1976 BMW R90S
Miles: 21,300
Clean Title
Listed Price: $9,500
Until the relatively recent adoption of inline-four and parallel-twin engines for their sportier offerings, BMW was famous for, and almost exclusively powered by, flat-twin “boxer” engines that put power to the rear wheel via shaft-drive. That was certainly not considered a particularly performance-oriented or race-winning formula by the mid-1970s. But the BMW R90S managed to be both a traditional BMW and an extremely competent sportbike, winning the very first AMA Superbike race held in 1976 and then the Superbike championship in 1977. Originally introduced in 1973, the R90S featured a bored-out engine displacing 898cc, a five-speed gearbox, a pair of disc brakes up front, a functional fairing that included a pair of additional gauges, a full tool kit, hand pump, and even a first-aid kit! Performance for the air-cooled twin was impressive, with 75hp and a top speed of 124mph. When new, it offered an unbeatable blend of performance, surprising comfort, good looks, and reliability, although it was also very expensive.
1976 BMW R90S airhead. Very good running condition. 21,300 miles. Mostly stock with new windscreen and paint. The R90S model is the model that saved the motorcycle division of BMW from being eliminated by the factory bean counters. It changed the stodgy image of BMW motorcycles as being for old touring geezers into youthful and assertive cycle enthusiasts. This is a daily driver to be enjoyed, not a garage queen to be stared at. It has some signs of use and aging from being a 47 year old motorcycle yet still looks and drives great. It’s not the fastest bike on the road and definitely not the most technologically advanced machine out there but for $9500 it’s a lot of bang for your buck. The R90S is a desirable and collectable motorcycle and prices for extra clean examples have recently hit upwards of $60,000 (See ‘Bring-A-Trailer’ website for info). Or you could buy a Vespa.
This isn’t an absolutely pristine example of the BMW R90S, as can be seen from the photos, but miles are low for a bike this age, especially for a BMW, and it might make a good candidate for a rolling restoration project. I am concerned about the photo showing a view into the tank. The bike is claimed to “drive great” so hopefully the bike has had some work done on the tank since that was taken! Luckily, the striking “Daytona Orange” paint appears to be in decent condition, as the gradations would likely prove very difficult to touch-up. Parts are available to keep these older flat twins on the road, and the R90S has enough performance to keep up with modern traffic. With care and preventative maintenance, should even be capable of a bit of light touring. All-in-all it’s a versatile, stylish classic with performance and character to spare.
-tad
