BMW R 12 (single carburettor)
The R 12 brought oil-damped telescopic front suspension to a sturdy BMW touring motorcycle in 1935.
BMW R12 750 1935.JPG · Peprovira · CC BY-SA 4.0
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More than a set of wheels.
The R 12 followed the R 11, keeping a pressed-steel frame and familiar engine architecture while changing the front suspension. Civilian riders and government agencies used it, and large numbers later served the German military. Its production continued through 1942, so a wartime survivor is not automatically a picture of a 1935 civilian machine.
Look a little closer.
The R 12 and its sporting R 17 sister helped establish a fork layout that became familiar on motorcycles around the world.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Why oil belongs inside a fork
A spring can soften a bump but also keep bouncing afterward. Damping slows that bouncing. The R 12’s telescopic fork used oil to control motion, bringing a major improvement over the earlier leaf-spring arrangement. BMW introduced the system on both the R 12 and R 17 in 1935.
Source: BMW Motorrad · 1930s ↗One name, two engine arrangements
BMW’s catalogue separates the R 12 with one carburettor from the version with two. This profile selects the 18 hp single-carburettor road motorcycle. The twin-carburettor sibling produced 20 hp; that figure describes a different specification. Wartime equipment and sidecar combinations add further distinctions, so neither is assumed from the R 12 name alone.
Source: Jihočeské motocyklové museum · BMW R 12 civilian versions ↗Where these facts come from
- BMW Group Classic · BMW R 12
- BMW Motorrad · 1930s
- National Motorcycle Museum · 1939 BMW R12 Military
- BMW PressClub · 80 years of BMW Motorcycles
- Jihočeské motocyklové museum · BMW R 12 civilian versions
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-02.