BMW R32

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David Percival's immaculate R32

BMW's revolutionary R32 engine and transmission unit

The R32 was the first motorcycle under its BMW name in 1923. While BMW began as an aeroplane engine manufacturer, after World War I, the Treaty of Versailles banned any German air force, so the company turned to motorcycle engine design and manufacturing.

[edit] History

In 1916, two companies, Gustav Otto's Flugmaschinenfabrik (Aeroplane Factory) and Karl Rapp's Flugwerke Deutschland, merged to form the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Aeroplane Works). Initially this company designed and manufactured aeroplane engines. The Bayerische Flugzeugwerke was renamed the Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works, BMW) in 1917 by Karl Rapp and Max Friz. Its new logo grew out of the older Rapp logo but used Bavaria's blue and white colors. Later the logo was associated with a spinning propeller as a marketing tool. The roundel is still used today on all BMW motorcycles and automobiles. A former Daimler employee, Joseph Popp became BMW's managing director. Aeroplane engines, especially a V-12 model, were BMW's primary output.

With funding from the German air force, BMW began manufacturing the Fokker DV II, one of the best aircraft of that time. However the fortune of the company turned in 1919 with the end of WWI and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was forbidden to manufacture aircraft. Reluctantly Max Friz, BMW's head designer, turned to motorcycle and automobile engines to sustain the company. Within four weeks, Friz designed the now-legendary opposing flat twin cylinder engine, known today as the "boxer" engine.

The first "boxer" engine, M2B15, was based on a British Douglas design. It was manufactured by BMW but mostly used in other brands of motorcycles, notably Victoria of Nuremberg. The M2B15 proved to be moderately successful and BMW used it in its own Helios motorcycle. BMW also developed and manufactured a small 2-stroke motorcycle, called the Flink, which was not successful. However with the development of its first light alloy cylinder head, a second more successful version of the boxer engine evolved. In 1923, the first BMW branded motorcycle, the R32, was produced. Using the new aluminium alloy cylinders, Friz designed a 486 cc engine with 8.5 hp (6.3 kW) and a top speed of 95–100 km/h (60 mph).^[1] The engine and gear box formed a single unit. The new engine featured a recirculating wet-sump oiling system that was very advanced for 1923. Most motorcycle manufacturers used a total-loss oiling system in 1923. BMW used this type of recirculating oiling system until 1969, showing the advanced design of the times.

The R32 became the foundation for all future boxer powered BMW motorcycles. BMW oriented the boxer engine with the cylinder heads projecting out on each side for cooling as per the earlier British ABC. Other motorcycle manufacturers aligned the cylinders with the frame, one cylinder facing towards the front wheel and the other towards the back wheel. For example, Harley Davidson introduced the Model W, a flat twin oriented fore and aft design, in 1919 and built them through 1923.

The R32 also incorporated a shaft drive. BMW continued to use shaft drives in all of its motorcycles until the introduction of the F650 in 1994.