| MODEL | BMW R 26 1956 - 1960 |
| Year | 1956 - 1960 |
| Engine Type | Four stroke, single cylinder, pushrod operated OHV, 2 valves per cylinder |
| Displacement / Capacity | 247 cc / 15.1 cu in |
| Bore X Stroke | 68 x 68 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 |
| Cooling System | Air cooled |
| Max Power | 11.2 kW / 15 hp @ 6400 rpm |
| Max Torque | — |
| Ignition | Battery ignition |
| Induction | 1x Bing carburettor type 1/26/46 |
| Start System | Kick |
| TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
| Lubrication | — |
| Gear Box | 4 Speed |
| Clutch | Single plate, dry |
| Final Drive | Shaft |
| CHASSIS SPECS | |
| Frame | Steel twin loop frame, welded |
| Front Suspension | Earles-type leading link fork |
| Rear Suspension | Long swing arm with suspension units and oil pressure dampers |
| Front Brakes | 160 mm drum |
| Rear Brakes | 160 mm drum |
| DIMENSION SPECS | |
| Overall Length | — |
| Overall Width | — |
| Overall Height | — |
| Seat Height | — |
| Wheelbase | 1390 mm / 54.7 in |
| Ground Clearance | — |
| Dry Weight | — |
| Wet Weight | 158 kg / 348 lbs |
| WHEEL SPECS | |
| Front Tyre | 3.25 x 18 |
| Rear Tyre | 3.25 x 18 |
| FUEL SYSTEM | |
| Fuel Capacity | 15 Litres / 4.0 US gal |
| Fuel Consumption | 3.3 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 128 km/h / 80 mph |
Photo: Les Hutchins, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons
The R 26 moved BMW's 250 single onto the full swing-arm chassis of the big twins, with an Earles leading-link front fork and swing-arm rear suspension. Output rose to 15 hp and the tank grew to 15 litres, making it a comfortable, well-finished premium quarter-litre that could still pull a light sidecar. Just over 30,000 were made.
