Another R: The BMW 1940 R12

By Greg Williams
Published on February 7, 2013
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1940 R12 retains its military presence.
1940 R12 retains its military presence.
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Owner John Pavone says riding the R12 is “sort of like being aboard a fast riding lawn mower.” Some lawn mower.
Owner John Pavone says riding the R12 is “sort of like being aboard a fast riding lawn mower.” Some lawn mower.
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“I was going to do it in a civilian paint job, black with white stripes, but because it was originally a military bike I painted it myself a flat gray, and simply bolted on a lot of the parts as they sat, like the original saddle and knee pads.” John says.
“I was going to do it in a civilian paint job, black with white stripes, but because it was originally a military bike I painted it myself a flat gray, and simply bolted on a lot of the parts as they sat, like the original saddle and knee pads.” John says.
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The positive stop, gated handshift lever meant no worries about shifting in boots.
The positive stop, gated handshift lever meant no worries about shifting in boots.

The BMW R6 and R12 were both powered by sidevalve, flat twin engines. Though BMW might have hoped the R6 would find favor with the German military, the Luftwaffe simply found the heavier and perhaps sturdier R12 more proficient at sidecar work.

While still rebuilding his R6, John Pavone started thinking about lining up his next project. Answering an online ad in a BMW forum, he managed to pick up a basketcase BMW R12 that had originally been sold to the Luftwaffe in August 1940. “This fellow was selling the 1940 R12 as a project,” John says, “and he had collected a lot of parts before he sold it to me.

“I did the same,” John continues. “I collected a few more parts and had some machine work done, but around 2007 I lost interest and sold it to a guy up in Canada. I quickly had seller’s remorse, though, and called to ask if he’d sell it back to me. He didn’t want to, because he had the same plan I’d had. But in 2010 he called me and told me he was ready to sell.” This time, John followed through on his plans.

“I was going to do it in a civilian paint job, black with white stripes, but because it was originally a military bike I painted it myself a flat gray, and simply bolted on a lot of the parts as they sat, like the original saddle and knee pads.” John took care of the engine rebuild himself, which was made simpler because the R12 has a split case, unlike the tunnel case of the R6.

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