1965 BMW R50 2

Specifications
- Category
- Allround
- Displacement
- 494.0 ccm (30.14 cubic inches)
- Displacement (cc)
- 494.00
- Engine details
- Two cylinder boxer, four-stroke
- Power
- 26.0 HP (19.0 kW) @ 5800 RPM
- Top speed
- 140.0 km/h (87.0 mph)
- Compression
- 7.5:1
- Bore × stroke
- 68.0 x 68.0 mm (2.7 x 2.7 inches)
- Fuel system
- Carburettor. 24mm Bing
- Fuel control
- Overhead Valves (OHV)
- Ignition
- Magneto
- Lubrication
- Wet sump
- Cooling
- Air
- Gearbox
- 4-speed
- Transmission
- Shaft drive (cardan) (final drive)
- Clutch
- Dry-single plate-cable operated
- Frame
- Steel doble cradle
- Front suspension
- Cartridge
- Rear suspension
- Twin shock-Swingarm
- Front tyre
- 3.50-18
- Rear tyre
- 3.50-18
- Front brakes
- Expanding brake (drum brake). Duplex full hub
- Front brake Ø
- 200 mm (7.9 inches)
- Rear brakes
- Expanding brake (drum brake)
- Rear brake Ø
- 200 mm (7.9 inches)
- Wet weight
- 195.0 kg (429.9 pounds)
- Height
- 980 mm (38.6 inches)
- Length
- 2125 mm (83.7 inches)
- Width
- 660 mm (26.0 inches)
- Wheelbase
- 1415 mm (55.7 inches)
- Fuel capacity
- 17.00 litres (4.49 US gallons)
- Starter
- Kick
The 1965 BMW R50 2
1965 BMW R50 2 sits in the middle of BMW's postwar boxer lineup, a sensible middleweight built for riders who wanted durability over drama. This is a shaft-driven twin designed for long-distance touring and daily transportation in equal measure, not a bike that rewards aggressive riding so much as steady, mile-eating competence. The Earles-fork front end gives it a planted, almost stately feel at speed, and the boxer engine's low center of gravity makes it forgiving at parking-lot speeds despite its bulk. Owners describe it as a machine you plan trips around rather than one you take out for a quick blast. The 1965 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year, buyers comparing it to a 1964 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences. Today the 1965 BMW R50 2 attracts riders drawn to prewar-adjacent engineering logic and postwar simplicity, often mechanics or long-term BMW owners stepping down from larger modern boxers who want something they can service themselves and ride without fuss.
Auction history
| Date | Listing | Price | Mileage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2025 | 24-Years-Owned 1965 BMW R50/2 | $14,250 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Apr 22, 2025 | 1965 BMW R50/2 w/Steib Sidecar | $30,000 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Jun 25, 2023 | 1965 BMW R50/2 | $12,750 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| May 11, 2023 | 1965 BMW R50/2 | $18,250 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Apr 25, 2023 | 1965 BMW R50/2 | $14,000 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Apr 16, 2023 | 1965 BMW R50/2 | $25,000 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Dec 4, 2022 | 1965 BMW R50/2 w/Steib Sidecar | $29,817 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Dec 1, 2022 | 50-Years-Owned 1965 BMW R50/2 | $9,603 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| May 6, 2022 | R60-Powered 1965 BMW R50/2 | $9,999 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Mar 12, 2022 | 1965 BMW R50/2 w/Globe Sidecar | $30,000 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Oct 4, 2021 | 1965 BMW R50/2 | $18,600 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Apr 27, 2021 | 1965 BMW R50/2 | $23,002 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Jul 23, 2020 | 1965 BMW R50/2 | $21,000 | — | Bring a Trailer |
| Apr 4, 2019 | Black-Plate 1965 BMW R50/2 | $9,100 | — | Bring a Trailer |

