|
Make Model |
BMW R 17 |
|
Year |
1935-37 |
|
Engine |
Air cooled, four stroke,
two cylinder flat twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder. |
|
Capacity |
735 |
|
Bore x Stroke |
63 x 68 mm |
|
Compression Ratio |
6.5:1 |
|
Induction |
2 x carburetor Amal 76/424 |
|
Ignition /
Starting |
Battery / Kick |
|
Generator |
Bosch B 242 RS 108 |
|
Clutch |
Double plates, dry |
|
Max Power |
33 hp @ 5000 rpm |
|
Transmission /
Drive |
4 Speed / shaft |
|
Gear Ratio |
1st 3.18 2nd 2.06 3rd 1.42 4th
1.09 |
|
Frame |
Twin loop pressed steel frame |
|
Front Suspension |
Telescopic fork |
|
Rear Suspension |
Rigid |
|
Front Brake |
200mm drum |
|
Rear Brakes |
200mm drum |
|
Front Tyre |
3,50 - 19 |
|
Rear Tyre |
3.50 -19 |
|
Wet-Weight |
165 Kg |
|
Fuel Capacity |
14 Litres |
Only 450 BMW R17's were produced
over a two year period. There was a supersports model R17 with 33 hp, that
was only surpassed by the R68 in 1972! The R17's like many other BMWs were
often found with Steib sidecars, styled similar to Zeppelin airships. There
are very few R17s left worldwide.
Having broken fresh ground with the launch of the pressed-steel framed R11
in 1930, BMW followed that up with the introduction of an
hydraulically-damped telescopic front fork on the BM R12 and BMW R17 models,
which were also notable as the first BMWs to have a four-speed gearbox.
First seen at the Berlin Motor Show in February 1935, the newcomers were
otherwise virtually unchanged from their R11 and R16 pre decessors apart
from a strengthened crankshaft.
The sporting, twin-carburettor,
overhead-valve R17 produced 33bhp at 5,000rpm and would be BMW's most
powerful production roadster until the introduction of the BMW R68 in 1952.
It was priced at 2,040 Reichsmarks, making the R17 the most expensive German
motorcycle of its day.
