BMW R 42
The BMW R 42 followed the R 32 as the touring model in the 500cc class. BMW retained the flat-twin concept while revising the machine and making it less expensive. Its historical production total is much larger than that of the early sports models, but still falls within Rarity Rides' 7,500-unit ceiling.
Model at a glance
| Historical model tally | 6,502 reported for the original model |
|---|---|
| Count basis | Historical model tally; detailed scope is given in Production history. |
| Production period | 1926–1928 |
| Engine / propulsion | BMW 494 cc flat-twin engine petrol engine |
| Classification | Historical low-production model; not an announced numbered edition |
| Origin | Germany |
Why include a model with 6,502 produced?
Its documented historical output is below the site’s 7,500-unit ceiling. That does not turn it into a deliberately numbered edition.
Related motorcycles
- BMW R 47
- BMW R 57
Sources
Why this machine matters
The R 42 is interesting precisely because it was more commercially successful than several rarer contemporaries. It shows how an identifiable engineering format reached a broader audience. A collector can examine that development without treating lower production alone as a ranking of historical importance or present value.
The story
The manufacturer's account highlights increased output and a changed drive-shaft brake, alongside a frame closely related to its predecessor. This is a story of development rather than a completely unrelated platform. The photographed 1928 R 42 shows the long, open frame, low tank and exposed engine in side view. Its rally setting demonstrates a surviving configuration without proving how every accessory was supplied when new.
Built in limited numbers
BMW’s historical booklet records 6,502 for this original model. The figure is a historical production tally, not an announced numbered allocation or a current survivor count. It has not been independently reconciled chassis by chassis for this profile.
Gallery
Specifications
Factory specifications may vary by model year, market and configuration.
Identity & production
- Official model
- BMW R 42
- Base model
- R 42
- Edition
- R 42
- Worldwide production
- 6,502 reported for the original model
Powertrain & performance
- Engine
- BMW 494 cc flat-twin engine petrol engine
- Powertrain
- Petrol
Motorcycle specifications
- Category
- Road motorcycle
Authenticity & identification
When checking an R 42, distinguish it from both an R 32 restoration and the later R 52. Record the frame, engine and braking details together, including replacement parts. A production total does not authenticate an individual motorcycle, and a neat early-style repaint should not stand in for a coherent component history.
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