Strong sales for the R 2 and R 4 singles persuaded BMW to bridge the gap with the 305cc R 3, introduced in 1936. Despite performance that nearly matched that of the R 4, the bike never caught on, and only 740 were built. The rare survivor seen here was restored from “very rough” condition by Bob Bancroft for owner Jack Wells. “It looks more like how it came out of the factory than the drop-dead gorgeous restorations that people do today,” Jack says. “I’m very happy with it, and it’s a great bike to ride.”

For more pictures and information on this or any other vehicle in the Motorcycles exhibit, check out the exhibition book in our store!