BMW R51: review, history, specs

From CycleChaos
Revision as of 16:46, 12 June 2019 by Daniel45 (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
BMW R 51
BMW R51
Manufacturer BMW
Production 1951
Class Classic
Engine air-cooled, four-stroke, boxer twin cylinder, 2 valves per cylinder
Bore / Stroke 68.6mm x 68.6mm
Compression ratio 6.4:1
Horse Power 24.0 HP (17.9 KW) @ 5800RPM
Transmission Gear box: 4-speed, manual

Final Drive: shaft

Clutch: dry, single plate
Suspension Front: telescopic fork
Rear: coil compression springs and rubber deflection stops
Brakes Front: 200mm drum
Rear: 200mm drum
Front Tire 3.5x19
Rear Tire 3.5x19
Wheelbase 55.0 inches (1397 mm)
Dimensions L 83.86 inches (2130 mm)
W 32.01 inches (813 mm)
Weight  (dry), 190.0 kg (wet)
Manuals Service Manual
Tech Specs · Brochures · Reviews · Ads · Videos

The BMW R 51/3 was a air-cooled, four-stroke, boxer twin cylinder, 2 valves per cylinder Classic motorcycle produced by BMW in 1951. Claimed horsepower was 24.0 HP (17.9 KW) @ 5800 RPM.

History

The roots of BMW are carved in history as quality manufacturers of aircraft engines which began in the early part of the 20th century. Today's logo is still a representation of a spinning propeller. Following the First World War, the Peace Treaty of Versailles banned the production of such engines so BMW, who had a reputation as a quality engine building company, began to build engines on a much smaller scale. From their aircraft engine experience, BMW were quite familiar with pistons operating opposite each other so they designed a horizontally opposed two cylinder engine with the cylinders fore and aft. BMW supplied the Victoria motorcycle company with this engine.

In 1923 BMW went on their own to build their own brand of motorcycle realizing the need for quality in the marketplace. Aircraft engineer, Max Friz, designed the more commonly known transverse horizontally opposed twin cylinder engine, an engine design that BMW still uses today more than eighty years later. Within a year of the original engine design they had almost doubled the horsepower due to the introduction of overhead valves in the flat twin.


Engine

A 68.6mm bore x 68.6mm stroke result in a displacement of just 494.0 cubic centimeters.

Drive

The bike has a 4-speed, manual transmission. Power was moderated via the dry, single plate.

Chassis

It came with a 3.5x19 front tire and a 3.5x19 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 200mm drum in the front and a 200mm drum in the rear. The front suspension was a telescopic fork while the rear was equipped with a coil compression springs and rubber deflection stops. The wheelbase was 55.0 inches (1397 mm) long.


1938

1938 BMW R51


1950

1950 BMW R51/2


R51/3

The BMW R51/3 was BMW's first modern postwar 500cc motorcycle. It used BMW's time-tested boxer engine layout and exposed driveshaft. The R51/3 succeeded and modernized the 1950 R51/2, which was essentially a prewar design that was produced after the war.

Following World War II, Germany was precluded from producing motorcycles of any sort by the Allies. When the ban was lifted, in Allied controlled Western Germany, BMW had to start from scratch. There were no plans, blueprints, or schematic drawings. Company engineers had to use surviving prewar motorcycles to create new plans. In 1948, it introduced the 250cc R24, which was essentially a pre-war R23, complete with rigid rear end.

When larger machines were permitted, BMW introduced its R51/2 in 1950, a model that was in production for only one year and that was essentially a prewar BMW produced after the war. The R51/3 was then introduced in 1951 for a production run of four years.

The 600cc R67, sister model to the R51/3 and almost identical visually, was also introduced in 1951, but it went through two revisions. The R67/2, with 2 hp more, came out one year later and was replaced in 1955 by the R67/3, which was in production through the 1956 model year.

In 1952, BMW introduced the 600cc R68. With 35hp and a compression ratio of 8.0:1, this was the first BMW production motorcycle that could reach and pass 100mph.

1954

1954 BMW R51/3 w/STEIB TR500 Sidecar
1954 BMW R51/3 w/STEIB TR500 Sidecar
1954 BMW R51/3 w/STEIB TR500 Sidecar
1954 BMW R51/3 w/STEIB TR500 Sidecar
1954 BMW R51/3 w/STEIB TR500 Sidecar
1954 BMW R51/3 w/STEIB TR500 Sidecar
1954 BMW R51/3 w/STEIB TR500 Sidecar


1951 - 1955 BMW R 51/3

1951 - 1955 BMW R 51/3 1951 - 1955 BMW R 51/3 1951 - 1955 BMW R 51/3 1951 - 1955 BMW R 51/3

The 1951 MY BMW R 51/3 has received an upgrade in the engine department, namely, the two chain-driven camshafts that were found on the R 51/2 were replaced by a single central camshaft driven by gearwheels from the crankshaft. In all other aspects, it is mainly the same machine as its predecessor.

It comes with a front telescopic fork, dual plunger shocks as a rear suspension, a drum braking system, full fenders, a large, round headlight, a single seat, a rear luggage rack, a dual exhaust system, a blacked-out steel frame, a small tail light and a dry, single plate clutch.


In Media

BMW R51
Manufacturer BMW
Also called R51 2, R51 3, R 51
Production 1938 - 1954
Class Classic
Engine two cylinder boxer, four-stroke
Bore / Stroke 68.0mm x 68.0mm
Compression ratio 6.7:1
Top speed 84 mph (135 km/h)
Horse Power 23.6 HP (17.6 KW) @ 5800RPM
Ignition type battery
Battery 6.3:1
Transmission Gear box: 4-speed

Final Drive: shaft drive (cardan)

Clutch: dry-single plate-cable operated
Suspension Front: cartridge
Rear: telscopic
Brakes Front: expanding brake (drum brake)
Rear: expanding brake (drum brake)
Front Tire 3.50-19.00
Rear Tire 3.50-19.00
Wheelbase 55.12 inches (1400 mm)
Dimensions L 83.86 inches (2130 mm)
W 31.1 inches (790 mm)
H 38.78 inches (985 mm)
Weight  (dry), 190.0 kg (wet)
Fuel capacity 4.49 Gallon (17.00 Liters)
Fuel consumption 4.50 litres/100 km (22.2 km/l or 52.27 mpg)
Manuals Service Manual
Tech Specs · Brochures · Reviews · Ads · Videos

The BMW R51 3 was a two cylinder boxer, four-stroke Classic motorcycle produced by BMW between 1938 and 1954. It could reach a top speed of 84 mph (135 km/h). Claimed horsepower was 23.6 HP (17.6 KW) @ 5800 RPM.

Engine

The engine was a air cooled two cylinder boxer, four-stroke. A 68.0mm bore x 68.0mm stroke result in a displacement of just 494.0 cubic centimeters. Fuel was supplied via a overhead valves (ohv).

Drive

The bike has a 4-speed transmission. Power was moderated via the dry-single plate-cable operated.

Chassis

It came with a 3.50-19.00 front tire and a 3.50-19.00 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via expanding brake (drum brake) in the front and a expanding brake (drum brake) in the rear. The front suspension was a cartridge while the rear was equipped with a telscopic. The R51 3 was fitted with a 4.49 Gallon (17.00 Liters) fuel tank. The wheelbase was 55.12 inches (1400 mm) long.

1938 - 1940 BMW R 51

1938 - 1940 BMW R 51

The 1938 BMW R 51 has, at its heart, an air-cooled, four-stroke, 494cc, boxer twin cylinder engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission, and can reach a maximum power output of 24 horsepower at 5800 rpm. It also comes with a telescopic front fork, a rear suspension composed of a long swing arm with suspension units and oil pressure shock absorbers, a drum braking system, a single seat, a rear luggage rack, a large headlight, a dual exhaust system, laced wheels and full fenders.


In Media