Motorcycles and news

1923 BMW R 32 Clinches Industry Award At Concours D’Elegance June 2, 2006

A 1923 BMW R 32, the oldest known BMW motorcycle in existence, received the Industry Award at the Legend of the Motorcycle: International Concours d’Elegance. The first world-class concours exclusively for motorcycles was held Saturday, May 6 on the lush coastal lawns of the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, California. More than 4,500 participants from five continents attended the inaugural event and raised more than $22,000 for charitable organizations. While the concours judging was limited to bikes produced before 1976, more than 250 motorcycles were on display, ranging from an 1895 Pennington from British Columbia to a 2005 KTM Moto GP factory racer shipped from Austria.

The Industry Award was presented to the BMW R 32 in recognition of its historical impact on the motorcycle industry. Owner Evan Bell said that he purchased the legendary R 32 motorcycle in Berlin in 1977 and restored it for its 75th anniversary in 1998.

“It was really an honor to receive this award, considering some of the finest motorcycle restorations in the world were on display at this concours,” observed Bell, who has owned Irv Seaver Motorcycles in Orange, CA since 1979. Commenting on the Industry Award, he added, “The R 32 truly represented a turning point in motorcycle manufacturing at the time. It was something completely different that has proven to withstand the test of time.”

1923 BMW R 32 Clinches Industry Award At Concours D'Elegance
The 494 cc, 8.5 hp R 32 BMW’s first motorcycle made its world debut at The Paris Motor Show in 1923. Designed by Chief Engineer Max Friz, it featured a horizontally opposed, four-stroke flat-twin, or “boxer” engine and shaft drive. By 1926, more than 3,000 R 32 machines were produced, despite the fact that, at 2,200 Reichmarks, it was more expensive than its competitors. The two-wheeled sensation marked the beginning of a legacy of technological innovation in the world of motorcycling, and the simple, yet effective design of the boxer engine remains at the heart of many BMW motorcycles today.

Mr. Bell’s 1923 R 32 is one of two R 32s in his collection of pre- and post-war motorcycles. His 1924 BMW R 32 has been on display at the Art of the Motorcycle Exhibition at the Orlando Museum since February. Six other restored motorcycles are hung by cable across the front of his retailer showroom.

The Industry Award category was one of 16 classes and special categories judged in the Legend of the Motorcycle: International Concours d’Elegance. The following motorcycle industry executives participated in judging the Industry Award:

Todd Andersen, Triumph
Erik Buell, Founder, Buell
Claudio Castiglioni, President, Cagiva
Arturo Pineiro, Vice-President, BMW Motorrad
Dan Van Epps, Ducati