BMW /5 motorcycles

BMW /5 motorcycles
Manufacturer	BMW
Also called	R50/5, R60/5, and R75/5
Production	1969-1973
Assembly	Berlin, Germany
Engine	498–749 cc (30.4–45.7 cu in)
Bore / stroke	67.0 mm (2.64 in), 73.5 mm (2.89 in), 82.0 mm × 70.6 mm (3.23 in × 2.78 in)
Top speed	110mph
Power	32-50hp
Torque	29-43ft⋅lbf
Transmission	4-speed
Suspension	Modular
Brakes	Front/Rear Drum Brake
Tires	3.25x19 front • 4.00x18 rear
Wheelbase	1385 mm
Dimensions	L: 2100 mm; W: 850 mm; H: 1040 mm;
Weight	462 lbs (wet)
Fuel capacity	4.7 US gal

Last updated April 28, 2024

For the WWII-era motorcycle, see BMW R75

The BMW R50/5, R60/5, and R75/5 form a range of boxer twin motorcycles manufactured in Berlin, Germany, by BMW for model years 1970-1973 and featuring electric starting and telescopic forks.

History

R75/5 tank roundel R75-5-400.jpg — R75/5 tank roundel

BMW R75/5 with "toaster" side-panels R75-800.jpg — BMW R75/5 with "toaster" side-panels

For the 1970 model year, BMW launched three new models having engine capacities of 500 cc (R50/5), 600 cc (R60/5), and 750 cc (R75/5). The R75/5 could reach 110 mph (177 km/h).^[1]^{[ failed verification ]} Model year 1972 saw the introduction of the 15 L (3.3 imp gal; 4.0 US gal) rectangular tank with chrome side panels. For the second half of the 1973 model year, BMW lengthened the rear swingarm 2 inch (5 cm), resulting in the “long-wheelbase” (LWB) models mainly to improve the stability of the motorcycles at higher speeds and when loaded up. It also enabled a larger battery, while retaining the kick starter.

The /5 series was the first series to be manufactured completely in Berlin,^{[ citation needed ]} as by 1969 all of Munich's production capacity was needed for automobiles. "Berlin with its well-trained workforce was an obvious choice. So in 1969 the Berlin Plant started production of the all-new BMW /5 Series, a completely new design and construction following a modular principle all the way from the suspension to the flat-twin power unit.^[2]

In 1970, 12,287 units were manufactured and by July 1973, when the /5 model series reached the end production, a significant volume of 68,956 motorcycles had left the Berlin Plant, production increasing five-fold within three years. During this period, BMW manufactured its 500,000th.^[2]

In 1974, BMW introduced the “/6” models, which offered front disc brake, revised instrumentation, and a five-speed transmission. The single disc brake was a hybrid cable/hydraulic system, whereby a cable from the handlebar lever actuated the master cylinder underneath the fuel tank. The rectangular tank was dropped.

All /5 models featured both electric starter and kickstarter,^[3] with kickstarters remaining available on some BMW motorcycles up to model year 1980.

Technical data

Boxer engine showing offset cylinders R75-boxer.jpg — Boxer engine showing offset cylinders

The /5 models are air-cooled, four-stroke, opposed-twin (boxer) engines with hemispherical combustion chambers. The engine is built around a one-piece tunnel crank-case. The camshaft is driven by a duplex chain and is located below the crankshaft (unlike the /2 series which had the gear-driven camshaft above the crank). This reversed arrangement improves ground clearance for the same center of gravity and assists lubrication of the camshaft. Valves are actuated by the camshaft through hardened followers, push rods, and rocker arms.

The 500 cc and 600 cc models are equipped with Bing slide-type carburetors with 26 mm throats. The R75/5 comes with 32 mm Bing CV (Constant Vacuum/constant depression) type carburetors.^[4] As in all BMW motorcycles at the time, the clutch is a single-disk dry clutch.

Final drive is by shaft, running from the transmission by universal joint to an oil bath within the right rear swing arm and connecting to a bevel gear and ring gear on the other end. Unlike the /2 models (with the exception of the 1968-69 US models), the /5 models are equipped with telescopic front forks, 12-volt alternator and electrics, and standard tachometer and turn signals.

	R 50/5	R 60/5	R 75/5
Bore	67 mm (2.6 in)	73.5 mm (2.89 in)	82 mm (3.2 in)
Stroke	70.6 mm (2.78 in)
Displacement	498 cc (30.4 cu in)	599 cc (36.6 cu in)	749 cc (45.7 cu in)
Power	32 hp (24 kW) @ 6,800 rpm^{[ citation needed ]}	40 hp (30 kW) @ 6,600 rpm^{[ citation needed ]}	50 hp (37 kW) @ 6,400 rpm^{[ citation needed ]}
Torque	29 ft⋅lbf (39 N⋅m) @ 5,000 rpm^{[ citation needed ]}	36 ft⋅lbf (49 N⋅m) @ 5,000 rpm^{[ citation needed ]}	43 ft⋅lbf (58 N⋅m) @ 5,000 rpm^{[ citation needed ]}
Top Speed	87 mph (140 km/h)^{[ citation needed ]}	99 mph (159 km/h)^{[ citation needed ]}	110 mph (175 km/h)^{[ citation needed ]}
Curb Weight	452 lb (205 kg)^{[ citation needed ]}	463 lb (210 kg)^{[ citation needed ]}	463 lb (210 kg)^{[ citation needed ]}
Gross Weight Rating	881 lb (400 kg)
Alternator	Bosch 12 V • 180 Watts
Spark Plugs	Bosch W230T30 / Champion N7Y
Fuel Tank	4.7 US gal (18 L; 3.9 imp gal) or 6.3 US gal (24 L; 5.2 imp gal)
Tires	3.25x19 front • 4.00x18 rear
Rims	1.85x19 front • 1.85x18 rear

Dimensions		Dimensions/Weights
Dimensions/Weights Length x Width x Height		Dimensions/Weights 2100 (from 1973: 2150) x 850 x 1040 mm (82.67 (84.64) x 33.46 x 40.94 in)
Dimensions/Weights Wheel Base		Dimensions/Weights 1385 mm / 54.52 in (from 1973: 1435 mm / 56.49 in)

BMW R75/5 with pannier Right-3qtr-bagsmall.jpg — BMW R75/5 with pannier

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References

↑ "Home". eecs.umich.edu.
1 2 "Forty Years of BMW Motorcycle Production in Berlin-Spandau". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
↑ Falloon, Ian (2003). Original BMW Air-Cooled Boxer Twins 1950-1996. MotorBooks International. ISBN 978-0-7603-1424-1.
↑ Richard Backus (November–December 2009). "10 Days with a 1973 BMW R75/5". Motorcycle Classics. Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

External links

/2 and /5 BMW kick starter gear information
Motorcycle Classics article on 1973 BMW R60/5 Special Archived 2012-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
R50/5, R60/5, and R75/5 specifications

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[1] "Home". eecs.umich.edu.

[mcnews.com.au-2] 1 2 "Forty Years of BMW Motorcycle Production in Berlin-Spandau". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-06-22.

[falloon-3] Falloon, Ian (2003). Original BMW Air-Cooled Boxer Twins 1950-1996. MotorBooks International. ISBN 978-0-7603-1424-1.

[4] Richard Backus (November–December 2009). "10 Days with a 1973 BMW R75/5". Motorcycle Classics. Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

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