Bmw R 90 S Review

Used Buyer Review

The R 90 S is genuinely one of motorcycling's landmark machines — BMW's first superbike, the fastest production motorcycle of 1973, and still devastatingly handsome fifty years on. That smoked fairing and those twin Bing carbs are iconic for good reason. But buy one romantically and you'll suffer for it. These airheads demand regular valve checks every 6,000 miles, the carbs need synchronising obsessively, and finding a clean unmolested example gets harder every year as values climb. Mechanically they're surprisingly robust if maintained properly. The 898cc boxer twin pushes around 67hp — laughable now, but the torque delivery is smooth and satisfying in a way modern bikes rarely match. Shaft drive means no chain faff, which is a genuine daily pleasure. Budget serious money for a proper pre-purchase inspection from someone who knows airheads specifically. Prices have gone properly silly. You're paying museum piece money now, so only buy the best example you can find. Avoid anything with botched electrics, replaced frame sections, or carbs that have been tampered with by someone who watched a YouTube video.