BMW R5 Hommage: the essence of beauty and simplicity at Villa D'Este [PHOTO]

BMW R5 Hommage – 80 years ago, BMW introduced the BMW R 5 to the international public, an exciting technological evolution that would influence motorcycle production throughout the 1935s. Inspired by the factory-produced racing version of XNUMX, it was a stunning racing bike of the late XNUMXs with its innovative lightweight chassis. To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the BMW R 5, BMW Motorrad pays homage to this iconic model at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2016 with a special model: the BMW R5 Hommage.

The BMW R5 Hommage interprets the essence of motorcycling in a modern key, marrying the world of historic motorcycle design with the modern world of custom motorcycles. The BMW R5 Hommage shows how the world of vintage motorcycles blends harmoniously with the world of custom motorcycles. The beating heart of this project is the 500 cc twin-cylinder engine supplied by motorcycle enthusiast Sebastian Gutsch. This boxer engine was damaged in a race and provided the starting point for the creation of the BMW R5 Hommage. As with a custom motorcycle, the BMW R5 Hommage was built by hand from a blank sheet of paper. Ronny and Benny Noren were tasked with building the various components based on designs provided by the BMW Motorrad Design Team: the two brothers have been building bespoke motorcycles for thirty years.

The R 5's four-stroke boxer twin engine was newly designed at the time and boasted a maximum output of 24 hp at 5.500 rpm. The distribution was chain with double camshaft. Also thanks to the innovative welded oval tubular frame, the lightweight R 5 reached a top speed of 135 km/h, making it almost as fast as the R 17 with 33 HP and 750 cc displacement - which is why it was often chosen for competitions , as well as the engine chosen for the BMW R 5 Hommage, damaged during a race. Several components of the commemorative motorcycle, such as the valve cover and the front shield of the boxer engine, were produced in aluminum starting from the original drawings: they give the historic heart a touch of modernity.

The frame and tank take up the elegant teardrop shape of the original in a more aerodynamic and modern interpretation. The front fork is slightly more inclined, for example, to give the BMW R5 Hommage greater presence and character, underlining its belonging to the world of customized motorcycles. As regards the frame, we focused on the oval section tubulars which represented a peculiar characteristic of the original. The frame and tank describe a continuous line from the handlebars to the rear wheel hub, giving elegance in the side view. The hand-crafted metal rear fender completes the minimalist setup.

The BMW R5 Hommage is presented in a classic way when it comes to coloring. The basic theme is typically BMW, black with white lines, obviously reinterpreted in a modern style. In addition to the matte surface finishes, the so-called "smoked" details on the tank and rear fender partially reveal the steel underneath. In addition to the white stripes, the black paintwork of the tank and rear mudguard acquire further personality, in perfect custom style, thanks to the metallic finish with a light "crystal" effect. The engine block and gearbox in satin aluminum pair with the polished aluminum components such as the valve cover and the front shield. The shine of the polished aluminum is particularly reminiscent of the original BMW R 5. The overall image is completed by the hand-crafted leather saddle with high-quality artisanal embossing.