BMW R51/3

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BMW R51/3

A 1952 R51/3 note the half-width brakes before 1954

Manufacturer BMW

Production 1951-5

Bore / stroke 68 mm

Compression ratio 6.3:1

Top speed 140 km/h

Power 24 hp

Weight 190 kg (dry)

355 kg (wet)

Fuel capacity 17 L

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 1951 R51/3 at the BMW Museum

An R51/3 has eight round cylinder fins (left); the R67-R67/3 have nine larger and pointed cylinder fins
(right)

Note the exposed driveshaft and plunger rear suspension

The BMW R51/3 was BMW's second post-World War II 500 cc motorcycle, following the briefly
produced R51/2. It featured a flat-twin engine and exposed drive shaft.[1] In 1951, the R51/3
succeeded and modernized the 1950 R51/2, which was essentially a pre-war design that was
produced after the war. The 600 cc R67, R67/2, and R67/3 series and the more
sporting R68 model also followed the R51/2.

Contents
[hide]

1History

2Technical data

3See also

4References

5External links

History[edit]
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 pre-war motorcycles to create new plans. In 1948, it introduced the 250 cc 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 pre-war BMW produced after the war.
The R51/3 was then introduced in 1951 for a production run of four years.
The 600 cc R67, sister model to the R51/3 and almost identical visually, was also introduced in
1951, but it went through two revisions. The more powerful R67/2 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 600 cc R68,[2] which produced 35 hp (26 kW), had a compression
ratio of 8.0:1.

Technical data[edit]

Front view of an R51/3

R51/3 R67 - R67/3

Design Boxer Flat Twin

Engine Four-stroke OHV

Model Years 19511955 19511956

Bore 68 mm / 2.68 in 72 mm / 2.83 in

 Stroke 68 mm / 2.68 in 73 mm / 2.87 in

Displacement 494 cc (30.1 cu in) 594 cc (36.2 cu in)

Power 24 hp (18 kW) @ 5800 rpm 26 hp (19 kW) / 28 hp (21 kW) @ 5500 rpm

Compression Ratio 6.3:1 5.6:1 / 6.5:1

Top Speed 140 km/h (87 mph) 150 km/h (93 mph)

Curb Weight 190 kg (419 lb)

Gross Vehicle Weight 355 kg (783 lb)

Fuel Tank Capacity 17 L (3.7 imp gal; 4.5 US gal)