Saturday 28th May 2016

BMW R5 Motorrad Hommage

BMW goes Hommage mad at Villa d'Este with a bike alongside the 2002

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While PH is predominantly a sanctuary for those who adore vehicles with four wheels, the odd two-wheeled machine does make it to these pages. Usually the really fast ones, because speed matters.

Get us to Italy!

But, on occasion, a bike can feature just because it's a magnificent piece of design. Here is one those machines, called the BMW Motorrad R5 Hommage. It has been shown at Villa d'Este alongside the 2002 Hommage - a pretty good show for BMW then - and it had to feature. Even with PH2 man Jon away. So apologies if there are any bike related clangers...

Like the 2002, this draws heavily on BMW's previous machines. The original R5 was launched in 1936, drawing on contemporary sports bike design and engineering. It made 25hp and was capable of more than 80mph, making it pretty rapid for a 500cc bike back then.

Interestingly, this Hommage bike uses a rebuilt version of an original engine that was damaged in a race. Using the expertise of Ronny and Benny Noren, it's now supercharged "to achieve a contemporary accurate level" of power and also features a new stainless steel exhaust; billet aluminium features give it some show concept glam.

The 30s look pretty good from here

BMW describes the look as "a modern interpretation of historical details", citing the custom made suspension fork, brake and clutch levers to look like reversed levers and the original colour scheme of black with white pinstripes. See also the frame and the fuel tank, designed to echo "the elegant drop shape of the original". Of course these things are subject to interpretation, but it looks pretty incredible to a non-bike eye from here!

Like all the Hommage concepts, this is a one-off that BMW will keep. But given the current popularity for retro bikes, could BMW be persuaded to resurrect a legend from the back catalogue?

 

[Nabbott]

WANT.....IT.......NOW!

[NAS]

Saw it live last weekend. Very very very pretty indeed.

[Baryonyx]

That's hideous. The 'old banger' styling does nothing for me.

[George111]

Wonderful !

[alexfrog]

That's a work of art! Love the look of BMW's boxer engines

[mikeg15]

I hate those silly saddles for short a***d people.

[John D.]

Baryonyx said:

That's hideous. The 'old banger' styling does nothing for me.

Not my cup of tea either.

[numtumfutunch]

I really, really, really, really like it

[Mastodon2]

Ghastly.

[Zadkiel]

If they produce these I will buy one, absolutely beautiful.

[Farlig]

Like it, very clean proper motorbike - engine & wheels!

[callahan]

Good god, that is stunning.

[motoxyogi]

Hommage to the original my ass!

Who's idea was it to take such a beautiful, elegant bike and bastardise it to pander to the bikeexif crowd.
I will give them props for uprating the brakes and engine, and the build quality looks superb. But the finished product... ugh

[CAPP0]

That really is a Very Lovely Thing.

[George111]

motoxyogi said:

the bikeexif crowd.

I never knew they existed. Great site.

[motoxyogi]

George111 said:

I never knew they existed. Great site.

Not the impression I was hoping to give, but to each their own.

[srob]

Should've done an 'ommage to one of the nice, early race bikes...



Or one of the immediately pre-war supercharged racers...