The R 32 enabled BMW to celebrate a widely acclaimed debut on the motorcycle market but the brand lacked a successful sports model. The BMW R 37 made it possible to plug this gap while at the same time also providing BMW with a national reputation. The first time the motorcycle lined up at the start of the Solitude Race brought three class victories and laid the foundation stone for a victory by Franz Bieber in the German Championship in 1924. In 1925, the 16 hp BMW R 37 was also included in the product range supplied to private customers. However, the high price tag of 2,900 reichmarks restricted sales to 152 units.