BMW R32
Encyclopedia
The BMW R32 was the first motorcycle produced by BMW
under the BMW name. An aircraft engine
manufacturer during World War I
, BMW was forced to diversify after the Treaty of Versailles
banned the German air force
and German aircraft manufacture. BMW initially turned to industrial engine design and manufacturing.
M2B15
engine for Victoria Werke AG
of Nuremberg. The engine was initially intended as a portable industrial engine, but found its main use in Victoria motorcycles. The engine was also used in the Helios motorcycle built by Bayerisch Flugzeug, which was later merged into BMW AG. Bayerisch Flugzeug also manufactured a small two-stroke engined motorcycle, called the Flink, which was not successful.
After the merger, General Director of BMW Franz Josef Popp
asked Design Director Max Friz
to assess the Helios motorcycle. Upon completing his assessment, Friz suggested to Popp that the best thing that could be done with the Helios would be to dump it in the nearest lake. More specifically, Friz condemned the Douglas
-style transverse-crankshaft layout, which heavily restricted the cooling of the rear cylinder.
Popp and Friz then agreed to a near-term solution of redesigning the Helios to make it more saleable and a long-term solution of an all new motorcycle design. This new design was designated the BMW R32 and began production in 1923, becoming the first motorcycle to be badged as a BMW.
The M2B33 engine in the R32 had a displacement of 486 cc and had aluminium alloy cylinders and a light alloy cylinder head. The engine produced 8.5 hp, which propelled the R32 to a top speed of 95 km/h (59 mph).
The engine and gear box formed a single unit
. The new engine featured a recirculating wet sump
oiling system at a time when most motorcycle manufacturers used a total-loss oiling system.
BMW used this type of recirculating oiling system until 1969.
To counter the cooling problems encountered with the Helios, Friz oriented the R32's M2B33 boxer engine with the cylinder heads projecting out on each side for cooling,
as used in the earlier British-manufactured ABC
. Unlike the ABC, however, the R32 used shaft final drive from a flexible coupling on the gearbox output shaft to a pinion driving a ring gear on the rear wheel hub.
in 1994 and continues to use it on their boxer-twin motorcycles.
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
under the BMW name. An aircraft engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
manufacturer during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, BMW was forced to diversify after the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
banned the German air force
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
and German aircraft manufacture. BMW initially turned to industrial engine design and manufacturing.
History
In 1919, BMW designed and manufactured the flat-twinFlat-twin
A flat-twin is a two cylinder internal combustion engine with the cylinders arranged on opposite sides of the crankshaft. It is part of the class of flat engines, sub-type "boxer", and shares most characteristics of those engines.-Motorcycle use:...
M2B15
BMW M2B15
The BMW M2B15 was a portable industrial engine manufactured by BMW from 1919 to 1922. It was used by several German motorcycle manufacturers to power their motorcycles....
engine for Victoria Werke AG
Victoria (motorcycle)
Victoria was a bicycle manufacturer in Nürnberg, Germany that made motorcycles from about 1901 until 1966. It should not be confused with a lesser-known, unrelated Victoria Motorcycle Company in Glasgow, Scotland that made motorcycles between 1902 and 1928....
of Nuremberg. The engine was initially intended as a portable industrial engine, but found its main use in Victoria motorcycles. The engine was also used in the Helios motorcycle built by Bayerisch Flugzeug, which was later merged into BMW AG. Bayerisch Flugzeug also manufactured a small two-stroke engined motorcycle, called the Flink, which was not successful.
After the merger, General Director of BMW Franz Josef Popp
Franz Josef Popp
Franz Josef Popp was one of three men responsible for the founding of BMW AG and the First General Director of BMW AG from 1922 to 1942....
asked Design Director Max Friz
Max Friz
Max Friz was a German mechanical engineer specializing in engine design. He was the key contributor of engine design and innovation that led to the founding of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG in 1917.-Early life:...
to assess the Helios motorcycle. Upon completing his assessment, Friz suggested to Popp that the best thing that could be done with the Helios would be to dump it in the nearest lake. More specifically, Friz condemned the Douglas
Douglas (motorcycles)
Douglas was a British motorcycle manufacturer from 1907–1957 based in Kingswood, Bristol, owned by the Douglas family, and especially known for its horizontally opposed twin cylinder engined bikes and as manufacturers of speedway machines...
-style transverse-crankshaft layout, which heavily restricted the cooling of the rear cylinder.
The M2B33 engine in the R32 had a displacement of 486 cc and had aluminium alloy cylinders and a light alloy cylinder head. The engine produced 8.5 hp, which propelled the R32 to a top speed of 95 km/h (59 mph).
The engine and gear box formed a single unit
Unit construction
Unit construction is a term used to describe the design of larger motorcycles where the engine and gearbox components share a single casing. The term is sometimes applied to the design of automobile engines and was often loosely applied to motorcycles with rather different internal layouts such as...
. The new engine featured a recirculating wet sump
Wet sump
A wet sump is a lubricating oil management design for four-stroke piston internal combustion engines which uses a built-in reservoir for oil, as opposed to an external or secondary reservoir used in a dry sump design....
oiling system at a time when most motorcycle manufacturers used a total-loss oiling system.
BMW used this type of recirculating oiling system until 1969.
To counter the cooling problems encountered with the Helios, Friz oriented the R32's M2B33 boxer engine with the cylinder heads projecting out on each side for cooling,
as used in the earlier British-manufactured ABC
ABC motorcycles
ABC motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer established in 1914 by Ronald Charteris in London. Several British motorcycle firms started up with the name "ABC", including Sopwith. The All British Engine Company Ltd...
. Unlike the ABC, however, the R32 used shaft final drive from a flexible coupling on the gearbox output shaft to a pinion driving a ring gear on the rear wheel hub.
Legacy
The R32 established the boxer-twin, shaft-drive powertrain layout that BMW would use until the present. BMW used shaft drives in all of its motorcycles until the introduction of the F650BMW F650 single
The BMW F650 is a family of single-cylinder motorcycles that was produced by BMW Motorrad beginning in 1993. Models include the F650ST Strada, F650 Funduro, F650GS, F650GS Dakar and latterly the G650GS...
in 1994 and continues to use it on their boxer-twin motorcycles.