R71

1940 BMW R71 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around BMW's custom - cruiser motorcycle platform, the 1940 BMW R71 pairs a 746 cc (45.5 cu in) air-cooled two cylinder boxer, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 22 HP (16.1 kW) at 4,600 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 4-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 29.5 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 R71 measures 187 kg (412 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.12 HP/kg (8.5 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 4.5 L/100 km provides an estimated theoretical range of roughly 311 km (193 miles) between fill-ups, while factory top speed is listed at 125 km/h (78 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.