BMWR51/3 1951 - 1955

　　In 1951, at the Amsterdam Motor Show, BMW released two motorcycles that featured a newly developed engine, the 500cc R51/3, and the 600cc R67 models. The chassis featured by the R51/3 model was taken over from its predecessor, and the newly developed engine had the valves controlled by a camshaft.

　　In the 500cc class, the R51/3 model once enabled BMW to set benchmarks for handling, smooth running, and sportiness. At the Six Day Race in 1951, the model passed the sporting test and proved its endurance qualities.

　　The 494cc air-cooled four-stroke twin-cylinder boxer engine with an output power of 24 hp at 5,800 rpm, impressed visually with its smooth surfaces and the one-piece valve cover. The 1951 BMW R51/3 tipped the scale at 190 kg (396 lbs) without a sidecar and 320 kg (705 lbs) with an original BMW sidecar. The maximum speed of the model was 135 kph (83 mph).

　　The model retained the proven design used in 1938 with a telescopic fork on the front and a straight suspension on the rear. The brakes mounted on its wire-spoked wheels consisted of a 200 mm half-hub drum unit front and rear in a reinforced form.

　　The model found its customer primarily among solo sporty drivers but also proved its long-distance qualities on extended tours on two or three wheels.

　　As standard features, the bike came with full fenders, a round headlight, a single seat, a rear luggage rack, a dual exhaust system, a blacked-out steel frame, a small taillight, and a center stand.