BMW R12 745 cc (1937). 

The BMW R12 and R17 are flat-twin engine motorcycles made by BMW Motorrad from 1935 through 1942. They were developed in 1935 based on the R7 concept of 1934. A few hundred R17s were made, ending in 1937, while the R12 continued through 1942, with a total of 36,008 produced.

On 14 February 1935, BMW presented the R12 together with the 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 single carburetor Einvergasermotor was only available for the R12.

The engine, designated M 56 S 6 or 212, was a twin-cylinder boxer configuration – four stroke with a flathead design. The BMW R12 with two carburetors used a battery and coil ignition, while R12s with a single carburetor used a magneto ignition, capable of working independently from the battery.

The BMW R12 had a four-speed manual gearbox, operated by a hand shift lever on the fuel tank’s right side. Several detail variations were seen in production. In common with most BMW Motorcycles, final drive was via shaft, with the drive shaft on the right side of the motorcycle.

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