Post Sale Update: This R2 sold for $12,099 after 39 bids on eBay in Corona, California.
Built between 1931 and 1936, the R2 was the smallest displacement motorcycle ever built by BMW. Powered by a 198cc OHV single, the R2 could hit 59 miles per hour thanks to 6 horsepower – later on (1934) an Amal carb helped bump power to 8 ponies.
The generator and ignition were Bosch units, and an interesting note is that BMW set the engine slightly in the right of the frame to make the final drive as direct as possible when the transmission was in top gear. The last year of production was known as the Series 5, which got a wider rear fender and a modified final drive ratio compared to the Series 4 of 1935. Over the entire production run BMW sold over 15,000 examples of the R2. 2,500 of them were the Series 5. For more information on the Series 5, check out Phil Hawksley’s BM Bikes.
This R2 (VIN: 13279) is said to have been restored “a few years ago to a high standard.” Find it for sale in Corona, California with bidding up to $9,100 and the reserve not yet met