Should I get an R45 ???

[R90Kev]

Howdy,
My son is stationed in Germany and I found a cheap R45 near him that he could bring home with him in his Household goods. Question is should I? Are there many R45s in the States? How is the parts availability for those models? Would I be better off with a 65?
Thanks

 

[jdiaz]

There seem to be plenty of old R65's around, and if you need engine bits, Motobins is just a webpage away. Might be fun to have in the garage.

Personally, if I had to have a micro-streetbike, I'd try to find a Guzzi V50.

 

[darrylri]

For R45/R65 advice, visit www.bmwr65.org.

The R45 was never imported into the US. It was the smallest twin BMW ever produced and was developed specifically to meet a license/insurance limit in Germany. With 27hp, the R45 is not a fast bike and you might not feel safe on it on the freeway. But you will have something very unusual in the US.

 

[bikerfish1100]

the R45 was sold in Canada however. i remember seeing a few of them "back in the day" at the Dutch Quaker rally.

 

[khan]

Very occassionally you will see one for sale in the US. Most of the parts on the bike will be the same as on the R65, so you should find that the availability is good. Go for it!

 

[R90Kev]

Ok, thanks for the assistance and the Web site, guys. I will do some more research.

 

[guenner]

I had a R45 with 27hp (hp reduced to lower insurance premium).

That was a moped. No wummm. But still heavy as a motorcycle. I bought it new and sold it after 6 weeks. Not only because of the low power but I got hit too many times in rain in Germany... so a double 'no fun'.

/Guenther

 

[lmo1131]

I'd love to see those cute little pistons.. .. 70mm [2.76"] bore

0 - 62mph; 8.5 seconds. 450 pounds.

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/specpages/R45.htm

 

[jeff488]

Howdy,
My son is stationed in Germany and I found a cheap R45 near him that he could bring home with him in his Household goods.
Thanks

He might want to double check bringing a motor vehicle back in household goods. When I was in the Army, which I admit was a long time ago, that wasn't allowed. Could be done, I suppose, if it was in pieces, boxed and the packers couldn't see it.
Just M/C parts, sir. Nothing else. Yeah, that's it. Just parts.

 

[barron_williams]

My bike came back to the US this summer as part of my house hold goods shipment, so I can vouch for that being possible.

However, it was US titled and I had the paperwork showing I shipped it from the US to Germany, so there was no problem with the customs inspection.

If you get through customs, as a whole bike, or disassembled as "parts", once you get it into the US, you have to get it titled. Some state DMVs are easier than others, so if you feel comfortable with getting through customs, you might want to check what will be involved with your local title and registration.

Barron

 

[R90Kev]

Thanks Barron,
Yes, I myself have shipped my US titled bike over to Germany and back in my Household goods back in 89 - 92. So I knew it was possible to ship a bike that way. The paperwork hassle is what I have my son checking into. I knew that would be the only hold up. It would have to be titled in his name I am sure.

GIs buy vehicles all the time over there and bring them home as long as they were US spec, (Bikes hopefully get different treatment since all that need swapping is a speedo) but I was initially inquiring as to whether it would be worth going through the ass pain to get something cool and unusual to tool around on around the house. I think I am leaning toward just picking up an R65 maybe a little more locally.

 

[boxermaf]

The R45 bikes are definitely rare here in the US, but they are also quite low on power. If you are in to owning / collecting rare, slower bike(s) I'd say go for it. The Royal Enfields around here always get lots of positive attention and the R45 is a rarer bird. Otherwise, you can get an R65 with almost 2X the horsepower fairly cheaply here in the states, and the frames are identical.

 

[dbrick]

Bikes hopefully get different treatment since all that need swapping is a speedo.

Kevin,

I don't think they do. While the speedo may the largest item that needs changing on a Euro-spec machine, it likely isn't the only piece. Wose, the work must be accomplished by a "registered importer." While a few years old, Court Fisher's discussion here:

http://www.bmwmoa.org/ridetour/glob...rting_euro_spec_bike/importing_euro_spec_bike

gives an idea of how complex importation of a Euro-spec bike aiming at permanent domestic registration can be.

However: I think EPA's emissions regs don't apply to bikes more than twenty-five years old. If that's also true of the DOT labeling and lighting regs, then it may be possible to now import a pre-1986 machine with no conversion at all.

 

[sdpc2]

Wow, u guess none of you ride

an R27?

I think that the bike would be a hoot.....

 

[darrylri]

I do ride older BMWs, including my 24hp 1953 R51/3. It's an acquired taste, for sure.

While I do occasionally ride the /3 on the freeway, it takes a long time to get up to speeds above about 70mph, and it tops out around 80. That last 5mph takes an eternity. As the /3 is lighter than the R45, I assume that the 3 extra HP that an R45 has will not make it so very different in performance.

 

[jforgo]

Assuming it is easily brought here and titleable, the only way to really make it practicaly usable is convert to R65. Piston/cylinder, heads, final drivel, and speedo if you care about that. The engine parts, at least, tend come up for lower cost than parts for the larger bikes.
I have an R65, and the power is OK. It is the twin shock frame, and handles quite well. A fun bike to ride, highway included. I cannot imagine almost a 50% reduction in power, though.

 

[guenner]

The R45 "S" came with 35hp. But then the insurance premium would have been twice as much as for a R45 "N" 27hp m/c. Insurance premiums for m/c in Germany were based on hp at that time and pretty expensive. To save a bit I opted for the R45 "N".

Because of the insurance policy many m/c brands/models had an option to reduce the hp, mostly just a plate in the exhaust header to restrict full flow.

Btw. while looking for the R45 I found the official BMW archive website (technical glibberish in German):

http://www.bmwarchiv.de/motorrad/

/Guenther

 

[ncstephen]

A friend coming back from Germany had several bikes that were US bikes. One was from there and thus he took it apart and had it in pieces. The US bikes came back fine but of the German bike, the engine, frame and transmission were pulled from the group and had to remain. just FYI