The Vintage Motorcycles
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Specialists in antique, classic, veteran and vintage motorcycles.
The 1929 BMW R62 was one of the most important large-capacity motorcycles in BMW's early history. Introduced in 1928 alongside the sporting R63, the R62 was BMW's first production motorcycle in the 750cc class and was positioned as the company's premium 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 combination of a large-capacity flat-twin engine, shaft final drive, three-speed hand-shift gearbox, and robust tubular chassis made it particularly well suited to long-distance touring and sidecar use.
The R62 used BMW's M56 engine, a side-valve horizontally opposed two-cylinder unit with a 78 x 78 mm bore and stroke. The square engine configuration and relatively low 5.5:1 compression ratio reflected the conservative and durable engineering priorities of the period.
Unlike the later R11 introduced in 1929, the R62 retained BMW's brazed tubular double-loop frame. Its front suspension used a six-laminae leaf spring arrangement, while the rear wheel was unsprung and carried directly by the rigid frame.
The R62 also demonstrated BMW's early commitment to shaft drive. Power was transmitted to the rear wheel through a cardan shaft, while a lower final-drive ratio could be fitted for sidecar operation.
BMW produced the R62 from 1928 through 1929, with BMW Group Classic recording 4,355 motorcycles built. The model was replaced by the R11 in 1929, which introduced BMW's new pressed-steel frame while retaining the R62's basic 745cc engine concept.
A 1929 BMW R62 therefore represents the final production year of BMW's first 750cc touring motorcycle and an important link between the company's earliest Boxer motorcycles and the more advanced machines that followed.
The R62 was introduced in 1928 as part of a major expansion of BMW's motorcycle range. Alongside the sporting R63, it gave BMW its first production motorcycles in the 750cc class.
The model was derived from the engineering principles established by BMW's earlier R52 and R57 motorcycles, but the R62 introduced a substantially larger 745cc engine intended to provide greater torque and touring capability.
BMW positioned the R62 as a high-quality touring motorcycle rather than a dedicated racing machine. Its 18-horsepower engine was tuned for dependable road use, while the shaft final drive provided a clean and durable means of transmitting power to the rear wheel.
The R62 was also particularly suitable for sidecar operation. Its large Boxer engine provided useful low-speed pulling power, and BMW specified a lower final-drive ratio when the motorcycle was equipped with a sidecar.
Production lasted only two years, from 1928 to 1929. BMW Group Classic records 4,355 examples produced before the R62 was replaced by the R11.
The transition from the R62 to the R11 represented an important change in BMW motorcycle construction. The R11 introduced a torsion-resistant pressed-steel frame, replacing the brazed tubular frame used by the R62.
The 1929 model year is therefore particularly significant because it represents the final stage of the original 750cc BMW touring design immediately before the company adopted its new pressed-steel chassis.
Provenance is especially valuable on surviving R62 motorcycles because the model's short production period and relatively low production volume make original examples important references for BMW's early motorcycle history.
The BMW R62 is powered by the M56, a 745cc air-cooled horizontally opposed two-cylinder Boxer engine. The engine has a 78 x 78 mm bore and stroke and uses a side-valve configuration with two valves per cylinder.
The square 78 x 78 mm dimensions give the engine a balanced relationship between bore and stroke. Its 5.5:1 compression ratio was deliberately conservative, supporting dependable operation with the fuels and technology available during the late 1920s.
The engine produces 18 horsepower at 3,400 rpm. The relatively low engine speed reflects the R62's touring-oriented character and emphasis on usable torque rather than high-revving performance.
Carburetion is provided by a single BMW Spezial carburetor. The system was designed to provide reliable fueling for the large-capacity Boxer while maintaining a straightforward mechanical arrangement.
The R62 uses forced-feed lubrication supplied by a gear-driven oil pump. Controlled oil circulation was important for the durability of the air-cooled Boxer engine, particularly during extended touring or sidecar operation.
BMW lists a top speed of approximately 115 km/h. For a motorcycle introduced in 1928, this represented strong road performance and helped establish the R62 as a serious long-distance touring machine.
The horizontally opposed cylinder arrangement also keeps the engine mass low in the chassis and provides effective airflow around the exposed cylinders. These characteristics became fundamental to BMW's motorcycle engineering identity.
The R62 uses a three-speed manual gearbox operated by a hand-shift lever. The gearbox ratios are approximately 2.83, 1.55, and 1.08 to 1.
The three-speed transmission is relatively simple compared with later BMW gearboxes, but it provides an appropriate range for the R62's 18-horsepower engine and intended touring use.
The clutch is a dry single-plate design on early examples, with a two-plate arrangement introduced from engine number 64101. This change was part of BMW's ongoing refinement of the drivetrain during production.
Final drive is through a cardan shaft running to the rear wheel. The standard rear-wheel ratio is approximately 4.07:1, while a lower 5.18:1 ratio was specified for sidecar use.
The sidecar ratio provided increased mechanical advantage at the rear wheel, allowing the R62 to handle the additional weight and rolling resistance associated with a sidecar combination.
The shaft-drive system was an important part of BMW's engineering identity. By enclosing the final-drive shaft and bevel gears, BMW reduced the external maintenance associated with conventional chain-drive systems.
The drivetrain therefore combined a straightforward three-speed gearbox with a technically sophisticated shaft final drive, establishing a mechanical formula that would remain central to BMW motorcycles for decades.
The R62 uses BMW's F56 twin-loop tubular steel frame. The frame is brazed rather than pressed from steel, distinguishing the motorcycle from the R11 that replaced it in 1929.
The tubular frame was designed to provide a strong and stable foundation for the large Boxer engine while also accommodating the additional loads associated with sidecar operation.
At the front, the R62 uses a six-laminae plate-spring suspension system. The leaf spring provides front-wheel movement while remaining mechanically simple and easy to maintain.
The rear suspension is rigid. There is no separate rear-wheel suspension system, so the rear wheel is mounted directly within the frame and rider comfort is partly provided by the sprung saddle.
The R62 uses large 26-inch wheels with either 3.50-inch low-pressure tires or 3.25-inch high-pressure tires. The large wheel diameter was well suited to the road surfaces of the period and contributed to the motorcycle's stable touring character.
The front wheel is equipped with a 200mm drum brake. At the rear, braking is provided by an external shoe mechanism acting on the final-drive assembly at the cardan shaft.
The chassis reflects the engineering standards of the late 1920s: robust construction, simple suspension, large wheels, and a drivetrain designed for durability rather than minimum weight.
The 1929 BMW R62 has the distinctive appearance of a large pre-war touring motorcycle, with a substantial fuel tank, broad mudguards, exposed Boxer cylinders, large wire wheels, and a long wheelbase.
The tubular double-loop frame is visually prominent and gives the motorcycle a traditional structural appearance that would soon disappear from BMW's larger motorcycles with the arrival of the pressed-steel R11.
The exposed horizontally opposed cylinders provide the R62 with the mechanical appearance that would become synonymous with BMW. The cylinders extend horizontally from the crankcase and remain directly exposed to cooling airflow.
The large 26-inch wheels and relatively long 1,400mm wheelbase contribute to the motorcycle's imposing proportions. These dimensions were appropriate for a machine intended to cover long distances and potentially operate with a sidecar.
The shaft-drive housing on the right side of the rear wheel is another defining feature. It visually identifies the motorcycle as a BMW while also demonstrating the company's preference for enclosed final-drive systems.
The overall design is functional and mechanically exposed, reflecting the engineering culture of the late 1920s before motorcycle manufacturers began adopting more enclosed and streamlined bodywork.
The R62 occupies a special position in BMW history because it was part of the company's first production 750cc motorcycle generation. The model was introduced in 1928 together with the performance-oriented R63.
The larger engine expanded BMW's capabilities beyond the 500cc class and allowed the company to compete more directly with other European manufacturers producing large touring and sidecar motorcycles.
The R62's 745cc Boxer engine provided a substantial increase in displacement while retaining the basic mechanical principles established by BMW's earlier flat-twin motorcycles.
Its 18-horsepower output was not intended primarily for racing. Instead, BMW focused on delivering dependable performance for touring, carrying passengers, and pulling a sidecar.
The model's success helped establish the large-capacity Boxer as an important part of BMW's motorcycle identity. The later R11 continued the 745cc touring concept, while the R63 developed the same basic displacement class toward higher performance.
The R62 can therefore be regarded as the beginning of BMW's long-running large-capacity touring motorcycle tradition.
The R62 was particularly well suited to sidecar use because of its large-capacity Boxer engine, sturdy tubular frame, long wheelbase, and shaft-driven rear wheel.
BMW specified a 5.18:1 rear-wheel ratio for sidecar applications compared with the standard 4.07:1 ratio. The lower gearing increased pulling ability and helped compensate for the additional weight of the sidecar and passenger.
The 745cc engine's 18 horsepower provided useful torque for low-speed operation. The relatively low-revving side-valve design was well suited to the steady loads associated with sidecar touring.
The large wheels and rigid rear frame also contributed to stability. Sidecar combinations placed different demands on steering and chassis components than solo motorcycles, making the R62's robust construction particularly useful.
The ability to operate effectively with a sidecar also expanded the R62's practical role. It could function not only as a touring motorcycle but also as a passenger-carrying or utility vehicle.
This versatility was an important part of the appeal of large BMW motorcycles during the late 1920s and helped establish the brand's reputation for durable touring machines.
The R62 has the mechanical character of a large, low-revving touring motorcycle. Its 745cc side-valve Boxer engine produces modest power by modern standards but delivers the durable and steady operation expected from a machine designed for long-distance use.
The square 78 x 78 mm engine dimensions and low 5.5:1 compression ratio contribute to its conservative character. The engine is not designed to operate at high rpm, and its 3,400-rpm power peak reflects its focus on practical road performance.
The three-speed hand-shift gearbox is simple and mechanical. Gear changes require deliberate operation, but the uncomplicated arrangement is consistent with the motorcycle's period and intended use.
The shaft final drive adds refinement to the drivetrain and reduces the maintenance associated with exposed chains. It also provides a direct mechanical connection between BMW's early motorcycles and the shaft-drive systems that became a defining characteristic of later BMW models.
The leaf-spring front suspension and rigid rear frame give the R62 a distinctly early motorcycle riding character. Compared with later BMWs, the suspension is basic, but the large wheels and long wheelbase provide stability on the roads of the period.
The overall result is a motorcycle that feels substantial, deliberate, and mechanically robust rather than lightweight or sporty. That character is precisely what made the R62 an important BMW touring motorcycle.
The 1929 BMW R62 is historically important because it represents the end of BMW's first 750cc touring design and the transition to the R11.
The R11 was introduced in 1929 with a completely new pressed-steel frame. BMW Group Classic describes the new frame as torsion-resistant and notes that it replaced the soldered tubular construction used previously.
The R11 retained the R62's 745cc engine in its initial form, producing 18 horsepower at 3,400 rpm. This means the most significant change between the two motorcycles was initially the chassis rather than the engine.
The R62 therefore provides an important reference point for understanding why the R11 was such a significant development. BMW had already established the large Boxer touring formula; the next step was to modernize the frame and chassis.
The transition also demonstrates how quickly BMW was developing its motorcycle technology during the late 1920s. Within only a few years, the company moved from the traditional tubular-frame R62 to the innovative pressed-steel R11.
A genuine 1929 R62 consequently represents a particularly important moment in BMW's engineering history, immediately before one of the company's most significant frame innovations.
The 1929 BMW R62 is highly significant to collectors because it represents the final production year of BMW's first 750cc touring motorcycle.
BMW Group Classic records 4,355 R62 motorcycles produced between 1928 and 1929. This relatively small production volume, combined with the model's age and historical importance, makes surviving examples particularly interesting to early BMW collectors.
Originality is especially important when evaluating an R62. Correct engine and frame numbers, the M56 side-valve engine, BMW Spezial carburetor, Bosch magneto ignition, tubular F56 frame, leaf-spring front suspension, large wheels, controls, fuel tank, mudguards, and shaft-drive components all contribute to historical authenticity.
Matching numbers can be particularly useful in establishing whether an example retains its original major components. Period registration documents, photographs, factory records, service documentation, and long-term ownership records can provide additional evidence of provenance.
The frame should be inspected carefully for brazed repairs, corrosion, distortion, or modifications. Because the tubular frame is one of the principal features distinguishing the R62 from the later R11, its originality is particularly important.
The M56 engine, gearbox, clutch, cardan shaft, bevel drive, leaf-spring fork, drum brakes, wheels, and electrical system should also be assessed when evaluating a surviving motorcycle.
A documented motorcycle retaining its correct 1929 specification can provide an unusually direct connection to BMW's first generation of 750cc motorcycles and the final stage of the company's early tubular-frame engineering.
For collectors of pre-war BMW motorcycles, the R62 is significant not because it was produced in large numbers, but because it established the large-capacity touring formula that became central to BMW's motorcycle identity.
The 1929 BMW R62 matters because it was one of the motorcycles that established BMW in the 750cc touring class. Introduced in 1928, it expanded the company's range beyond the 500cc motorcycles that had defined much of its early production.
Its 745cc 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 long-distance machine for the late 1920s.
The model also established a combination of characteristics that would become fundamental to BMW motorcycles: a horizontally opposed twin-cylinder engine, shaft final drive, strong chassis construction, and a focus on reliable touring performance.
The R62's ability to operate with a sidecar was another important part of its practical appeal. BMW provided a dedicated lower final-drive ratio for sidecar use, demonstrating that the motorcycle was designed around more than solo transportation.
The 1929 model is particularly significant because it represents the final year before BMW replaced the tubular frame with the pressed-steel design of the R11. It therefore marks the end of one major stage in BMW motorcycle development and the beginning of another.
With 4,355 examples produced, the R62 was successful enough to establish the 750cc BMW as an important product category while remaining rare enough today to be highly significant to collectors.
For anyone interested in the origins of BMW's large-capacity touring motorcycles, the 1929 R62 represents a fundamental chapter in the company's pre-war history.
This 1929 BMW R62 represents the final production year of BMW's first 750cc touring motorcycle. Its 745cc M56 Boxer engine, tubular double-loop frame, three-speed hand-shift gearbox, shaft final drive, and leaf-spring front suspension embody the engineering character of BMW's motorcycles immediately before the company's transition to the pressed-steel R11.
The side-valve Boxer produces 18 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and provides a top speed of approximately 115 km/h. The low-revving engine was designed for dependable touring performance and was particularly well suited to sidecar operation, for which BMW specified a lower 5.18:1 final-drive ratio.
Only 4,355 R62 motorcycles were produced between 1928 and 1929. The 1929 model year is especially important because the R62 was replaced during that year by the R11, which introduced BMW's new torsion-resistant pressed-steel frame.
The R62 therefore represents an important transitional motorcycle in BMW history. It preserves the company's early tubular-frame construction while combining it with the 745cc Boxer engine and shaft-drive architecture that would remain central to BMW's large touring motorcycles.
For collectors, the 1929 BMW R62 offers the opportunity to own one of the earliest large-capacity BMW motorcycles and an important predecessor to the company's long-running R11 and later Boxer touring lineage. Contact us for additional photographs, detailed specifications, frame and engine numbers, service history, originality assessment, provenance, restoration details, and purchasing information for this 1929 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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