BMW R 850 R (1997-1998) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1997, the German motorcycle manufacturer released the BMW R 850 R, a naked motorcycle created by BMW for those riders who wanted a gritty machine but also a fuel-efficient motorcycle with the unmistakable feel and sound of a boxer engine.

The BMW R 850 was a series of motorcycles made by BMW in different forms with different designations. The series was powered by an air/oil-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine and was delivered in parallel with the heavier R 1100 and R 1150 models.

The 1997 model came in the same shape and form as the previous one, delivering the same technical, visual, and performance specifications without any significant modifications whatsoever.

In the power department, the 1997 BMW R 850 R had installed an 848cc four-stroke air/oil-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine that delivered an output power of 73 hp with maximum strength at 6,750 rpm and 77 Nm (57 lb-ft) torque at 5,600 rpm.

For suspension, the bike packed a 35 mm Motorrad Telelever stanchion on the front with 120 mm of travel and a die-cast aluminum swingarm with a BMW Motorrad Paralever system on the rear with 135 mm of travel.

As for the stopping power, the motorcycle's wheels were fitted with two 320 mm brake discs on the front with four-piston calipers and a single 276 mm brake disc with a dual-piston caliper on the rear, offering optimum stopping power.