ENGINE 398CC M69/3 S1 SINGLE CYLINDER
OUTPUT 12 HP @ 4,000 RPM
CURB WEIGHT 301 LBS.
TOP SPEED 62 MPH
PRICE WHEN NEW RM 1,250 ($298)
YEARS PRODUCED 1932-’37
NUMBER BUILT 15,193
COLOR BLACK
OWNER JACK WELLS (SINCE 2007)
LOCATION LAKE CITY, FLORIDA
#P8445
1934 R 4
New for 1932, the R 4’s 12-horsepower engine allowed it to reach 62 mph, which it could do safely thanks to the solid-handling Star frame and adjustable friction shock absorbers at the front forks. The bike got BMW’s first four-speed gearbox (in 1932), and footpegs instead of floorboards. The durable R 4 was popular with the German military and off-road riders. Owner Jack Wells says the blue tank is a variant on BMW’s traditional all-black paintwork.