The Vintage Motorcycles
Specialists in antique, classic, veteran and vintage motorcycles.
Specialists in antique, classic, veteran and vintage motorcycles.
The 1928 BMW R62 marked a major step in BMW's early motorcycle development. Introduced in 1928 alongside the sporting R63, the R62 was BMW's first production motorcycle in the 750cc class and became the company's flagship touring motorcycle of the late 1920s.
Powered by a 745cc air-cooled Boxer engine, the R62 produced 18 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and could reach approximately 115 km/h. Its large-capacity side-valve engine, three-speed hand-shift gearbox, shaft final drive, tubular steel frame, and robust chassis made it particularly suitable for long-distance touring and sidecar use.
The R62 uses BMW's M56 engine, a 745cc horizontally opposed two-cylinder unit with a 78 x 78 mm bore and stroke and a conservative 5.5:1 compression ratio. The side-valve configuration emphasized durability and steady torque rather than high engine speed.
BMW retained the tubular double-loop frame used by its earlier motorcycles, while the front suspension employed a six-laminae plate-spring system and the rear remained rigid. This combination was characteristic of BMW's late-1920s chassis engineering.
The R62 also carried forward BMW's shaft-drive philosophy. Power from the three-speed gearbox was transferred to the rear wheel through a cardan shaft, while a lower final-drive ratio was available for motorcycles fitted with a sidecar.
BMW produced the R62 from 1928 to 1929, with 4,355 examples leaving the Munich factory. The model was subsequently replaced by the R11, which introduced BMW's new pressed-steel frame and became the next generation of the company's 745cc touring motorcycles.
The 1928 BMW R62 is therefore an important early BMW motorcycle: the first production 750cc model, the beginning of BMW's large-capacity touring tradition, and a direct predecessor to the pressed-steel-frame motorcycles that followed.
BMW introduced the R62 in 1928 at an important point in the development of its motorcycle division. Until then, the company's production motorcycles had largely concentrated on smaller-capacity Boxer models, with the 500cc class playing a particularly important role.
The R62 expanded BMW into the 750cc category for the first time. It was introduced together with the R63, which used an overhead-valve engine and was intended as the sporting counterpart to the touring-focused R62.
The R62 was developed from the architecture of BMW's existing 500cc side-valve motorcycle. By increasing the cylinder dimensions to 78 x 78 mm, BMW created a 745cc engine while retaining the basic side-valve concept.
The result was a large and comparatively conservative motorcycle designed for reliable road use. BMW emphasized touring capability, durability, and sidecar suitability rather than outright sporting performance.
The R62 was particularly well suited to heavy touring use because its large Boxer engine produced useful power at a relatively low 3,400 rpm. The shaft final drive also provided a durable and enclosed method of transferring power to the rear wheel.
BMW produced the R62 during 1928 and 1929. BMW Group Classic records 4,355 examples built before the model was replaced by the R11.
The R62's short production period makes the 1928 model especially important. It represents the first year of BMW's entry into the 750cc touring class and preserves the original form of a motorcycle that would soon be replaced by the technically significant R11.
BMW's own archive describes the R62 as an outstanding touring motorcycle of the 1920s, with its 18-horsepower engine, legendary chassis, and reputation for reliability contributing to its success.
The 1928 BMW R62 is powered by the M56, an air-cooled four-stroke horizontally opposed two-cylinder Boxer engine with a displacement of 745cc.
The engine has a 78 x 78 mm bore and stroke, giving it a square configuration. Its 5.5:1 compression ratio is relatively low by modern standards and reflects the fuels and operating conditions of the late 1920s.
The M56 uses side-valve distribution and produces 18 horsepower at 3,400 rpm. The engine's low-revving nature was appropriate for a motorcycle intended primarily for touring and sidecar operation.
Fuel is supplied through a single BMW Spezial carburetor. The period specification lists a 22mm carburetor, while contemporary references may describe the carburetor dimensions differently depending on measurement conventions.
Lubrication is provided by a forced-feed system using a gear-driven oil pump. This arrangement supplied controlled lubrication to the engine and supported the durability expected from a large touring motorcycle.
The R62 has a top speed of approximately 115 km/h. For a production motorcycle introduced in 1928, this represented strong performance, particularly considering the R62's focus on reliability and long-distance use.
The Boxer engine also places its cylinders horizontally on either side of the crankcase. This provides effective exposure to cooling airflow and keeps the engine mass relatively low within the frame, characteristics that became fundamental to BMW motorcycle design.
The R62 uses a three-speed manual gearbox operated by a hand-shift lever. The specified ratios are approximately 2.83:1 in first gear, 1.55:1 in second, and 1.08:1 in third.
The three-speed arrangement was appropriate for the R62's 18-horsepower engine and intended touring role. It kept the drivetrain mechanically straightforward while providing enough flexibility for normal road use.
The clutch is a dry single-plate design. BMW later introduced a two-plate clutch from engine number 64101 as part of the model's production development.
Power is transferred to the rear wheel through a cardan shaft and bevel final drive. The standard rear-wheel ratio is approximately 4.07:1.
For sidecar use, BMW specified a lower 5.18:1 final-drive ratio. The lower gearing increased the mechanical advantage at the rear wheel and helped the motorcycle handle the additional load of a sidecar and passenger.
The shaft-drive arrangement was an important part of BMW's engineering identity. It eliminated the exposed chain used by many contemporary motorcycles and gave the R62 a clean, durable drivetrain suitable for regular touring.
The R62 therefore combined a relatively simple three-speed gearbox with an advanced shaft final drive, establishing a drivetrain configuration that would remain characteristic of BMW motorcycles for decades.
The R62 uses BMW's F56 twin-loop steel tubular frame. The frame is a brazed construction and represents the traditional chassis design BMW used before the introduction of its pressed-steel frame with the R11.
The tubular frame was designed to provide a rigid foundation for the large Boxer engine while also supporting the substantial loads generated during touring and sidecar operation.
At the front, the R62 uses a six-laminae plate-spring suspension system. The leaf-spring arrangement provides front-wheel movement while remaining mechanically simple and consistent with motorcycle engineering of the period.
The rear suspension is rigid. There is no separate rear-wheel suspension, with rider comfort instead being assisted by the sprung saddle.
The motorcycle uses large 26-inch wheels with 3.50 x 26 low-pressure tires or 3.25 x 26 high-pressure tires. The large wheel diameter helped the R62 maintain stability over the relatively poor road surfaces common during the late 1920s.
The front wheel is equipped with a 200mm drum brake. At the rear, an external shoe brake operates on the gearing at the cardan shaft.
The chassis dimensions include a 1,400mm wheelbase and an overall length of approximately 2,100mm. Combined with the 155kg weight, these dimensions give the R62 the substantial proportions expected from a large touring motorcycle of its era.
The 1928 BMW R62 has the unmistakable appearance of a large late-1920s European motorcycle. Its broad fuel tank, large mudguards, exposed Boxer cylinders, wire wheels, tubular frame, and upright riding position give it a substantial and purposeful appearance.
The exposed horizontally opposed engine is the motorcycle's defining visual feature. The two cylinders project from opposite sides of the crankcase and receive direct airflow, immediately identifying the R62 as a BMW Boxer.
The tubular double-loop frame is also visually important. Unlike the later R11, which adopted a pressed-steel frame, the R62 retains the conventional tubular construction used by BMW before 1929.
The large 26-inch wheels contribute to the motorcycle's tall and stable appearance. They were chosen not only for their visual proportions but also for their ability to deal with uneven road surfaces.
The cardan-drive housing at the rear wheel is another distinctive BMW feature. The enclosed shaft and bevel mechanism reduce the visual clutter associated with an exposed chain while providing a durable final-drive system.
The overall design is functional rather than streamlined. Every major component remains visible, reflecting the mechanical character of motorcycles produced during the late 1920s.
The R62 holds a special place in BMW history as the company's first production motorcycle in the 750cc class. Its introduction in 1928 represented a major expansion of BMW's motorcycle program.
The 745cc engine was created by enlarging the company's existing 500cc side-valve engine architecture. This allowed BMW to enter the large-capacity touring market without abandoning the Boxer configuration that already defined its motorcycles.
The R62 was introduced alongside the R63, which used a more performance-oriented overhead-valve engine. The two motorcycles therefore occupied complementary positions within BMW's new 750cc range.
Where the R63 emphasized sporting performance, the R62 focused on touring, reliability, and practical use. Its side-valve engine, conservative compression ratio, and low-revving power delivery were appropriate for long-distance riding.
The R62's ability to pull a sidecar further expanded its usefulness. The large engine and robust chassis made it suitable for carrying a passenger or additional luggage while maintaining usable road performance.
The success of the R62 helped establish the 750cc Boxer as a major BMW motorcycle category. Its successor, the R11, retained the same basic 745cc engine concept while introducing a completely new pressed-steel frame.
The R62 was designed with sidecar operation in mind. Its 745cc Boxer engine, strong tubular frame, long wheelbase, and shaft final drive made it well suited to the additional weight and mechanical demands of a sidecar combination.
BMW specified a 5.18:1 rear-wheel ratio for sidecar use compared with the standard 4.07:1 ratio. The lower gearing increased rear-wheel torque and made it easier to move the heavier combination from rest and maintain speed on inclines.
The 18-horsepower engine was not intended for high-speed racing but provided useful pulling power at relatively low engine speed. This characteristic was well suited to sidecar touring and passenger carrying.
The rigid rear frame also contributed to the stable character required for sidecar use. While the motorcycle lacks the suspension sophistication of later BMW models, its robust chassis was designed to withstand substantial loads.
The large wheels and long 1,400mm wheelbase further contributed to stability. These features made the R62 suitable for long-distance touring both as a solo motorcycle and as part of a sidecar combination.
Sidecar capability was therefore not merely an optional use for the R62; it was an important part of the motorcycle's practical identity as BMW's large touring machine.
The R62 has the deliberate mechanical character of a large pre-war touring motorcycle. Its 745cc side-valve Boxer engine is designed around reliability, low-speed torque, and sustained road use rather than high engine speeds.
The square 78 x 78 mm dimensions and 5.5:1 compression ratio give the engine a conservative character. The 3,400-rpm power peak is very low compared with modern motorcycles, but it suits the R62's intended touring role.
The three-speed hand-shift gearbox reinforces the period character of the motorcycle. Gear changes are mechanical and deliberate, while the relatively small number of ratios reflects the modest performance demands of the era.
The shaft final drive provides a more refined mechanical experience than an exposed chain. The enclosed cardan system also reduces routine external maintenance and contributes to the R62's suitability for touring.
The plate-spring front suspension and rigid rear frame give the motorcycle a distinctly early BMW riding character. The chassis is stable and substantial, but it does not have the controlled suspension movement associated with later telescopic-fork BMWs.
The R62 is therefore best understood as a strong, durable touring machine from the late 1920s rather than as a sporting motorcycle. Its appeal lies in the combination of large-capacity Boxer power, shaft drive, robust construction, and historical significance.
The R62 established a formula that would become central to BMW's large touring motorcycles. The combination of a horizontally opposed twin-cylinder engine, shaft final drive, strong chassis, and long-distance orientation was already clearly defined in 1928.
The model also demonstrated BMW's ability to create different personalities from the same basic motorcycle architecture. The R62 used a side-valve engine for touring, while the mechanically related R63 adopted overhead valves and higher performance for sporting use.
This separation between touring and sporting models would remain important in BMW's product strategy. The R62 was not designed to compete directly with racing motorcycles; instead, it provided a dependable large-capacity road machine.
The motorcycle's success also encouraged BMW to continue developing the 750cc class. In 1929, the R11 replaced the R62 and introduced the pressed-steel frame that would become one of BMW's most recognizable pre-war engineering innovations.
The R11 retained the R62's 745cc engine in its initial configuration, demonstrating how important the R62's powerplant had become to BMW's large touring range.
The R62 therefore represents the foundation of a development line that continued through the R11 and later BMW Boxer touring motorcycles.
The R62 was replaced by the R11 in 1929, marking one of the most important chassis changes in BMW's early motorcycle history.
BMW replaced the brazed tubular frame with a torsion-resistant pressed-steel design on the R11. The new frame provided a different structural approach and became one of the defining characteristics of BMW motorcycles during the early 1930s.
The R11 initially retained the R62's 745cc engine, with the same 18-horsepower output at 3,400 rpm. This shows that BMW regarded the engine as a successful foundation while focusing its next major development effort on the chassis.
The transition was significant because it demonstrates the rapid pace of BMW's engineering development during the late 1920s. The R62 belonged to the company's traditional tubular-frame generation, while the R11 introduced the more modern pressed-steel construction.
A 1928 R62 is therefore not simply an early BMW 750cc motorcycle. It represents the original chassis and engineering philosophy immediately before BMW introduced one of its most recognizable pre-war frame designs.
The 1928 BMW R62 is highly significant to collectors because it represents the first production year of BMW's first 750cc motorcycle.
BMW Group Classic records 4,355 R62 motorcycles produced between 1928 and 1929. The short production period and relatively low production volume make surviving examples particularly important within the early BMW motorcycle market.
Originality is especially important on a first-year R62. Correct M56 engine components, the F56 tubular frame, BMW Spezial carburetor, Bosch magneto ignition, three-speed gearbox, plate-spring fork, large wheels, fuel tank, controls, mudguards, and shaft-drive components all contribute to historical authenticity.
Matching frame and engine numbers can provide valuable evidence when determining whether a surviving motorcycle retains its original major components. Period registration papers, photographs, factory records, service documentation, and restoration records can further strengthen provenance.
The tubular frame should be inspected carefully for corrosion, brazed repairs, distortion, or later modifications. The frame is particularly important because it distinguishes the R62 from the pressed-steel R11 that followed it.
The M56 engine, gearbox, clutch, cardan shaft, bevel drive, plate-spring fork, drum brake, wheels, and electrical system should also be assessed carefully when evaluating an original or restored example.
Because the R62 was frequently used for touring and sidecar work, surviving motorcycles may have experienced extensive service during their working lives. An example retaining correct first-year components is therefore particularly valuable to collectors interested in BMW's early engineering.
For collectors of pre-war BMW motorcycles, the 1928 R62 offers an unusually direct connection to the beginning of BMW's large-capacity touring tradition.
The 1928 BMW R62 matters because it opened a new chapter in BMW motorcycle history. Alongside the R63, it was the first BMW production motorcycle to enter the 750cc class.
Its 745cc M56 Boxer engine produced 18 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and gave the motorcycle a top speed of approximately 115 km/h. These figures made the R62 a serious touring machine for the late 1920s.
The motorcycle also established a combination of features that would become closely associated with BMW: horizontally opposed cylinders, shaft final drive, robust construction, and an emphasis on long-distance reliability.
Its sidecar capability made the R62 more versatile than a purely solo touring motorcycle. BMW's dedicated 5.18:1 sidecar final-drive ratio demonstrates that the motorcycle was engineered with heavier combinations in mind.
The 1928 model is particularly significant because it represents the beginning of the R62 production run. It predates the R11's pressed-steel frame and therefore preserves BMW's earlier tubular-frame construction.
With only 4,355 examples produced during 1928 and 1929, the R62 was never a high-volume motorcycle. Its importance instead comes from the role it played in establishing BMW in the large-capacity touring market.
For collectors and historians, the 1928 BMW R62 is one of the key motorcycles for understanding how BMW evolved from a young motorcycle manufacturer into one of Europe's major producers of large-capacity touring machines.
This 1928 BMW R62 represents the first production year of BMW's first 750cc motorcycle and one of the most important early machines in the company's history. Its 745cc M56 side-valve Boxer engine, tubular F56 frame, three-speed hand-shift gearbox, shaft final drive, and plate-spring front suspension capture BMW's engineering approach at the end of the 1920s.
The engine produces 18 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and gives the R62 a top speed of approximately 115 km/h. The low-revving side-valve Boxer was developed for dependable touring performance and was particularly well suited to heavy use and sidecar operation.
BMW produced 4,355 R62 motorcycles between 1928 and 1929. The 1928 model is especially significant because it represents the beginning of the production run and predates the R11's introduction of BMW's pressed-steel frame.
The R62 established the large-capacity BMW touring formula that would continue through the R11 and later generations of Boxer motorcycles. Its shaft drive, horizontally opposed engine, robust tubular frame, and sidecar capability already demonstrate the engineering principles that would become central to BMW's motorcycle identity.
For collectors, the 1928 BMW R62 offers the opportunity to own a first-year example of BMW's pioneering 750cc touring motorcycle and an important link between the company's early 500cc machines and the large-capacity BMW motorcycles that followed. Contact us for additional photographs, detailed specifications, frame and engine numbers, service history, originality assessment, provenance, restoration details, and purchasing information for this 1928 BMW R62.
Explore more BMW motorcycles from the pre-war and classic eras.
The Vintage Motorcycles presents a curated selection of historically significant German vintage motorcycles, with BMW representing one of the most technically influential manufacturers in modern motorcycle engineering. From its early post-World War I developments to the establishment of a distinct mechanical identity, BMW played a central role in redefining structural balance, drivetrain efficiency, and long-distance reliability.
This collection includes machines from BMW alongside other notable German motorcycle manufacturers, each contributing to a tradition of precision engineering and mechanical durability. BMW motorcycles are best understood within the broader context of pre-war motorcycle engineering (1900-1939), particularly during the interwar period when the brand introduced its defining boxer engine and shaft-drive system, as well as through post-war motorcycle development, where these engineering principles were further refined into globally recognized touring platforms.
Each motorcycle within our collection is sourced based on historical provenance, structural originality, and mechanical integrity, ensuring alignment with museum-grade preservation standards. For collectors seeking acquisition opportunities, available machines can be explored through our global vintage motorcycle inventory, supported by a fully insured international shipping service.
BMW engineering is defined by a systematic and highly disciplined approach to mechanical design, emphasizing structural balance, drivetrain efficiency, and long-term reliability. The introduction of the horizontally opposed boxer engine, combined with shaft-drive transmission, established a unique engineering architecture that distinguished BMW from most contemporaries.
From early models such as the R32 to later pre-war and post-war developments, BMW motorcycles illustrate a continuous evolution focused on refinement rather than radical change. This consistency reflects a broader German engineering philosophy, where precision manufacturing, functional design, and mechanical longevity take precedence, positioning BMW as a cornerstone in the study of global motorcycle engineering history.
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