1939 BMW Motorcycles

This 1939 BMW R51 was built in June 1939 and delivered to the Netherlands in March 1940, after which it was said to have been acquired in the US in the 1990s as a project that was completed in 2013. The bike was purchased by the seller in 2020, reportedly following a refurbishment in 2018 that included rebuilding its 494cc opposed twin with a replacement case from an earlier R5 model as well as replacement Bing carburetors. The bodywork was refinished in black with white pinstripes and the wheels are painted to match. Equipment includes a four-speed transmission, shaft drive, a hydraulic fork, and plunger shocks, while a brake light switch and LED tail light bulb have been fitted. This R51 is now offered with BMW Archives correspondence, a copy of an owner’s manual, and a clean California title in the seller’s name listing the bike as a 1939 BMV. The fuel tank is finished in black with reverse-pattern white pinstripes and features rubber knee bolsters and a storage compartment on top while the frame, fenders, and suspension components are finished in black. Equipment includes a Pagusa solo saddle, a luggage rack, a front number plate, a hinged rear fender, and a center stand. A Hella brake light switch from a later model is fitted and provides brake light functionality to the six-volt LED tail light. Wire-spoke wheels feature black rims mounted with Avon Speedmaster tires. Suspension consists of a conventional hydraulic fork and plunger shocks mounted to the rear axle on the left and the final drive enclosure on the right. Braking is from external drums at both ends. The chrome handlebar features inverted levers and Magura grips. A single gauge mounted in the headlight bucket contains a 160-km/h speedometer and a five-digit odometer showing 300 kilometers (~200 miles). Total mileage is unknown. The air-cooled 494cc opposed twin was rebuilt in 2018 using a replacement case said to be from a 1937 R5 model as well as dual Bing carburetors and matte black mufflers. The seller states that the engine is still in its break-in period. Photos of the engine work can be viewed in the gallery. Power is transferred to the rear wheel through a four-speed transmission and an exposed driveshaft.