The first BMW motorcycle – the R 32 is a big surprise. BMW, a company rooted in the production of aircraft engines, was not even two years old when the Peace Treaty of Versailles banned the production of aircraft engines in Germany in June 1919. The company was no longer permitted to produce its six-cylinder, 226 bhp, 19-litre engines and was restricted in 1920 to producing 500cc power units developing 6.5 bhp. The horizontally-opposed cylinder layout became known as a “Boxer” and was supplied to motorcycle manufacturer, Victoria, in Nuremberg in 1921 and Bayerische Flugzeug Werke, who fitted the BMW engine and transmission into their Helios model. More BMW Motorcycle History
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Description |
1928 BMW R-42 |
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1935 BMW R35, 250cc |
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1936 BMW R12 |
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| 1937 BMW R6 |
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| 1938 BMW R12 sidecar |
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750cc |
1938 BMW R71, 750cc |
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1938 BMW R23 |
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| 1939 BMW R51 |
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| 1940 BMW R-35 |
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350cc |
| 1941 BMW R71 |
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| 1943 BMW R75 |
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German war motorcycle sidecar WWII.
BMW were already producing a number of popular and highly effective motorcycles, and developed the R75 in response to a request from the German army for a machine more capable in off-road conditions. BMW developed a technically advanced machine in which the third side-car wheel was driven from an axle connected to the rear wheel of the motorcycle, effectively making it a three-wheeled vehicle. Fitted with a locking differential and selectable road and off-road gear ratios the R75 was highly manoeuvrable and capable of negotiating most surfaces. It was even fitted with a reverse gear. |
| 1943 BMW R75 |
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| 1950 BMW R35 SAG |
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| 1953 BMW R68 |
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1954 BMW R51/3, 600cc |
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| 1954 BMW R51/3 |
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500cc. |
| 1954 BMW R35 |
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1954 BMW Rennsport |
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| 1955 BMW R25/3 |
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Single Cylinder. |
| 1955 BMW R25/3 |
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| 1955 BMW R50 |
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| 1956 BMW R50 |
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| 1957 BMW R26 |
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245cc. |
| 1960 BMW R50/2 |
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This Classic 1960 BMW R50/2 motorcycle is a great example of German engineering.
500cc. |
1960 BMW R50, 500cc |
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| 1960 BMW R60 US |
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600cc |
| 1961 BMW R27 |
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The R27 was the last of the 250cc singles made by BMW, and is widely held as the best of them all. It had the most power, and the engine and drive train was, for the first time, suspended on rubber mounts! Making the ride much smoother than the previous R26. |
| 1962 BMW R50S |
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500cc |
| 1962 BMW R50/2 |
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| 1963 BMW R69S Sidecar |
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1964 BMW R50/2, 490cc |
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| 1965 BMW R60/2 |
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1965 BMW R69S, 594cc |
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| 1966 BMW R27 |
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250cc. This bike was sold new by Roman Cycle Shop, Inc. on May 10th, 1966 and purchased back off the original buyer in 1969 with 102 actual miles. This is a like new 41 year old bike complete with tool kit, tire repair kit, owners manual, BMW shop rag, and a copy of the original bill of sale.
Picture provided by Roman Cycle Shop, Youngstown, Ohio. |
| 1966 BMW R-60 |
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600cc |
1968 BMW R60/2 |
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| 1968 BMW R50 US |
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The US model features telescoping front forks. BMW produced only 401 motorcycles of this model between 1967 and 1969. |
| 1969 BMW 600 |
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With Earls forks and all aluminium Stoyer sidecar. |
1971 BMW R50/5 |
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| 1971 BMW R60/5 |
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| 1973 BMW R90/6 |
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899cc, 44 Kw |
1974 BMW Model R75/5 |
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1974 BMW Model R75/5 with sidecar |
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1974 BMW Model R75/6 |
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BMW R90S |
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Engine - 898cc, aircooled, 4-valve OHV pushrod flat-twin
Bore x Stroke - 90 x 70.6mm
Top Speed - 125mph (201kph)
Dry Weight - 215kg (474 lb)
Launched - 1974
Maximum Power - 67bhp @ 7000rpm |
| 1971 BMW R75/5 |
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750cc |
| 1975 BMW R75/5 |
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| 1975 BMW R60-6 |
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900cc |
1976 BMW R90, 900cc |
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1976 BMW R90/6, 900cc |
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1976 BMW R60/6, 599cc |
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1977 BMW R75/7, 750cc |
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1977 BMW R100/7, 1000cc |
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BMW 100RS |
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Engine - 990cc, air-oil cooled Boxer twin
Top Speed - 125mph (201kph)
Launched - 1977-1985
Maximum Power - 75bhp |
| 1978 BMW R100RS |
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1978 BMW R80/7, 800cc |
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| 1978 BMW R75/7 |
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| 1979 BMW R100 RT |
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998cc |
| 1979 BMW R80/7 |
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797cc. |
BMW R80 800cc 1978 |
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BMW R45 |
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Engine - 449cc, 4-stroke F-twin
Top Speed - 90mph
Dry Weight - 182kg (400lb)
Launched - 1979-1988
Maximum Power - 35bhp
Fuel Consumption - 70mpg |
BMW R65 |
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Engine - 649cc, 4-stroke F-twin
Top Speed - 110mph
Dry Weight - 182kg (400lb)
Launched - 1979-1988
Maximum Power - 50bhp
Fuel Consumption - 50mpg |
| 1981 BMW R100RS |
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980cc, 70 Bhp. |
1982 BMW R80 RT, 798cc |
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BMW R65 LS 650cc 1983 |
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| 1984 BMW R80 |
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800cc. |
| 1985 BMW R80S |
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800cc, 80 Bhp. |
1986 BMW R80 RT, 798cc |
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| 1988 BMW K75 |
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750cc, 75 Bhp. |
BMW K1 |
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Engine - 987cc, liquid cooled, DOHC, in line horizontal four
Bore x Stroke - 67 x 70mm
Top Speed - 149mph (238kph)
Dry Weight - 245kg (540 lb)
Standing Quarter Mile Time - 11.5sec
Launched - 1989
Maximum Power - 100bhp @ 8000rpm
Wheelbase - 1565mm (61.6in)
Gearbox - 5 speed
Final Drive - shaft
Fuel Consumption - 45mpg |
BMW R69 |
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Engine - 594cc, aircooled, OHV, opposed twin
Transmission - 4-speed, shaft findal drive
Top Speed - 102mph
Frame - tubular twin cradle
Brakes - 2LS drum/drum
Maximum Power - 35bhp @ 6800rpm |
BMW R60/7 |
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Year of Manufacture - 1977
Engine - Twin cylinder horizontally opposed “Boxer” - 599 cc
Bore/stroke - 73.5 x 70.6
Compression Ratio - 9.2 : 1
Cubic Capacity - 599cc
Max Power - 40 hp (29.5kw) at 6.400 rpm
Engine Lubrication - Wet sump
Unladen Weight, Full Tank - 215 kg
Transmission - 5 speed gearbox. Shaft drive
Acceleration - 0-100kps/hour – 6.7 seconds
Top speed - 167 km/hr
Number sold - 11,163 |
BMW R25/2 |
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Internal designation - 224/3
Engine type - four-stroke two-cylinder flat-twin
Bore/stroke - 68 x 68 mm
Cubic capacity - 247 cm3
Max power - 12 PS at 5800 U /min
Valves per cylinder - ohv
Carburation system - 1 Bing type 1 / 22 / 44 or SAWE Typ K 22 F
Engine lubrication - forced-feed lubrication
Oil pump - gear pump
Compression ratio - 6,5 : 1 |
