BMW R61 Motorcycle and sidecar
The BMW R61 was used by the Wehrmacht between 1938 and 1941, however may were used until the end of the war both with and without a sidecar. A total of 3740 bikes were made. It is also interesting to note that this the first Wehrmacht model to have rear suspension.
Our copy
This is a copy of a pre-war BMW R-61. It is based on a Russian motorcycle called a Dnepr MT-9 (750cc). This vehicle is more or less a direct descendant of the BMW R-61/71 series, which the Russians copied during (and long after) the war.
Some factory modifications had been made to the basic design over the years and a lot of work was needed to bring the ‘combination’ (a vernacular term for a motorcycle with a sidecar) back to an earlier form.
The current engine is a combination of the R-71 crankcase with R-61 style cylinder heads. So these being the most noticeable part dictated that it become, as close as possible, an R-61. This also meant that we wouldn’t have to do all the extreme Modifications for an R-75 type bike. A thumbnail sketch of the parts changed over the last 12 years or so are:
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The mudguards changed from the Russian rounded style to a ‘thin width’ flat D-section. Stays and Brackets attached to the lower front suspension forks. Front mudguard had new splashguard added.
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Machined handlebar ends and inward facing clutch and brake levers (a, very, early BMW look).
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Chang Jiang (Chinese BMW R-71 copy) top, front steering yoke and handlebar brackets. Also added were taper roller bearings in the headrace and a combined Chang Jiang and Dnepr Steering Damper.
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Replaced fuel tank for a Chang-Jiang R71 style one with a Dnepr toolbox soldered into it. All the early BMW’s in this series tended to have a toolbox in the top of the fuel tank.
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The electrics up-rated from 6 volt to 12 volt. A new Generator and ignition coil fitted.
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The seats and mechanisms replaced by more accurate Chang Jiang ones which have spring suspension, unlike the Dnepr ones which are mounted on rubber blocks.
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The rear seat mounts were altered to fit the new flat mudguards and a doctored Chang-Jiang rear rack added.
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Hand made early style pannier brackets added to the bike and sidecar (Inside front only for early style bikes).
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East German metal panniers, with a few minor modifications.
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All new, more accurate, rear lights from a variety of sources.
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Entirely new sidecar and frame (Chang-Jiang again) with the correct type of leaf spring suspension (my advice to potential passengers – keep your elbows in on bumpy terrain!). It has the correct style of lid for the luggage boot. The front lower bracket on the sidecar frame had to be cut and re-welded at a different angle as the mounts on the bike were in a different place. Also with this was the nicest early war pattern mudguard with the tubular style front light. The footrest was removed and a more accurate brace from the sub-frame added.
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Correct type, metal & enamel, BMW badges added to outer sidecar and either side of the fuel tank.
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New two-part canvas cover for the sidecar, new headlight cover for the bike.
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All the wheels have been changed to ‘Ural’ (another type of Russian BMW copy) style as they have a more correct spoke style with a long set on the outer face and a short set on the inner face.
We've not bothered to change the rear suspension for the correct smaller style as this would require a complete frame re-build rearwards of the front seat. Also the rear suspension is, largely, hidden by the rear panniers. We also took the liberty of bucking the trend as we utilised a steel military sidecar as opposed to the more common civilian "Zeppelin" or "Boat" types used on this bike as most were impressed civilian vehicles. We also avoided adding a Machine gun mount as these were almost all used by motorcycle rifle companies.
It’s now a very passable copy of an R-61 (at least in our opinion!) and is streets away from the combinations on the circuit that just receive a coat of paint. It is also a bike we can throw around a field and don’t have to worry about original parts being wrecked.
It also has a small 'requisitioned' civilian trailer (this is an original 1930s European model) which it can tow, as shown in the picture above.