BMW R Little Known Facts

BMW R5 (1959-1960): The first production motorcycle with a rear suspension using swinging arms.
R25 and R26: Two pre-production models of the BMW R51/3, built in 1948.
The first BMW boxer engine was introduced in 1923, on the Type R 32 motorcycle.
BMW's first motorcycle was made in 1917 as a war effort for the German military during WWI.
R32 (1923): The first mass-produced motorcycle with a horizontal engine and flat-twin configuration, now known as a boxer twin or boxer engine layout.
Pre-war BMW motorcycles were made from a single piece of metal, including wheels, to save resources during wartime.
The BMW R51/3 was produced from 1951-1960 with over 26,000 units sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling pre-unit construction (PU) motorcycles.
BMW's first motorcycle with a disc brake was the BMW R100RT (1976).
The BMW R50/5 and R60/5 models were produced from 1969-1973 and had a top speed around 106 mph, making them among the fastest production motorcycles of their time.
BMW's boxer engines have been used in various forms since 1923, including sidecars, buses, and even snowmobiles.
The BMW R80G/S (1980-1985) was a motorcycle designed for long-distance travel off-road with an increased top speed compared to its predecessor.
BMW's boxer engines have a unique characteristic of having the same stroke as their bore size, creating a distinctive flat-twin configuration.
The BMW R11 was introduced in 1929 and had a displacement of 980cc, making it among the first production motorcycles with a significant engine capacity.
BMW produced over 100,000 units of the BMW R50/7 (1974-1980), one of its most popular models ever made.
The BMW R80GS Paris-Dakar model was released in 1992 and marked the beginning of a series of adventure motorcycles designed for long-distance travel off-road.
BMW produced the first motorcycle with electronic ignition in 1967, on the BMW R60/6 model.
The BMW R60US (1974-1980) was produced specifically for the US market and had modifications to meet local regulations, including larger headlights and side reflectors.
BMW's boxer engines were used by several military units during WWII, primarily in motorcycles designed for reconnaissance missions.
The BMW R32 (1923) weighed around 230 pounds, making it one of the lightest mass-produced motorcycles ever made.
BMW has produced a wide range of motorcycles over its history, from small-displacement entry-level models to high-performance machines like the K100RS and R11S.

BMW, R Little Known Facts