Land Systems / Battlefield

BMW R61

Heavy Military Motorcycle [ 1938 ]

Procurement of the BMW R61 series motorcycles of the German Army of World War 2 occurred from 1938 until 1941.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/09/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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To support the German war effort in World War 2 (1939-1945), the military sought out all viable motorcycle types for military service. The BMW R61 model was one example of a civilian market form being adopted for direct military service in the dispatch role. The R61 saw only limited production - procurement ran from 1938 to 1941 - as they proved quite expensive to manufacture. They were also deemed quite large for agile work. Fewer than 4,000 were built in all.

Power stemmed from a 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, 597cc 18 horsepower engine installed under the 14-liter fuel tank. This provided for roads speeds nearing 115 kmh. The R61 was the first BMW motorcycle to introduce rear suspension for a more comfortable ride.

Specifications

Service Year

1938

Origin

Nazi Germany

Crew

1
CREWMEN

Production

4,000
UNITS

BMW - Nazi Germany

(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)

Nazi Germany

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Reconaissance
Can conduct reconnaissance / scout missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, et al - typically through lightweight design.

✓ Utility
General utility-minded design to accomplish a variety of battlefield tasks, typically in a non-direct-combat fashion.

Length

6.9 ft
2.1 m

Width

3.3 ft
1 m

Height

3.1 ft
0.95 m

Weight

408 lb
185 kg

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base BMW R61 production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)

Powerplant: 1 x 2-cylinder, 4-stroke 597cc engine developing 18 horsepower at 4,800rpm.

Speed

71.5 mph
(115.0 kph)

Range

158.4 mi
(255.0 km)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base BMW R61 production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)

None.

R61 - Base Series Designation

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