Author Topic: BMW R90S (non Guzzi content) (Read 9260 times)

jas67 · « **on:** August 30, 2018, 07:50:23 PM »

Since there seems to be a fair number of BMW Airhead fans here, I thought I'd share....

A good friend of mind offered to sell me his R90S if I gave him right of first refusal. So, I brought this beauty home today!

IMG_3467.JPG by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

IMG_3469.JPG by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

IMG_3466.JPG by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

Kev m · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2018, 07:52:47 PM »

That's pretty... Which one are you selling?!?

jas67 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2018, 07:55:01 PM »

Quote from: Kev m on August 30, 2018, 07:52:47 PM

That's pretty... Which one are you selling?!?

The R100S -- I need to make that one my priority this winter. I'll sell it in the spring.
The main thing it needs is the fuel tank de-rusted, and of course a good going over and general service.

Kev m · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2018, 07:56:37 PM »

Quote from: jas67 on August 30, 2018, 07:55:01 PM

The R100S -- I need to make that one my priority this winter. I'll sell it in the spring.
The main thing it needs is the fuel tank de-rusted, and of course a good going over and general service.

I don't recall it...

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2018, 07:56:37 PM »

twowings · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2018, 08:00:46 PM »

SmithSwede · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2018, 08:16:07 PM »

Wow. One of the most beautiful bikes ever made.

Kev m · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2018, 08:18:54 PM »

Man I have to come back to this thread.

That's always been my favorite airhead paint scheme!

There I said it....I feel better now.

xackley · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2018, 08:24:50 PM »

That is the peak of BMW style.
I first saw that model in front of a bar in the 70s in Norwich CT, it immediately imprinted the image in my brain.

Always lusted after one, but they are rarely for sale, and then I would not dare ride it for fear of a scratch.

Don

Antietam Classic Cycle · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2018, 08:44:10 PM »

Rider's portion of the seat looks like it's been altered, but otherwise it's beautious. My brother owned one back around '82-'83 - looked the same other than it had Lester wheels on it.

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2018, 08:46:36 PM »

Very nice!

GliderJohn

kingoffleece · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2018, 08:48:59 PM »

Lust............... ................

jas67 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2018, 08:57:54 PM »

Quote from: Antietam Classic Cycle on August 30, 2018, 08:44:10 PM

Rider's portion of the seat looks like it's been altered, but otherwise it's beautious. My brother owned one back around '82-'83 - looked the same other than it had Lester wheels on it.

Yes, two owners ago cut down the seat foam. I definitely want to get new seat foam for it, or at least build it back up.

Cam3512 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 30, 2018, 09:09:04 PM »

That’s the best color of the two. Beautiful. Post a pic with the Krausers.

JJ · « **Reply #13 on:** August 30, 2018, 09:15:24 PM »

CONGRATS and good choice...and these are going UP in value!!

Brand X · « **Reply #14 on:** August 30, 2018, 09:30:06 PM »

Use to paint some of them.. Friend owned a BMW repair shop in Milwaukie, Oregon Blue/silver is my favorite color combo. My friend/boss and Art use to take off to Mexico, and do about 10,000 miles per trip.. R-100RS, and a well sorted R-90. Bing carbs on that one but Dual plugs, and Lightened flywheel was some of the better mods.. The R-90 had the much nicer locking small tank version, and the R-100RS was the tanker version for the trip.. R-100rs was really a race bike in street trim (He did race them too) 4 speed box was the strongest built for them.. Good for about 80 mph in first gear.. late 70'/early 80 was the last time they raced them (Kent Wa. endurance races) Top gear roll on would flat out stomp the Z1 of the day.. (R-90)

jas67 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 30, 2018, 10:02:31 PM »

Quote from: Cam3512 on August 30, 2018, 09:09:04 PM

That�s the best color of the two. Beautiful. Post a pic with the Krausers.

IMG_9142 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

IMG_9372 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

Huzo · « **Reply #16 on:** August 30, 2018, 10:47:48 PM »

Absolutely spectacular.
Would be a pleasure to be on it, congrats...!
Please don't get tired of it and sell it.

Paul Brooking · « **Reply #17 on:** August 30, 2018, 11:52:25 PM »

Quote from: Brand X on August 30, 2018, 09:30:06 PM

Use to paint some of them.. Friend owned a BMW repair shop in Milwaukie, Oregon Blue/silver is my favorite color combo. My friend/boss and Art use to take off to Mexico, and do about 10,000 miles per trip.. R-100RS, and a well sorted R-90. Bing carbs on that one but Dual plugs, and Lightened flywheel was some of the better mods.. The R-90 had the much nicer locking small tank version, and the R-100RS was the tanker version for the trip.. R-100rs was really a race bike in street trim (He did race them too) 4 speed box was the strongest built for them.. Good for about 80 mph in first gear.. late 70'/early 80 was the last time they raced them (Kent Wa. endurance races) Top gear roll on would flat out stomp the Z1 of the day.. (R-90)

They (and the R100s) had a pretty short but successful career in Australian Production bike racing in the late '70s and early 80's.
They were geared ok for most of the tracks and were a lot easier on the tires than the Japanese "4 & 6s".
Shaft drive helped with the speed of compulsory tyre changes as well!

Huzo · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2018, 12:26:56 AM »

Quote from: Brand X on August 30, 2018, 09:30:06 PM

Use to paint some of them.. Friend owned a BMW repair shop in Milwaukie, Oregon Blue/silver is my favorite color combo. My friend/boss and Art use to take off to Mexico, and do about 10,000 miles per trip.. R-100RS, and a well sorted R-90. Bing carbs on that one but Dual plugs, and Lightened flywheel was some of the better mods.. The R-90 had the much nicer locking small tank version, and the R-100RS was the tanker version for the trip.. R-100rs was really a race bike in street trim (He did race them too) 4 speed box was the strongest built for them.. Good for about 80 mph in first gear.. late 70'/early 80 was the last time they raced them (Kent Wa. endurance races) Top gear roll on would flat out stomp the Z1 of the day.. (R-90)

80 mph in first gear...???

Roebling3 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 31, 2018, 08:29:17 AM »

I'm w/Huzo. 80 in 1st, is way optimistic. My fastest airhead was an R65 w/blitz kit (855cc), blue printed, match ported, dual plugged, hi-lift rockers, big intake valves and Keihins. Could out run any bmw, in the day. An LM? Not so much.

Going from Toronto to Kingston on 401 I came upon another NJ plated R65. He wanted to hurry. And so we did.
His engine exploded @ a bit over 100. Both con rods were wound tight around the crank. The cam was in 3 pieces. I savaged his fuel tank. Used to make a bump stop and extend my fuel tank 2.5". R3~

Sheepdog · « **Reply #20 on:** August 31, 2018, 09:42:10 AM »

The Slash-Sixes were the pinnacle of Airhead models. There were flaws (remote front brake master cylinder, flexible triple clamps, weak flywheel bolts on �74s, and soft valve seats), but the overall execution is sublime. No plastic turn signals as in later models, but aluminum. The five speed transmission was long overdue and the disc brakes, too. The engine redesign placed the pushrod tubes out of sight and the 900 variant added 12-17 additional horsepower to the party over the R75/5. The Dellorto Slide/needle carburetors, gold or gray fade paint, and the Cockpit fairing of the R90S just took the design to a brilliant level. I believe that the release of this bike heralded the end of BMW�s post-WW2 designs. The days of practical people movers had ended. BMW had returned to the engineering magic that they had displayed in the late twenties and thirties, when they had dabbled in overhead valve heads, supercharging, full suspension, monocoque frames, and even Art-Deco bodywork. This trend continues even now, much to the despair of the Luddite lovers of the simpler designs. And though the newer bikes incorporate features that some of us old guys consider redundant, BMW has remained a leader in motorcycle innovations. The R90S is more than just a great looking bike...

Brand X · « **Reply #21 on:** August 31, 2018, 11:48:28 AM »

With the 4 speed box ,and gearing Arts 1000 would do 80 mph in first. Just going what he told me..I also see it run at Kent Wa, and it seemed about right. These where some of the most dialed BMW around at the time.. People in Portland will remember Zap motors, and know it was the real deal.. Best thing you can do for R-90 /100 is to lighten the flywheel. They shift ten times better. Way less clunks in shifting.

Denis · « **Reply #22 on:** August 31, 2018, 12:07:47 PM »

Congrats! I had an R90S and it was a great bike, overall. Nice seating position, comfy, fast and stable. Bought it from a Harley guy who had painted over the Daytona Orange with gray...

wirespokes · « **Reply #23 on:** August 31, 2018, 12:31:13 PM »

Both the Daytona Orange and Silver Smoke are gorgeous paint schemes. Love em both. The BMW motorcycle division was very nearly allowed to die when the 90S came along. The BMW execs didn't want to invest any money into the MC division since it had been operating in the red for several years. Bob Lutz had been hired by the BMW auto division to make BMW known internationally, but he was also a motorcyclist. Not wanting the MC division to die, he devised a plan to resurrect it. The BMW execs ok'd him working with the MC division in his off time so he enlisted a young designer (Hans Muth) to create a whole new look (the 90S). Without spending much money they upped the displacement from 750 to 900cc, something the engineers had been squeamish about doing, but something independent riders had already done without blowing them up. Creating new bodywork didn't cost much so that was ok'd. Rather than painting them black or solid colors, Hans came up with the Silver Smoke scheme (and a year later in 75, Silver Smoke - derisively called Egg Yoke by BMW execs). There was a problem getting the painters to produce the new Silver Smoke because, being German, they felt they couldn't reproduce them exactly as required. It took Hans explaining to them that they were artists and, of course, they wouldn't all be identical. He gave them templates for a rough idea, but after a while they stopped using them and embraced the idea of flowing with it.

Sales were so over-the-top, parts suppliers had to work overtime to keep orders filled.

kirkemon · « **Reply #24 on:** August 31, 2018, 12:56:09 PM »

Well hell, The first United States AMA Superbike Championship was won in 1976 by British rider Reg Pridmore on a R90S.
The bike he rode is at the BMW Museum in Munich.

Roebling3 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 31, 2018, 02:57:13 PM »

I've wondered: Didn't Pridmores' win (and others), cause the subsequent series of bmw replica racers @ Daytona each year? They were then sold to commoners w/ lots of autographs on the body work. Could that have been the start of all this retro interest? Kinda like todays Racers, - - - in name only. R3~

inditx · « **Reply #26 on:** August 31, 2018, 03:14:14 PM »

Saweeet!

tazio · « **Reply #27 on:** August 31, 2018, 03:16:04 PM »

Oop's

Huzo · « **Reply #28 on:** August 31, 2018, 03:23:04 PM »

Quote from: Huzo on August 31, 2018, 12:26:56 AM

80 mph in first gear...???

And then I thought..
If you let the clutch out @ 1000 rpm you might tick along at 10 mph..
So @ 8,000 rpm (if you could) then 80 mph is mathematically possible I guess.
I wasn't there..

ohiorider · « **Reply #29 on:** August 31, 2018, 07:16:25 PM »

Quote from: Kev m on August 30, 2018, 07:52:47 PM

That's pretty... Which one are you selling?!?

A good friend? I'd say (from the looks of this beauty) a very very good friend! Nice bike, Jas!

Bob

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Author Topic: BMW R90S (non Guzzi content) (Read 9260 times)

Wildguzzi.com

twowings