| MODEL | BMW R 50/5 1969 - 1973 |
| Year | 1969 - 1973 |
| Engine Type | Four stroke, two cylinder horizontally opposed boxer, pushrod operated OHV (camshaft below crankshaft), 2 valves per cylinder |
| Displacement / Capacity | 498 cc / 30.4 cu in |
| Bore X Stroke | 67 x 70.6 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 |
| Cooling System | Air cooled |
| Max Power | 24 kW / 32 hp @ 6400 rpm |
| Max Torque | 39 Nm / 29 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm |
| Ignition | Battery coil ignition |
| Induction | 2 x Bing 26 mm slide carburettors |
| Start System | Kick, electric starter optional |
| TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
| Lubrication | — |
| Gear Box | 4 Speed |
| Clutch | — |
| Final Drive | Shaft |
| CHASSIS SPECS | |
| Frame | Double loop steel tubular frame |
| Front Suspension | Long-travel telescopic fork with hydraulic damping |
| Rear Suspension | Swing arm with spring struts and hydraulic shock absorbers |
| Front Brakes | 200 mm drum, duplex full-width hub |
| Rear Brakes | 200 mm drum, simplex full-width hub |
| DIMENSION SPECS | |
| Overall Length | 2100 mm / 82.7 in |
| Overall Width | 850 mm / 33.5 in |
| Overall Height | 1040 mm / 40.9 in |
| Seat Height | 850 mm / 33.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 1385 mm / 54.5 in |
| Ground Clearance | — |
| Dry Weight | — |
| Wet Weight | 205 kg / 452 lbs |
| WHEEL SPECS | |
| Front Tyre | 3.25 - 19 |
| Rear Tyre | 4.00 - 18 |
| FUEL SYSTEM | |
| Fuel Capacity | 24 Litres / 6.3 US gal |
| Fuel Consumption | — |
| Top Speed | 157 km/h / 97 mph |
Photo: KarleHorn, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: order_242 from Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The R 50/5 was the 500 cc entry to BMW's all-new /5 range of 1969, with a redesigned boxer engine, a lighter double-loop frame, a long-travel telescopic fork and 12-volt electrics. With 32 hp it was clearly quicker than the R 50/2 it replaced, but it lived in the shadow of the R 60/5 and R 75/5. Late in 1973 the range gained a longer swing arm before the 500 was dropped.
