2-26 Update: After not getting any action at $8,000 the first time around, this R26 is back up for sale with bidding up to $5,300 and the reserve not yet met or a BIN of $7,300
Introduced in 1956 (and out of the market in 1960), the R26 was a significant revision of the R25, with upgrades that included a rear swing arm, Earles forks, and an enclosed drive shaft. There were some cosmetic upgrades, too, but the key numbers are 15 horsepower out of the 247cc single cylinder, 79 mile per hour top speed, and 348 pounds of weight.
For more on the R26, check out this period review (April 1956) from Motor Cycling magazine on the bike hosted by Bench Mark Works, where the bike is summed up as having “excellent riding comfort, superb steering, smooth, powerful braking, a remarkably high level of exhaust and mechanical quietness, good fuel economy and a fine standard of engineering, detail design and finish.”
This numbers-matching example (VIN: 350779) has 16,067 miles and it comes with a lot of documentation. The bike was imported to the US in the 70s and the engine was recently rebuilt by Bench Mark Works. Since the work (which included new engine bearings, crank, piston, and more, as well as a new electrical system and wiring harness) the bike has less than 500 miles. The headlight rim and the turn signals are aftermarket, but there’s a lot to like about this BMW single.
Find this R26 for sale in Batavia, Ohio with an unmet opening bid of $8,000
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