Land Systems / Battlefield

BMW R4

Light Military Motorcycle [ 1932 ]

The BMW R4 series motorcycles began the relationship between the Nazi German military of World War 2 and the storied company.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/07/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

Advertisements

The BMW R4 series was provided to the rebuilding Nazi German Army of World War 2 (1939-1945) as early as 1932. The motorcycles used in the war mainly fulfilled the dispatch role and various accessories could be added to further increase the tactical value of such machines. Many Wehrmacht solders trained on R4 models prior to the war and the type became an instant classic. Based on the original civilian market design, the R4 differed in incorporating a skid plate and different brackets for its saddlebags. The skid pans protected the small engine.

In practice, as well liked as the series was, it suffered from being underpowered but were nonetheless considered reliable machines - retaining nearly all qualities of their civilian counterparts.

The R4 series was succeeded by the BMW R12 of 1935 which was offered with sidecar and produced in large quantities with a more powerful engine.

Specifications

Service Year

1932

Origin

Nazi Germany

Crew

1
CREWMEN

Production

15,300
UNITS

BMW - Nazi Germany

(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)

Nazi Germany

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Reconaissance
Can conduct reconnaissance / scout missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, et al - typically through lightweight design.

✓ Utility
General utility-minded design to accomplish a variety of battlefield tasks, typically in a non-direct-combat fashion.

Length

6.6 ft
2 m

Width

3.0 ft
0.9 m

Height

3.1 ft
0.95 m

Weight

309 lb
140 kg

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base BMW R4 production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)

Powerplant: 1 x 1-cylinder, 4-stroke 398cc engine developing 12 horsepower at 3,500rpm.

Speed

68.4 mph
(110.0 kph)

Range

155.3 mi
(250.0 km)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base BMW R4 production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)

None.

Not Applicable.

R4 - Base Series Designation

Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of the Bulge

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Kursk

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War

Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War

Military lapel ribbon for experimental military vehicles

Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery

1 / 1

Image from the Public Domain.

Advertisements

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2022 US Military Pay Army Ranks Navy Ranks Marine Ranks Air Force Ranks USCG Ranks Compare Ranks (NEW!) DoD Dictionary Military Ribbons Identification Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols American War Deaths French Military Victories Vietnam War Casualties

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), and SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane.

www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-