BMW R 45
BMW's compact R 45 brought the boxer layout into a new entry class, with a German version tailored to a favourable insurance band.
BMW R45 1979.jpg · Jonathanrowley · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
BMW unveiled its new 'small' R 45 and R 65 series at IFMA in 1978 to re-enter the popular 500 and 600 cc classes. Both the engine and double-loop frame were newly designed. In Germany the 27 PS R 45 quickly became BMW's bestseller and, according to BMW, the country's bestselling motorcycle in 1979.
Look a little closer.
The lower-powered R 45 became Germany's bestselling motorcycle in 1979, according to BMW.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Small meant newly engineered
BMW did not simply shrink the badges on a larger boxer. Its archive says the engine and double-loop frame were redesigned for the small series, and the 2004 model history describes lighter chassis and short-stroke engines. The R 45's 70 by 61.5 mm bore and stroke show that short-stroke idea in numbers.
Source: BMW · Motorräder: Serienmodelle 1923–2004 ↗One name, two power ratings
The R 45 could be bought with 27 PS or 35 PS. BMW links the lower rating to Germany's insurance rules, while the Vintage BMW reference separates known 35 hp serial-number groups from the rest. That makes market and serial number essential whenever a surviving R 45 is described.
Source: Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners · R45 / R45TIC documentation ↗Where these facts come from
- BMW Group Classic · BMW R 45
- BMW · Motorräder: Serienmodelle 1923–2004
- Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners · R45 / R45TIC documentation
- BMW R45/R65 workshop manual facsimile
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-02.