The R 1232 has been displayed at several shows and is currently in the Moto Panda dealership but there are plans for limited production should there be a demand.

The deep, lustrous paintwork, the beautiful chrome, the handmade leather seat and panniers make the R 1232 a unique motorcycle that blends the old with the new.

In the Panda Moto workshop the bike slowly takes shape and even in the raw unfinished form it looks good.

The R 1232 is the work of Jean-Luc Dupont, of French BMW Motorrad dealer Panda Moto 89.

 R 1232 - German heart and French design flair

 At the Berlin motor show in September 1923 BMW unveiled the Max Friz-designed R 32. The elegant and beautifully engineered Boxer announced BMW's arrival as a fully-fledged motorcycle manufacturer, after previously being only an engine supplier. With the cylinders in the cooling breeze and a cardan shaft, the 8.5 hp R 32 was reliable and, due to its light weight (122 kg), had a top speed of over 90 km/h.

It was more expensive than other 500cc motorcycles of the era but the high quality, innovative design and dynamic ability made the R 32 successful. During the course of its three-year production, 3,090 machines were sold.

The R 32, with its Boxer motor and black paintwork with white pin-striping, set the design pathway that characterised BMW motorcycles. It was not until 1973 with the launch of the R 90 S and /6 Series that colours other than black became more acceptable to BMW riders. BMW motorcycle design evolved as technology progressed and there was never a deliberate attempt to recreate or revisit the past, as has been the case with certain other manufacturers.

A BMW enthusiast from France who obviously values and respects the past, but is interested in the latest technical developments, has created the R 1232 - a unique motorcycle that seamlessly blends the past with the present to celebrate the original R 32, but with a contemporary twist - modern Boxer engine technology.

The R 1232 is the work of Jean-Luc Dupont, of French BMW Motorrad dealer Panda Moto 89. Situated in Villeneuve-Sur-Yonne, south east of Paris, Panda Moto has developed a reputation for not only offering the latest range of BMW Motorrad motorcycles, clothing and accessories but also producing an array of special BMW machines based on current production models.

Jean-Luc had the idea of creating a modern interpretation of the R 32 using current technology. This would be a complete motorcycle design and production exercise, and would require everything to be fabricated in what would be a test of the skills of Jean-Luc and his team at Moto Panda.

"Harley-Davidson has built its reputation on having their motorcycles as a modern interpretation of the past, I wanted to do the same for BMW and where better to start than BMW's first motorcycle, the R 32," said Jean-Luc.

To be a success the proportions had to be correct, so an original R 32 was used as the starting point. It was not just a case of making a replica R 32 and slotting in the modern Boxer motor. The R 32 is by today's standards a tiny motorcycle so it was more a scaling up exercise, with a continuous focus on remaining true to the spirit of the Max Friz design.

After many months of work the design plans were ready and it was down to the business of actually building the motorcycle. The tubular frame, the front forks with leaf springs, the beautiful 9.5-litre fuel tank, the elegant alloy foot-boards and many other parts were specifically produced for what Jean-Luc named the R 1232 (the '12' signifying the current Boxer motor which would give life to the project and the '32' as a homage to the R 32). 

In the Panda Moto workshop the bike slowly took shape and even in the raw unfinished form it looked good. The modern Boxer fitted in perfectly, as did the cardan shaft and final drive with rear disc brake. Although the R 32 was air-cooled, the R 1232 needed a radiator, but this of course had to be unobtrusive as possible so it rests almost without being noticed between the frame down-tubes. On the left hand side of the fuel tank is the hand gearshift complete with wooden knob (the gear shift of the R 32 was on the right side). Unlike the R 32, which only had three gears, the R 1232 has six.

All the ancillaries were also gathered together, including the headlight and rear light, LED indicators, instruments, the handlebars and their internal cables, and all the other details that are needed in creating what is essentially a new motorcycle. With Jean-Luc and the team happy with their work it was time for every component to be finished and prepared for the paint shop and final assembly. There was no expense spared in either time or resources - this was to be a motorcycle and a work of art.

After 16 months and over 600 hours of work the R 1232 was finished and ready for the road and public exposure. The bike is stunning in both concept and execution, and the detail is impressive. The deep, lustrous paintwork, the beautiful chrome, the handmade leather seat and panniers make the R 1232 a unique motorcycle that blends the old with the new. The modern instruments are mounted in the tank and the traditional speedo is mounted on the handlebars that have all the cables routed inside to give it a clean look.

All the switchgear is within easy reach of the rider but is cleverly hidden from view so as not to distract from the 1923 feel of the motorcycle. To further compliment the original design there are four protector studs on both cylinders, which offer protection in case of a fall. On the R 32 there was a patented 'mushroom' that did the same job. 

It is a motorcycle that is without a doubt a 'show-stopper' but it is also a motorcycle that is designed to be ridden. "The power and the lack of rear suspension make it different to ride than modern motorcycles but it is still enjoyable," said Jean-Luc about the 235kg R 1232 that cost around €70,000 to develop.

As with the first series of the original R 32 there is only a rear brake to look after retardation and Jean-Luc thought it prudent after riding the bike to develop a front disc. Again this follows the R 32, as the first 100 to 200 examples were not originally fitted with a front brake but after this, all R 32 models were fitted with a front brake). With this R 1232 model, the rear brake is a disc brake, but it has been cleverly covered to give it the look of a drum brake.

The bike is a credit to the imagination of Jean-Luc Dupont and the ability of the technical team at Moto Panda. This R 1232 has been displayed at several shows and is currently destined to remain as a feature in the Moto Panda dealership but there are plans for limited production should there be a demand. See http://www.pandamoto.fr/R1232.htm for more details and technical information on this unique BMW motorcycle.