R4 Series 5

1937 BMW R4 Series 5 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Engineered by BMW for the allround motorcycle segment, the 1937 BMW R4 Series 5 utilizes a 398 cc (24.3 cu in) air-cooled single cylinder, four-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 14 HP (10.2 kW) at 4,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 35.2 HP per liter, the engine character is prioritizing low-RPM tractability, mechanical longevity and relaxed throttle response over peak redline numbers.

Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 1,303 mm (51.3 in) wheelbase engineered for quick, flickable steering geometry. The 12-liter (3.2 US gal) fuel tank paired with a rated consumption of 3.5 L/100 km provides an estimated theoretical range of roughly 343 km (213 miles) between fill-ups, while factory top speed is listed at 95 km/h (59 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's BMW archive, this model family spans 2 indexed model years from 1936 to 1937, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.