Year: 1937
Drivers: Ernst Jakob Henne
Engine type: Flat-twin, DOHC
Cylinders: 2
Displacement: 493 cc
Power output: 80 kW / 108 hp at 8 000 rpm
Top speed: 279,503 km/h

In 1929, Ernst Jakob Henne set his first speed world record on a nearly unfaired motorcycle. Even then, BMW recognized the importance of aerodynamics for high speeds. In 1936, Henne competed for the first time with a fully faired machine. On November 28, 1937, during a record-breaking ride, he achieved a milestone speed of 279.503 km/h, a record that was only surpassed in 1951.