Paying Homage to the R5

BMW Motorrad unveil a stunning supercharged concept, called R 5 Hommage, which pays homage to the R 5 of 1936 and also celebrates 100 years of the brand

THE SHORE OF LAKE COMO RECENTLY WITNESSED the unveiling of a concept bike that pays homage to the iconic BMW R 5. This new concept, called the R 5 Hommage, was unveiled during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016, an annual gala event held in Italy. The BMW Motorrad R 5 Hommage concept manages to transport you back to 1936, the year BMW’s radical R 5 made its public début. This homage concept, however, is pretty modern.

This project was a special one for BMW Motorrad as the company pulled out all stops to amalgamate eraappropriate design with modern-day engineering. BMW Motorrad commissioned some of the big names in the custom bike scene, enlisting brothers Ronny and Benny Noren to take care of the design and also rebuild the engine, which, prior to the project, was in tatters owing to its racing days.

The Noren brothers were instrumental in recreating the engine and gearbox components, which were milled out of billet aluminium. The 500-cc air-cooled, boxertwin is supercharged, though the core design of the engine still harks back to the original unit. It mimics the original engine but with modern craftsmanship.

The frame and minimalist bodywork, too, were given a modern twist. The front telescopic forks were custom-made, keeping the original bike’s design in mind, to recreate that look. The aerodynamic covers that run right up to the headlamp unit give it a custom look. Other components, such as the brakes and suspension, are from today to provide utmost performance. The brake and clutch levers are mounted at the end of the handlebar, something that was a common sight in those days.

The R 5 Hommage is in the concept stage right now, but knowing BMW Motorrad, we can expect to see a production version, just like the R nineT, which started life as a concept and then became a production reality.