60 Greatest Bikes: 1960 BMW R69S
- Year: 1960
- Manufacturer: BMW
- Model: R69S
- Claim to fame: Considered by many to be the ultimate BMW production motorcycle
- Did you know? The R69S came fitted with Sidecar lugs on the frame
It was BMW’s flagship sportsbike throughout the 1960s and although it wasn’t the fastest machine on the roads (top speed was still a very respectable 110mph), it was renowned for its superbly smooth handling, reliability, build quality and finish – as well as its classic clean looks. In fact, BMW got the package so close to perfection that 11,317 units of the bike were produced from 1960 to 1969 with hardly any changes or updates.
Based around a 594cc air-cooled boxer motor making 42bhp, the S model was BMW’s top-of-the-range machine when it was launched and, as such, also featured added luxuries like plush Earles fork and a steering damper as standard. The R69S was, and remains, a prestige motorcycle and has been described as a ‘work of mechanical art.’ It’s s still considered by many to be the ultimate BMW production motorcycle.