BMW R12

The BMW R12 is a pre-World War II motorcycle that was produced by the German car manufacturing company BMW. The motorbike was first presented and developed in 1935. A total of 36,000 motorcycles were built by 1942.

History
On 14 February 1935, BMW presented the R12 together with the BMW R17 on the German Automobile Exhibition in Berlin for the first time, being a direct successor to the BMW R11. This and the R17 were the first in the world being produced with hydraulically damped telescopic forks. By 1942, the total number of BMW R12 motorcycles manufactured was 36,000. For military purposes, the Einvergasermotor was only available for the R12.

Engine
The engine with the designation M 56 S 6 or 212 was a mounted twin-cylinder boxer - four-stroke engine with a Flathead engine designed. The BMW R12 with two carburetors uses a battery ignition, while R12's with a Einvergasermotor use a magneto ignition, capable of working independently from the battery.

Drive
The BMW R12 had a claw-switched four-speed manual gearbox, which was placed on the tank and spiral. The drive shaft was on the right side of the motorcycle, placed near the rear wheel. The power transmission that was located from the gearbox and extending to the rear wheel was known as a drive shaft, according to BMW.

Suspension and brakes
Rear-wheel driving was redesigned, with a fixed through axle, making the tyres interchangeable. Caradan joints was formerly used for the R12, but all wheels were instead equipped with drum brakes.

Surviving motorcycles
One example of a surviving BMW R12 motorcycle can be found in the Museum of Military History in Vienna, still bearing its original camouflage.