R 50-5

1970 BMW R 50-5 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Engineered by BMW for the touring motorcycle segment, the 1970 BMW R 50-5 relies on a 498 cc (30.4 cu in) air-cooled two cylinder boxer, four-stroke powerplant. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 32 HP (23.4 kW) at 6,400 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 4-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 64.3 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the R 50-5 measures 222 kg (489 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.14 HP/kg (6.94 kg per horsepower). The 24-liter (6.3 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 151 km/h (94 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's BMW archive, this model family spans 3 indexed model years from 1970 to 1972, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.