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BMW R12

1935 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

History of the BMW R12

The R12 was used by the German Army for communications and reconnaissance purposes in the late 1930s and 1940s. During this period, such fast vehicles proved increasingly important for the speed required for Hitler's blitz in European countries.

By May 1941, BMW had delivered 36,000 R12s to the German army, making the R12 BMW's most produced motorcycle at the time. Despite its long range, the model was eventually replaced by the military-oriented R75 series in service with the German Army in 1942.

On BMW's line, the R12 itself replaced the 1932 R4 - which was nothing more than a civilian motorcycle purchased for military use.

BMW motorcycle frames from the 1920s, at least those equipped with the popular "Touring" sidecars, proved prone to damage due to their simple joint welding. So, research into a new frame began, which culminated in an entirely new motorcycle design - the R11 series. The revised frame is constructed as two separate channels of stamped sheet metal, with rivets connecting the two halves during assembly.

The new structure helps the frame absorb the weight and dead weight of the carrying sidecar. To power the R11, BMW developed a range of powerful 750cc engines, including a 16hp version and a 28hp Overhead Valve (OHV) version. The R11 "Touring" and R16 "Sport" models were born from these two engines.

New telescopic forks were developed in the early 1930s, contributing to the revision of the 1935 R11 and R16 models. A new 4-speed manual gearbox was also installed, resulting in the corresponding model names R12 and R17.

That same year, the German Army chose to produce the R12 to fill their reconnaissance and security ranks. By 1936, arc welding was gaining momentum, and BMW was using the technology to solve their joint stress problems, resulting in a stronger machine when using sidecars, which helped keep the R12 series (and its R17 siblings) Business success.