BMW R 25
The R 25 gave BMW’s small single-cylinder motorcycle a springing rear wheel and a frame ready for sidecar use.
BMW R25 (1950).JPG · Jörg Hornfischer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Research pending
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More than a set of wheels.
The R 25 replaced the R 24 in 1950. Its welded tubular frame and plunger rear suspension made it an important step in BMW’s postwar single-cylinder line. BMW records 23,400 built before the R 25/2 revision, and more than 100,000 across the three R 25 generations.
Look a little closer.
The R 25/2 that followed mainly changed outward details such as its saddle and front mudguard contour.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A rear wheel that could follow bumps
The R 25 brought plunger rear suspension to BMW’s single-cylinder range. The wheel could move vertically against springs as it crossed uneven ground. This gave the rear of the motorcycle some freedom to react to a bump instead of making the whole chassis follow the wheel’s movement immediately.
Source: BMW Group Classic · Motorcycle spare-parts reproductions ↗A small first revision
BMW followed the R 25 with the R 25/2 in 1951. The archive describes that first update as largely outward: a different saddle and a reshaped front mudguard. This helps explain why surviving photographs can look similar while showing distinct models, and why later R 25/2 specifications should not be copied into a 1950 R 25 profile.
Source: BMW Group Classic · BMW R 25/2 ↗Where these facts come from
- BMW Group Classic · BMW R 25
- BMW Group Classic · Motorcycle spare-parts reproductions
- BMW · Motorräder: Serienmodelle 1923–2004
- BMW Group Classic · BMW R 25/2
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-02.