| MODEL | BMW R 850R 1997 - 1999 |
| Year | 1997 - 1999 |
| Engine Type | Four stroke, two-cylinder, horizontally-opposed Boxer, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Displacement / Capacity | 848 cc / 51.7 cu in |
| Bore X Stroke | 87.5 x 70.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.3:1 |
| Cooling System | Air/oil-cooled |
| Max Power | 52 kW / 70 hp @ 7000 rpm |
| Max Torque | 77 Nm / 7.85 kgf-m / 56 ft-lb @ 5600 rpm |
| Ignition | Electronic, Bosch Motronic MA 2.4 |
| Induction | Electronic fuel injection, Bosch Motronic |
| Start System | Electric |
| TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
| Lubrication | Wet sump |
| Gear Box | 5 Speed |
| Clutch | Single-plate dry clutch, hydraulically operated |
| Final Drive | Shaft |
| CHASSIS SPECS | |
| Frame | Three-section composite frame (front and rear sections), engine as load-bearing member |
| Front Suspension | BMW Telelever, 35 mm stanchions, central strut, adjustable rebound damping, 120 mm / 4.7 in travel |
| Rear Suspension | Die-cast aluminium single-sided swingarm with BMW Paralever, central strut, hydraulic preload adjuster, adjustable rebound damping, 135 mm / 5.3 in travel |
| Front Brakes | 2 x 320 mm discs, 4-piston calipers |
| Rear Brakes | Single 276 mm disc, 2-piston caliper |
| DIMENSION SPECS | |
| Overall Length | 2170 mm / 85.4 in |
| Overall Width | 940 mm / 37.0 in |
| Overall Height | 1220 mm / 48.0 in |
| Seat Height | 800 mm / 31.4 in (low seat 770 mm / 30.3 in) |
| Wheelbase | 1487 mm / 58.5 in |
| Ground Clearance | — |
| Dry Weight | 218 kg / 481 lbs |
| Wet Weight | 238 kg / 524 lbs |
| WHEEL SPECS | |
| Front Tyre | 120/70 ZR17 |
| Rear Tyre | 160/60 ZR18 |
| FUEL SYSTEM | |
| Fuel Capacity | 20.5 Litres / 5.4 US gal |
| Fuel Consumption | 6.2 L/100 km / 16.1 km/l / 37.9 US mpg |
| Top Speed | 187 km/h / 116 mph |
Mid-life R 850 R, mechanically the same as the launch bike: an 848 cc four-valve boxer in the R 1100 R chassis with Telelever front and Paralever rear. Testers liked the smooth fuel injection and easy manners that suited newer riders, but found it less punchy than the 1100 and set up more for comfort than for hard riding.
