BMW R66 (1938-1941) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1938, BMW Motorrad launched a new range of motorcycles, which included the R51, R61, R71, and R66. The most striking innovation at the time was the rear-wheel suspension which proved successful in the 1937 Six-Day Trial Race.

The BMW R66 was the flagship model powered by a 600cc engine with a power output of 30 hp at 5,300 rpm and a top speed of 145 kph (89 mph) which made it the fastest motorcycle in the pre-war period.

The sales of the R66 were assisted by the good reputation of the BMW R51 and its R5 predecessor at the Six-Day Race but were not matched to the R51 sales. Despite the excellent values that the R66 came with, the bike was shadowed by the 500cc R51 sports model manufactured in the same period, which more than twice as many units left the manufacturing plant.

The 1938 BMW R66 featured a cradle tubular steel frame on which was mounted the telescopic fork with a hydraulic damper that acted as a front suspension, and a telescopic suspension on the rear.

For braking purposes, the model packed a 200 mm drum unit on the front wheel and a 200 mm drum unit on the rear wheel.

The R66 came with standard features such as a sprung single seat, a fender-mounted luggage rack, a round headlamp, a dual exhaust system, wire-spoked wheels, full fenders, and a blacked-out finished steel frame.