Where did BMW motorcycles get their idea for the Boxer Engine?
Answers:
BMW originally produced aircraft engines. In June 1919, the company was less than two years old when the Peace Treaty of Versailles banned the production of aircraft engines in Germany. They were no longer permitted to produce six-cylinder, 226 bhp, 19-litre engines and were restricted in 1920 to producing 500cc power units developing 6.5 bhp.
Their answer to this problem was the horizontally-opposed engine that became known as the Boxer and a change to motorcycle manufacture instead of aircraft engines.
Well, that's WHY they got the idea.
As to WHERE they got the idea, they probably copied Sunbeam or one the other motorcycle manufacturers using a horizontally opposed engine at the time, and redesigned the engine to make it better - I wouldn't like to guess which one they based it on.
mohamad ali
From V W. Both cylinders are in open airflow, and cool properly, plus dynamic balance of opposed engine is much better than inline motors, also centre of gravity of engine is lower. Flat motors are much better in this respect. Look at small aero engines..eg Lycoming. all are flat. More power for shorter motor. Could go on at this ad infinitum..
Moto gusi has been around for a long time. The design is called horizontal opposed. BMW has it Moto Gusi Has it, and so does a Honda Goldwing.
It was found that sticking the cylenders out into the air, it stayed cooler instede of the say a V type engine (Harly)
As to just who came up with the ides first is still up for debate. Moto says thy did and then BMW also did.
Regardless of just who did it is a better design then a V type engine.
Originally BMW built aircraft motors (pre WWII). In fact, the BMW logo is a takeoff (sorry for the pun) of an airplane propeller turning at speed.
Anyhow, if you look at photos of old airplane motors you'll note that the cylinders circle the propellers. Since there are only 2 cylinders, they put them in an opposed fashion for maximum efficency (sp).
If you go to Wikepedia.com, they have a fairly extensive info page on BMW motorcycles.
Bavarian Motor WOrks (BMW) got there boxer form i believe wwII. They made airplane engines long before cars or motorcycles. The sideways engine cylinders had improved airflow and cooling potential.
In 1896, Karl Benz [as in Mercedes-Benz] patented his design for the first internal combustion engine with horizontally opposed pistons.
cossack motorcycles
There is nothing new under the sun and by the time BMW got round to building such mundane things as motorcycles (not nearly as exciting as aircraft engines) after WW1 there were already several hoizontally opposed designs around to copy. Which one really inspired the idea I don't know, but I bet there is a good story just for marketing and mystique.
Does anyone know if a hoizontally opposed steam engine was ever built?
And for the guy who thinks a Moto Guzzi is the same, it is not. They build a 90°V-Twin which dates back to 1967, I think, a far superior concept.
The answers post by the user, for information only, UKQnA.com does not guarantee the right.