R61

1940 BMW R61 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 1940 BMW R61 allround motorcycle, BMW pairs a 600 cc (36.6 cu in) air-cooled two cylinder boxer, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 18 HP (13.1 kW) at 4,800 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 4-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 30 HP per liter, the engine character is prioritizing low-RPM tractability, mechanical longevity and relaxed throttle response over peak redline numbers.

On the scales, the R61 measures 184 kg (406 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.1 HP/kg (10.22 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 1,400 mm (55.1 in) wheelbase engineered for quick, flickable steering geometry. The 14-liter (3.7 US gal) fuel tank paired with a rated consumption of 3.5 L/100 km provides an estimated theoretical range of roughly 400 km (249 miles) between fill-ups, while factory top speed is listed at 115 km/h (71 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's BMW archive, this model family spans 4 indexed model years from 1938 to 1941, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.