This page is now my most popular one and I am shocked.
BMW changed their motorcycle designation system so often over the years that
it is very confusing. This is an attempt to clarify it a bit. The
slash (/) followed by a number does have a generally accepted meaning.
BMW may not agree with it, but who cares what they think? It is
often a "rubber" meaning in that it sort of stretches to fit. BMW assigned
them and owners and collectors have altered them to sort of "fit" the way we see
them. I will try to avoid a repeat of detailed BMW history and just give
some of the current thinking and models vs. years. The years are not
exact, as BMW sold different models in various countries. BMW has tended
to change significant things without a model change. Please don't bug me
with your exception, there are plenty of them. This information is
general. This will give a normal person a headache, get the aspirin out.
The /3 BMW, 1951-55
After war WWII, BMW was in dire financial straits. They sort of pulled
parts out of the rubble and sold whatever they could to get some cash.
There certainly was no money for designing and testing new models etc. The
single cylinder R24 was almost a copy of the pre-war R23. In 1950 the
allied powers relaxed the regulations on Germany and permitted a 500 cc (cubic
centimeters displacement) to be produced. It was the R51/2, but it was
really a pre-war design. So is that a /2? Yes, but only literally
and not according to the popular "/2" designation accepted by most. In 1951,
BMW came out with a new model, the R51/3. That started the /3 model
designation. They also had a 600 cc version called the R67, with no slash
at all. Not many were made and it is rather rare. The next year they
altered it a bit and called it the R67/2. Is this a /2? No, it is a
/3 but was made in large numbers. The R67/3 was made in small numbers and
fairly rare.
In the single cylinder line BMW came out with the R25, no slash, in
1950 and it is a /3 too. Then the next model was the R25/2, in 1951, and
it is a /3 also. Finally they came out with the R25/3. In 54 they
came out with the R67/3 and it was built in small numbers too.
See the problem?
The breakdown for the /3 models.
R25, R25/2, R25/3, a 250 cc economy bike.
R51/3, a 500 cc low tuned bike
R67, R67/2, R67/3, 600 cc, low tuned bikes for sidecar.
R68, a 600 cc sport bike. This is the one to have.
The /2 BMW, late 55-69
Now we are stepping into really confusing territory with the /2. In
late 55, BMW introduced a series with a different fork and frame.
Meanwhile they were still selling some of the /3. I have one brochure
showing both the new (/2) and the old (/3) series for sale. The
distinctive change was the forks. They used a fork designed by a Brit
named Earle and so they were Earle's forks. It was the best fork for a
sidecar bike. Both singles and twins used it. As could be expected,
these newly designed bikes had some design defects. They were corrected in
mid 57, but not assigned any new model number. This change was called the
"Accessory Group" and widely advertised. It was actually a
larger change than in 61 when they added the /2.
For 1961, BMW upgraded the engines slightly and added the /2 designation.
So, BMW would say that these are the /2 models. For some reason, owners
started calling the previous 5 years of production the /2 also. It makes
sense because they were virtually the same. Most parts were
interchangeable, at least in one direction. It must be kept in mind that
often BMW would change some significant part and tell nobody. It would
show up a year later in parts books, or maybe not. If it was a direct
interchange in both directions, no mention was made anywhere, including the
parts book.
BMW sales eventually slumped with this sidecar fork and low performance bike.
They began redesigning in the mid 60s for a new model. They were going
back to telescopic forks and needed to test them. In 1968 they began
fitting some models with telescopic forks. By 1969 almost no Earles forks
models were available. The ones with the new forks got called US models
with no slash. They are still a /2.
From mid or late 1955 (roughly) through 1960
R26, a 250 cc single
R50, a 500 cc low tuned bike
R60, a low tuned bike
R69, a sport bike and the one to have.
From 1961 through 1967
R27, a 250 cc single, ceased factory production in 1966. Official
importation stopped in the USA in 65, but a few were still on dealers floors for
a couple years and the title could show anything.
R50/2, a 500 cc low tuned bike
R60/2 a 600 cc low tuned bike and generally considered to be for sidecar use
by the factory, but few here were.
R50S, a sport 500 cc bike, ceased in 63, not successful
R69S, a 600 cc sport bike, very successful and the one to have
1968 and 69, the new suffix "US"
R50 US, R60 US and the R69 US, generally the same, but with telescopic forks.
In the USA we started getting them around March and only a few. By mid 69
almost all new bikes came with the telescopic forks. The models that still
had the Earles forks we still know as a /2.
The /5 BMW Motorcycle
The new models were the /5 series and a great improvement over earlier years
in both performance and reliability. Some reliability and production
problems occurred and changes were made. These are well documented
elsewhere on this site. The largest was changing from a short wheel base
(SWB) to a long wheel base (LWB) in early 73 with no change in designation or
any real notice to buyers. BMW added about 2" to the swing arm.
The /5 years, 70-73, is as long as BMW ever produced bikes without a
specially designated sport bike model. Ironically, BMW only kept a few
parts from the /2 series. One of them was a joke and never did work well,
the fuel petcock. It leaked from the beginning. That is another
story.
Here is the breakdown for models for the years 1970-1973.
R50/5, a 500 cc bike
R60/5, a 600 cc bike
R75/5, a 750 cc bike, the one to have
The /6 BMW
BMW released a new model in 1974 called the /6. The 600 cc model still
had a drum, some a single and one, a double disc brake, all had a larger battery
and a 5 speed transmission with a kick starter that didn't work. They
dropped the useless kick starter for 1975. A sport model (900 cc) was
introduced called the R90S. It has become a favorite of collectors and
riders alike. Even though the "S" didn't use the /6 designation, it is /6
after all.
R60/6, with drum front brake
R75/6, with single disc brake
R90/6, with single disc brake
R90S, with double disc brake and a bikini fairing for the sport look
The /7 BMW
It starts to get interesting in 77. While a few R60/7s came into the
country, it was very few. The 750 cc was increased to 800 cc after only
one year as a /7. BMW was now using other designations for models, even
though they were of the /7 series. Even though the "S", "RS" and the "RT"
didn't use the /7 designation, they were /7s after all.
R60/7
R75/7, 1977 only
R80/7, starting in 1978
R100/7, touring model, very basic
R100S, with the cafe, or bikini fairing
R100RS, (Renn Sport) with the small cockpit fairing
R100RT, with a larger fairing and upright seating position
In 1979 BMW came out with a newly designed 450cc/650 cc called the R45/R65
and a whole lot of designations that never again included a /. The R45 was
not available in the USA. We often called them the "little twins".
Even though none used the /7 designation, the big twins were really a /7.
Is that confusing enough?
Prewar models
This is another view of the history of the BMW motorcycle model designations
by my friend
Darryl Richman.
To learn about the newer models after 1981, you will have to go elsewhere.
I have no idea what they are. I have never even ridden any of them.
Models, by year, with VINs
Another aspect of the BMW motorcycle model designations
On the slash 2 Yahoo list, the question was asked, "Was there ever a /4
made?"
This is my answer, "There was never a /4 produced and called that. When
I imported /2 Nural pistons direct, many of the boxes said /4. Sincerely,
Duane Ausherman
Mark Hugget, the head of Mobile Traditions commented (cut and pasted).
This is a common error by suppliers from BMW. The suppliers such as
Nüral; KS or Mahle receive a technical drawing and a purchase order with the BMW
internal technical drawing number eg. 267.1.03.610.03 which is a piston
for an R67 to R67/3. The changes and thereby new items for the R60 motor
which were derivatives of 267.1.... parts, received the identification
267.4.... Thereby, the R60 piston had the technical drawing number
267.4.03.610.03. The BMW suppliers miss-interpret this information
and sell the pistons themselves for a so called BMW R67/4 (Which is an R60).
Like wise the R60-2 piston has the drawing number 267.5.03.610.03. On the
same line, did you know that an R69S is indeed a R68/3???? Now you are
confused!
Since BMW made a very confusing mess of their own system, I think that the
"unofficial" system has usefulness.
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