1975 BMW R90S Tribute Motorcycle

The BMW R90S is a 900cc sport motorcycle produced by BMW from 1973 to 1976. This refreshed example is a tribute to Steve McLaughlin's and Reg Pridmore's first and second place finishes at the first AMA Superbike race in Daytona. Pridmore went on to win the 1976 AMA Superbike Championship, cementing the bike's place in history.

BMW commissioned designer Hans Muth to oversee the R90S, which became the flagship of the boxer engined “/6” range. It's one of 6,413 units made in 1975.

The previous owner had this example since 1985. The 900 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled OHV Boxer engine has been professionally rebuilt with less than 1,000 miles on the clock. The engine has a professional BMW carburetor (Dell'Orto) inspection and tune. The R90S engine had a 9.5:1 compression ratio. The engine is mated to a five-speed transmission with shaft final drive along with Competition 2-1 Exhaust. The bike tends to seep a bit of oil. The bike also has a new stainless-steel nut and bolt kit and all body parts had been completely stripped.

The bike is dressed in Daytona Orange with red pinstriping and looks great. The fuel tank has been cleaned and resealed. The cycle has the following new parts – original-style handlebars, hand grips, sideview mirrors, front brakes, Koni shocks, battery ad NOS seat and foam. There are two, lockable Krautzer saddlebags, one on each side.

The R90S has a 57.7-inch wheelbase and a 32-inch seat height along with a small bikini fairing, which housed an analog clock and voltmeter. An adjustable hydraulic steering damper was manually adjusted via a knob on the steering head. Suspension was by long-travel telescopic forks and twin rear shocks whose rear dampers were adjustable for preload (the only suspension adjustment available). Whereas other BMW boxers had Bing slide constant velocity carburetor, the R90S was fitted with accelerator pump Dell'Orto carburetors.

The alloy wheels were spoked and wore tubed tires. The front brake had twin 230 mm disks and ATE calipers; the rear brake was a 200 mm SLS drum. The R90S and the other BMW “/6” series front brakes had an unusual system whereby a master cylinder on the top frame tube was activated by a cable from the front brake lever. This arrangement was supposed to protect the master cylinder in the event of a crash.

The R90S had a redesigned seat, with a small “ducktail” fairing which (in addition to an underseat tool tray) provided a small storage space lightweight items such as waterproofs. Standard equipment included a full toolkit, a hand pump, a first-aid kit and even a small hand towel with an embroidered BMW logo.

Sporting distinctive two-tone paintwork, a bikini fairing and a new tail, the R90S was intended to shrug off the enduring image of BMW bikes as staid and utilitarian.

The R90S was featured in the Guggenheim Museum's Top 10 Motorcycles in History. Documentation includes a binder of photos, racing history and a copy of Haynes 1970-1988 Owner's Workshop Manual.

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This motorcycle is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 55,885 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!

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