Up until the early 1970s, BMW motorcycles were known for their high quality of manufacture and finish… and also for being a tad dull. Yes, you could ride miles and miles in relative comfort and with the confidence of reliability but the revolution in big bikes – superbikes! – was leaving the German firm behind.
Then along came the R90S and everything changed. Yes, it was still a big capacity twin with horizontally opposed cylinders and shaft drive, but the looks, the performance and the BMW cachet won over riders everywhere. The two-tone paintwork and ‘bikini’ half fairing were stylish and, in Daytona Orange, fun too.
With 67hp the R90S would top 120mph and accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds – good figures in 1973 when it was launched.
The 1976 example pictured here is up for auction on Car & Classic and is a very special bike having been restored meticulously in 2014 by BMW specialist BAMW (Bavarian Adventure Motorcycle World) which closed at the end of 2022 when proprietor Gary retired.
See also: ‘Time capsule’ 1958 BMW R50 on auction at National Motorcycle Museum
According to the auction blurb, as many of the original parts as possible were kept, but new OE replacements were also used when necessary, with several useful upgrades and modern restoration techniques deployed. It comes with its user manual, and full tool kit and is fully road legal for UK roads.
Features:
- Frame stripped and repaired where necessary, then powder coated and top-coated
- Repainted in the iconic Smoke Black/Silver with gold pinstripes
- Bikini fairing in excellent shape and free of damage
- Badging and vinyl are all correct, its decals have been clear lacquered for preservation
- No dents or corrosion were noted on the tank
- Stainless steel spokes in excellent condition
- Very little in terms of wear was noted on the pegs, controls or grips
- Saddle is in excellent shape, storage area is intact
- Controls and instrumentation are all neatly presented, legal for the UK and all said to function as expected
- Fully equipped for road use, with intact lighting
- All brightwork in excellent shape, much of which has been treated to electroplating
- Gearbox was subjected to a strip down with new bearings, new springs and seals
- Aluminium parts have all media blasted
- Dual front disc brakes stripped and reassembled with new front pads and hoses
- 600W Alternator conversion in 2021
- New Valeo starter motor in 2021
- Fitted with well-presented pea shooter silencers
- Intact wiring loom
- Boyer Bransden electronic ignition (Mk 3)
Value now
It will be interesting to see how the BMW R90S does in the online auction. At the time of writing with three days left to run, the bids had reached £5,432 but was still below the reserve. The sellers no doubt have the £15,000 BAMW restoration in mind so where will it end up. The Wisconsin classic motorcycle guide suggests one in such top condition was valued between $16,000 (£12.5k) and $20,000 (£15.6k) in 2022.
Update (8 August 2023)
The BMW R90S online auction reached £10,000 but that did not meet the seller’s reserve price. There were 29 bids and 98 watching the auction.
