Vehicle Description
1971 BMW R75/5 Survivior Motorcycle. All original with only 2300
miles showing on the odometer! Hagerty said it best when they
described the 1971 BMW R75/5 as having look and feel of any classic
motorcycle, but it's also a bike that you can hop on and ride
across the country. A much more practical bike than the previous /2
series, the /5 series BMWs had electric start, telescopic front
forks, and a 12-volt electrical system with 180-watt alternator.
The drum brakes were a bit of a throwback, along with the
four-speed gearbox and the speedometer and tachometer integrated
into the headlamp nacelle, but the R75/5 was otherwise a fully
contemporary machine and stood out as a leader of engineering and
design. The air-cooled, overhead-valve horizontally opposed twin
displaced 745cc from an oversquare bore and stroke of 82.0 x 70.6
mm, and the compression ratio was 9.0:1. Revisions for the /5
series added more cooling fins, reduced oil temperatures, and
brought about higher-pressure oiling. When the bike was introduced
in 1969, the 32mm Bing constant-velocity carburetors had provoked
some complaints about low-speed performance, but midrange and
top-end were delightful. The boxer twin made 57 hp at 6,200 rpm
(redline was 6,800 rpm) and powered the R75/5 to 110 mph, with a
strong quarter-mile in 13.89 seconds. The bike also looked like
just about the smartest thing on two wheels. It had a 19-inch front
wheel and 18-inch rear, a large 6.3-gallon standard tank, and
nicely integrated turn signals. More and more color choices were
available as well, although some buyers still preferred the
timeless black with white pinstriping. "A remarkable piece of
work," as Cycle magazine put it. Please call Velvet Hammer
Motorcars at (941) 460-3168 and we will be happy to answer any
questions you may have as well as shoot additional photos or videos
upon request. All information provided is to the best of our
knowledge and we are not responsible for typographical errors.
