An outstanding racer (the fastest of its time) that looked good on the road too, the 1936 R 5 is regarded as one of the very best pre-war BMW boxers. To celebrate its 80th anniversary, BMW Motorrad and Sweden-based Unique Custom Cycles set out to create a bike to “showcase all the classic beauty of the original, but incorporating a whole host of modern twists.” The result is the elegant, timeless BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle.

Hand-made from scratch, the bike is fitted with a restored original 500 cc two-cylinder engine on a custom frame, and has a modern front fork & rear suspension, state-of-the-art Öhlins shock, a hand-hammered steel tank, custom stainless steel exhaust, and blacked-out aluminum rims wearing old-school Allstate rubber.

Finished in a shiny black paint scheme with pearl-white pinstripes, and boasting brilliant details like the one-off seat with hand-stitched leather & custom handlebars with adjustable controls, the R 5 Hommage is a fine “mix of old-school engineering and modern tech wrapped up in the pleasing proportions of a ‘bobber’.”

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 1

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 14

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 3

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 2

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 8

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 9

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 10

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 7

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 15

BMW R 5 Hommage Motorcycle 4