
BMW R 16 1929-1934
BMW R 2 1931-1936 63 x 64mm, 198 cc. Prod. 15207
BMW R 4 1932-1937 78 x 84mm, 398 cc. Prod. 15295
BMW R 17 1935-1937
BMW R 12 1935-1942
BMW R 5 1936-1937
BMW R 3 1936-1937 68 x 84mm, 305 cc. Prod. 740
BMW R 6 1937-1938
BMW R 35 1937-1940 72 x 84mm, 342 cc. Prod. 15386
BMW R 61 1938-1941
BMW R 23 1938-1940
BMW R 20 1938-1940 60 x 68mm, 192 cc. Prod. 5000
BMW R 71 1938-1941
BMW R 51 1938-1940
BMW R75 1941-1944
BMW R 66 1938-1941
:
1940s
BMW R 35 1937-1940
BMW R 61 1938-1941
BMW R 23 1938-1940 68 x 68mm, 247 cc. Prod. 9021
BMW R 20 1938-1940
BMW R 71 1938-1941
BMW R 51 1938-1940
BMW R 75 1938-1941
BMW R 66 1938-1941
BMW R 24 1948-1950 68 x 68mm, 247 cc. Prod. 15386
:
1950s
BMW R 24 1948-1950
BMW R 51/2 1950-1951
BMW R 25 1950-1951 68 x 68mm, 247 cc. Prod. 23400
BMW R 67 1951-1952
BMW R 51/3 1951-1955
BMW R 25/2 1951-1953 68 x 68mm, 247 cc. Prod. 38651
BMW R 68 1952-1954
BMW R 67/2 1952-1954
BMW R 25/3 1953-1956 68 x 68mm, 247 cc. Prod. 47700
BMW R 69 1955-1959
BMW R 67/3 1955-1956
BMW R 50 1955-1960
BMW R 60 1956-1960
BMW R 26 1956-1960
:
1960s
BMW R 50 1955-1960
BMW R 60 1956-1960
BMW R 26 1956-1960 68 x 68mm, 247 cc. Prod. 30263
BMW R 69S 1960-1969
BMW R 60/2 1960-1969
BMW R 50/2 1960-1969
BMW R 27 1960-1966 68 x 68mm, 247 cc.
Prod. 15362
BMW R 60/5 1969-1973
BMW R 50/5 1969-1973
BMW R 75/5 1969-1973