BMW R17

Make Model	BMW R 17
Year	1935 - 37
Engine	Four stroke, two cylinder flat twin, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder.
Capacity	735 cc / 44.9 cu in.
Bore x Stroke	63 x 68 mm
Compression Ratio	6.5:1
Cooling System	Air cooled
Induction	2 x Carburetor Amal 76/424
Ignition	Battery
Starting	Kick
Generator	Bosch B 242 RS 108
Clutch	Double plates, dry
Max Power	24.6 kW / 33 hp @ 5000 rpm
Transmission	4 Speed
Final Drive	Shaft
Gear Ratio	1st 3.18 / 2nd 2.06 / 3rd 1.42 / 4th 1.09:1
Frame	Twin loop pressed steel frame
Front Suspension	Telescopic fork
Rear Suspension	Rigid, spring loaded saddle
Front Brake	∅200mm Drum
Rear Brakes	∅200mm Drum
Front Tyre	3.50 x 19"
Rear Tyre	3.50 x 19"
Wet-Weight	165 kg / 364 lbs
Fuel Capacity	14 L / 3.7 US gal

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.

BMW R 17