1926 R32
ENGINE: M2B33 producing 8.5 HP
OUTPUT: 8.5 HP
CURB WEIGHT: 269 LBS.
YEARS PRODUCED: 1923 – 1926
NUMBER BUILT: 3,090
COLOR: Black
OWNER: Peter Nettesheim
LOCATION: Huntington, New York
BMW had been very successful manufacturing aircraft engines during World War 1. Once the war was over, BMW was banned from building aircraft engines due to the Treaty of Versailles. After a few years of manufacturing small industrial engines, BMW began producing motorcycles.
Max Friz, Design Director for BMW, studied the M15a engine used in the Victoria motorcycles. The M15a was an opposed-piston twin engine, but the way it was mounted in the motorcycle, the rear piston didn’t cool very well. Max created the M2B33 opposed-piston twin engine and mounted it in the new BMW R 32 motorcycle. In 1923, the R 32 was the first BMW badged motorcycle.
To battle the cooling issues of the M15a, the M2B33 Boxer Twin engine was mounted horizontally and with the cylinder heads projecting out each side of the motorcycle. This allowed equal cooling for both cylinder heads. The engine and transmission formed a single unit. The engine had a displacement of 494 cc which produced 8.5 hp, giving the R 32 a top speed of 59 mph. Power to the rear wheel was through a drive shaft instead of a chain like other motorcycles of the day. The R 32 had a tubular steel frame, and the rear wheel was rigidly mounted.
Between 1923 and 1926, there were 3,090 BMW R 32 produced. Today, BMW can crank out over 202,000 motorcycles a year. 100 years later, BMW is still producing motorcycles with Boxer Twin engines and drive shafts, which carries on the legacy of the R 32.
Peter Nettesheim, long time collector of early BMW motorcycles in NY, owns this 1926 BMW R 32. Peter currently owns seven BMW R 32. Peter restores and maintains all his motorcycles.
BMW Motorcycle: A Century of Innovation exhibition is currently on display at The Ultimate Driving Museum through January 20, 2024. From a 1926 BMW R 32 to a 2023 BMW R 18 100th Anniversary edition are part of the 56 BMW motorcycles and five BMW motorcycle powered vehicles, like the Isetta 300, 600, and Farmobil are all part of the exhibition.
To learn more about this motorcycle and others, check out the exhibition book authored by Jackie Jouret in our online giftshop.
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Museum hours are Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm | Saturday 10am – 4pm
(Last admission is an hour before closing each day)
Ticket prices are Adults 18+: $12, Youth 6-17: $6, Children 5 & under: Free
The Ultimate Driving Museum is located at 190 Manatee Court, Greer, SC 29651
www.theultimatedrivingmuseum.org | 864.329.1919
The BMW Motorcycles: A Century of Innovation exhibit is proudly sponsored by the following:
