Want to spend less on motorcycle insurance?
Click below to compare quotes.
I am no expert on BMW motorcycles – I will admit that right away, as I have never owned one personally.
That said, I have plenty of BMW motorcycle riding friends (fanatics) and have wanted one for a very long time. In particular, I would like to get a vintage GS (1980-1997) and have been doing some research recently on vintage BMW motorcycle model numbers, in general.
BMW uses a sometimes systematic/sometimes unsystematic naming convention for their motorcycles that is pretty easy to follow and understand once laid out in front of you. Below is a basic breakdown for those who lack a fundamental understanding of what those BMW motorcycle model numbers mean.
This list is by no means exhaustive as there were many side models and off-shoot iterations of bikes that BMW produced. This is meant as a general guide.
BMW Motorcycle Model Numbers: Semi-Unsystematic, Systematic, Unsystematic Again….
BMW likes to use straight numbers, dashes, and slashes instead of the colloquial names we are used to from the Japanese manufacturers.
–Prior to 1969: The naming convention wasn’t that systematic. The table below lays out the models that I am aware of, but keep in mind that there were many others. If you can get your hands on any one of these, don’t hesitate. The number after the R generally correlated with engine size. Those with a 2X are single cylinders, while the rest are generally the BMW twins we are accustomed to seeing.
| Model Number | Years |
|---|---|
| R 32 | 1923-1926 |
| R 37 | 1925-1926 |
| R 39 | 1925-1927 |
| R 42 | 1926-1928 |
| R 47 | 1927-1928 |
| R 52 | 1928-1929 |
| R 57 | 1928-1930 |
| R 62 | 1928-1929 |
| R 63 | 1928-1929 |
| R 11 | 1929-1934 |
| R 16 | 1929-1934 |
| R 2 | 1931-1936 |
| R 4 | 1932-1937 |
| R 12 | 1935-1942 |
| R 17 | 1935-1937 |
| R 3 | 1936 |
| R 5 | 1936-1937 |
| R 6 | 1937 |
| R 35 | 1937-1940 |
| R 20 | 1937-1938 |
| R 23 | 1938-1940 |
| R 51 | 1938-1940 |
| R 61 | 1938-1941 |
| R 66 | 1938-1941 |
| R 71 | 1938-1941 |
| R 75 | 1941-1944 |
| R 24 | 1948-1950 |
| R 25 | 1950-1951 |
| R 51/2 | 1950-1951 |
| R 25/2 | 1951-1953 |
| R 51/3 | 1951-1954 |
| R 67 | 1951 |
| R 67/2 | 1952-1954 |
| R 25/3 | 1953-1956 |
| R 67/3 | 1955-1956 |
| R 68 | 1952-1954 |
| R 50 | 1955-1960 |
| R 69 | 1955-1960 |
| R 26 | 1956-1960 |
| R 60 | 1956-1960 |
| R 27 | 1960-1966 |
| R 50 S | 1960-1962 |
| R 50/2 | 1960-1969 |
| R 60/2 | 1960-1969 |
| R 69 S | 1960-1969 |
–1969-1983: Really the systematic naming convention began in the 1950’s and 1960’s with the /2 or “slash 2” bikes listed in the table above. This continued with /3, /4, /5, all the way up to the /7 in late 1970s. Like their predecessors, the first number after the R correlates with engine size, while the number after the slash corresponds to the generation or iteration of the motorcycle.
–Post 1983: This is when BMW started getting wild and crazy again with their motorcycle designations. They kept the R series, but also introduced the F, K, G, and HP2 series.
The bottom line to the story is that if you are in the market for a vintage BMW focus on the “slash” number – the lower the better. If size is important, there are generally R50, R60, R75, and R90 iterations of each generation with R90 being the largest displacement at 900cc.
If you enjoyed this blog post about the scrambler motorcycle market, please like or share on Facebook, tweet on Twitter, or like on Instagram.
Didn’t find what you needed in this particular post? Check out the HappyWrench Motorcycle Repair Link Database. It is a one-stop shop for all your DIY motorcycle repair information needs.
