A superb and rare
photo, made from what we believe is the original negative, of the magnificent BMW R 51/3 motorcycle
photographed during a BMW publicity
campaign.
BMW's motorcycle
history began in 1921 when the company commenced manufacturing engines for
other companies. Motorcycle manufacturing now operates under the BMW Motorrad
brand. BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) introduced the first motorcycle under
its name, the R32, in 1923. In 1921, BMW began its long association with a 1886
German invention known to Germans as the boxermotor. The first BMW motorcycle
engine was designed by Max Friz, BMW's famous chief designer, in four weeks, it
is very similar to the British Douglas design. This fore-and-aft 1921–1922
M2B15 boxer was manufactured by BMW for use initially by other motorcycle
manufacturers, notably Victoria of Nuremberg. It proved moderately successful
and BMW used it in its own Helios motorcycle. Fritz was also working on car
engines and BMW developed and manufactured a small 2-stroke motorcycle called
the Flink for a short time. In 1923, BMW's first "across the frame"
version of the boxer engine was designed by Friz. The R32 had a 486 cc
engine with 8.5 hp (6.3 kW) and a top speed of 95–100 km/h
(60 mph). The engine and gearbox formed a bolt-up single unit. At a time
when many motorcycle manufacturers used total-loss oiling systems, the new BMW
engine featured a recirculating wet sump oiling system with a drip feed to
roller bearings. This system was used by BMW until 1969, when they adopted the
"high-pressure oil" system based on shell bearings and tight clearances,
still in use today. 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 did 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 until 1923. The R32 also incorporated shaft
drive. BMW continued to use shaft drive in all of its motorcycles until the
introduction of the F650 in 1994 and the F800 series in 2006, which featured
either chain drive or a belt drive system. In 1937, Ernst Henne rode a supercharged
500 cc overhead camshaft BMW 173.88 mph (279.83 km/h), setting a
world record that stood for 14 years. Henne died at the age of 101 in 2005.
During World War II the Wehrmacht needed as many vehicles as it could get of
all types and many other German companies were asked to build motorcycles. The
BMW R75, a copy of a Zündapp KS750, performed particularly well in the harsh
operating environment of the North African campaign. Motorcycles of every style
had performed acceptably well in Europe, but in the desert the protruding
cylinders of the flat-twin engine performed better than configurations which
overheated in the sun, and shaft drives performed better than chain-drives
which were damaged by desert grit. So successful were the BMWs as war-machines
that the U.S. Army asked Harley-Davidson, Indian and Delco to produce a
motorcycle similar to the side-valve BMW R71. Harley copied the BMW engine and
transmission — simply converting metric measurements to inches — and produced
the shaft-drive 750 cc 1942 Harley-Davidson XA. The end of World War II
found BMW in ruins. Its plant outside of Munich was destroyed by Allied bombing.
The Eisenach facility was not. It was dismantled by the Soviets as reparations
and sent back to the Soviet Union where it was reassembled in Irbit to make
IMZ-Ural motorcycles as is commonly alleged. The IMZ plant was supplied to the
Soviets by BMW under license prior to the commencement of the Great Patriotic
War. After the war the terms of Germany's surrender forbade BMW from manufacturing
motorcycles. Most of BMW's brightest engineers were taken to the US and the
Soviet Union to continue their work on jet engines which BMW produced during
the war. When the ban on the production of motorcycles was lifted in Allied
controlled Western Germany, BMW had to start from scratch. There were no plans,
blueprints, or schematic drawings because they were all in Eisenach. Company
engineers had to use surviving pre-war motorcycles to copy the bikes. The first
post-war BMW motorcycle in Western Germany, a 250 cc R24, was produced in
1948. The R24 was based on the pre-war R23, and was the only postwar West
German BMW with no rear suspension. In 1949, BMW produced 9,200 units and by
1950 production surpassed 17,000 units. BMW boxer twins manufactured from 1950
to 1956 included the 500 cc models R51/2 and 24 hp (18 kW)
R51/3, the 600 cc models 26 hp (19 kW) R67, 28 hp
(21 kW) R67/2, and R67/3, and the sporting 35 hp (26 kW)
600 cc model BMW R68. All these models came with plunger rear suspensions,
telescopic front forks, and chromed, exposed drive shafts.
We have more photos of BMW (racing) models , and of other motorcycle
brands. Please check out our Ebay auctions and take advantage of our shipping
discount!
This is a very nice and very rare photo that reflects a wonderful era of
BMW and motorcycle history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to
own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca.
8" x 10" (ca. 20 x 26 cm). It makes it perfectly suitable for
framing!
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.