BMW R75 Sidecar (1938-1941) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1938, Germany was at war, and BMW stopped the production of civilian motorcycles but adjusted to the defense power needs. The motorcycles made by BMW were popular with authorities and the military, but the war policy of the Germans required a motorcycle that was able to master any road surface and with little maintenance at extreme temperatures and heavy loads.

In 1938 BMW began work on a project based on the R71 engine, which led to the release of the BMW R75 Sidecar.

The bolted tubular steel frame had the beams divided, which made it easy for the engine to be quickly replaced as the lower frame part could be folded away. The R75 lacked rear suspension for better stability, but the frame proved itself during the test drives. In the test drives, at long trips at walking speed and off-road, the side-controlled engine had overheating problems.

BMW developed a new engine with the result of a 750cc unit with a power output of 26 hp at 4,000 rpm and enormous torque, and a top speed of 95 kph (58 mph). The transmission could be set between four on-road and three off-road gears and a reverse gear to help maneuver the heavy machine with a weight of 400 kg (881 lbs) with the sidecar included.

For braking power, the 1938 BMW R75 had packed a 250 mm mechanical drum unit on the front, a 250 mm hydraulic drum unit on the rear, and a 250 mm hydraulic drum on the sidecar.