First bike with telescopic forks
On 14 February 1935, BMW presented the R12 together with the R17 on the German Automobile Exhibition in Berlin for the first time, being a direct successor to the BMW R11. This and the R17 were the first in the world being produced with hydraulically damped telescopic forks. The telescopic forks are crucial to motorcycle handling and safety, ensuring the front wheel stays on the ground. While earlier bikes had springs, a fluid-filled telescopic fork in the BMW R12 helped to reduce bouncing.
