Photo: BMW R26 Instruction Manual (1955)
The R26 was the followon to the R24 (1949), BMW's
first postwar motorcycle. R26 Specifications
: Single cylinder, 245cc, 15
horsepower, 4-stroke, overhead valves. Bing 1/25/46 throttle slide
curburetor. 4-speed gear box, positive-stop foot control. Front and rear
internal shoe brakes. Curb weight
: 158 Kg. Maximum load
: 167 Kg. Maximum
speed, single passenger
: about 128 Km/h. Fuel consumption
: 3.5 liters / 100
Km at 90 Km/h (70 mpg at 55 mph). Acceleration
: 0-60 in about an hour.
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- Ignition and lighting switch.
- Speedometer.
- Ignition warning light.
- Neutral indicator.
- Front brake lever.
- Twist grip throttle.
- Steering damper.
- Clutch lever.
- Headlight dip switch.
- Horn button.
- Steering lock.
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- Petrol tap.
- Kickstarter pedal.
- Battery box lock (*).
- Gear shift pedal.
- Air filter.
- Rear brake pedal.
*The battery served no discernable
purpose; I didn't have one.
| Gear shift pedal operation.
Neutral is between 1st and 2nd.
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| Me on my R26 in front of 170
West 109th Street, NYC, 1967. Note the bent front-brake lever, a hazard of
parking on the street, sideways between two cars -- cars getting into or out
of spaces always knock the bike over and break the levers, headlight, etc.
Parking lengthwise, on the other hand, is a provocation to space-crazed
car owners, and likely to get your bike turned around sideways and/or pushed
over anyway. In the winter, I just drove it up the steps into my apartment
to avoid parking headaches. Prior to the R26, I had owned a
1949 Volkswagen
(small divided rear window, flapping turn signals, and non-synchromesh
manual transmission requiring double-clutching to downshift; I paid $50 for
it and drove it all over Europe while in the Army). |
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