BMW R71 Motorcycle and Sidecar
(Replicated with a CJ750)



BMW produced the highly reliable, capable and manoeuvrable R-71 beginning in 1938. It was a mainstay of the German motorcycle troops. The BMW R-75 began to be manufactured in 1941. The R-75 and it's close counterpart the Zündapp KS 750 featured the improvements of a heavier frame, greater horsepower, a driven sidecar wheel and a reverse gear. The BMW R-71, R-75 and Zündapp KS 750 were all used by the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe (and Fallschirmjäger) and SS.

In 1939 the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact enabled the transfer of technology between Germany and the SOviet Union. As a part of this pact the manufacturing plans for the BMW R-71 were passed to the Soviet Union which began to produce a copy of the R-71 which is sold even today as the Ural. In the 1950's these plans were given to the Communist Chinese Government and China produces a copy marketed as the Chain-Jiang 750.

I've recently added a CJ-750 to my collectionand am working to kit it as a Luftwaffe R-71 clone. Look for more information and photos to follow... Many thanks to Jan of 4./I.Fsch.Jäg.Rgt.2 for his help on improving the accuracy of the BMW information!








German film of motorcycle riflemen on maneuvers in France.




Fallschirmjäger starting a BMW R-71.




Fallschirmjäger riding a BMW R-71, part I.




Fallschirmjäger riding a BMW R-71, part II.



Important Disclaimer! - This is a non-political web page dealing with the history, equipment, life and campaigns of the World War II German airborne soldier (Fallschirmjäger) and World War II reenacting. This website is contains historical information as well as reenacting and living history information. This information includes reenactment photos, historical information covering operations, equipment and photos of World War II Fallschirmjäger in action. The information is catalogued and presented to preserve a clear eyed view of military history and present to the public an accurate representation of a World War II German airborne unit. We do not tolerate or condone any form of racism, radical or extremist activities, or persons with supremacist, fascist or racist political motives or beliefs and we do not support nor glorify the reprehensible policies of the Nazi Party. We do not tolerate, support, or condone any activities of any neo-nazi party organizations, any extremist, anti-immigrant or anti-semetic organizations.
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