The BMW R50 5 motorcycle specifications include a 498 cc (30.39 cu in) engine, power of 32 hp (23.3 kW) @ 6,400 rpm, a 4-speed gearbox, and a listed weight of 195 kg (429.9 lb).
Key specifications
How the BMW R50 5 compares
This compares the motorcycle with all BMW models in this specifications database. The blue marker is this model and the grey line is the BMW database average.
About 61% lower than the BMW database average. Around the 17th percentile across BMW models.
About 45% lower than the BMW database average. Around the 14th percentile across BMW models.
About 14% lighter than the BMW database average. Around the 20th percentile across BMW models.
About 5% taller than the BMW database average. Around the 87th percentile across BMW models.
About 25% larger than the BMW database average. Around the 88th percentile across BMW models.
BMW database percentile rankings
Percentiles show where this motorcycle sits across the BMW specifications database. They are descriptive database rankings, not performance ratings.
32 hp — more powerful than about 17% of BMW models with power data.
498 cc — larger displacement than about 14% of BMW models.
195 kg — heavier than about 20% of BMW models, or lighter than about 80%.
850 mm — taller than about 87% of BMW models.
24 L — larger than about 88% of BMW fuel tanks in this database.
Dimensions compared with BMW average
Each measurement is compared with the average value across BMW models where that dimension is available.
2,100
2,193
4% below average.
850
877
3% below average.
1,040
1,199
13% below average.
1,385
1,497
7% below average.
850
809
5% above average.
165
125
32% above average.
Mechanical overview
Additional useful specifications
| Front tire size | 3.27-19 |
|---|---|
| Rear tire size | 4.02-18 |
| Estimated theoretical fuel range | 471 km |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 0.164 hp/kg |
| Power-to-weight | 164.1 hp/tonne |
| Specific power | 64.3 hp/L |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 0.95:1 (Undersquare) |
Model information
| Year released | 1969 |
|---|
Engine specifications
| Engine type | Two cylinder boxer, four-stroke |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 498 cc (30.39 cu in) |
| Power | 32 hp (23.3 kW) @ 6,400 rpm |
| Torque | 39.0 Nm (4.0 kgf-m or 28.8 ft.lbs) @ 5,000 rpm |
| Bore × stroke | 67.0 x 70.6 mm (2.6 x 2.8 inches) |
| Compression ratio | 8.6:1 |
| Cooling system | Air |
| Fuel system | Carburettor. 26mm |
| Fuel control | Overhead Valves (OHV) |
| Ignition | Battery |
| Starter | Kick |
| Lubrication | Wet sump |
Transmission and drivetrain
| Gearbox | 4-speed |
|---|---|
| Final drive | Shaft drive (cardan) (final drive) |
| Clutch | Dry-single plate-cable operated |
Chassis and suspension
| Frame | Steel doble cradle |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Cartridge |
| Rear suspension | Twin shock-Swingarm |
| Front wheel travel | 208 mm (8.2 inches) |
| Rear wheel travel | 125 mm (4.9 inches) |
Brakes, wheels and tires
| Front brakes | Expanding brake (drum brake). Duplex full hub |
|---|---|
| Rear brakes | Expanding brake (drum brake). Simplex full hub |
| Front tire | 3.27-19 |
| Rear tire | 4.02-18 |
Dimensions and weight
| Wet weight | 195 kg (429.9 lb) |
|---|---|
| Seat height | 850 mm (33.5 inches) |
| Overall length | 2,100 mm (82.7 inches) |
| Overall width | 850 mm (33.5 inches) |
| Overall height | 1,040 mm (40.9 inches) |
| Wheelbase | 1,385 mm (54.5 inches) |
| Ground clearance | 165 mm (6.5 inches) |
| Carrying capacity | 398kg |
Fuel and emissions
| Fuel capacity | 24.00 L (6.34 US gal) |
|---|---|
| Fuel consumption | 5.10 L/100 km (19.6 km/l or 46.12 mpg) |
| Greenhouse gases | 118.3 CO 2 g/km. (CO2 – Carbon dioxide emission) |
Performance
| Top speed | 157.0 km/h (97.6 mph) |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 10.20 seconds |
Electrical and instruments
| Battery | Lubrication system |
|---|
Other specifications
| Seat | Dual seat |
|---|
Disclaimer: Specifications may vary by market, trim, production date and optional equipment, and scraped or historical data can contain errors. Comparison and percentile values are calculated from BMW models in this specifications database. Always double-check important specifications against the motorcycle owner’s/service manual and official BMW information before relying on them. Visit the official BMW website.