Two years after BMW built its first-ever motorcycle, the R 32, Rudolf Schleicher’s R 37 established BMW as a dominant force in racing. In 1927, the R 47 improved Schleicher’s sport bike with a more robust frame and a rear brake that operated against the cardan shaft. Factory-entered R 47s won the 1926 500cc German championship for Ernst Henne, the 1927 500cc German title for Hans Soenius, and countless racers for private entrants. An R 47 also served as the basis for Henne’s first speed record bikes, which set world records in 1929 and 1930.