In the 1970s, Japanese manufacturers became the leaders in nearly every category of the motorcycle market. Ignoring Japan, one company was still offering motorcycles that seduced customers, and more importantly, was able to innovate and do better than Japanese. Yes, it was BMW. The German brand notably shook the market at the beginning of the 80s when the G/S series …
2010 BMW G450X
In the motorcycling world, it is not often that a manufacturer releases a model that flies under the radar. I must admit, I was unaware that this wonderful piece of German engineering existed. BMW wanted to send dirt flying in the endurance off road racing field, and was nice enough to fit headlights and blinkers to their product, making it …
1959 BMW R69
Post Sale Update: This R69 sold for $13,801.02 after 31 bids on eBay. These days, almost anyone can find a specific make and model listed for sale within minutes. What is significantly harder, and often takes weeks or months, is finding the right bike for you. Especially when it comes to classic bikes, the provided documentation can be the difference …
Ending Soon – 1977 BMW R100RS
Post Listing Update: Despite 75 bids up to $10,900, this RS did not meet reserve. The first year of BMW’s class-defining R100RS was 1977. Bikes built in the first model year was also known as the “RS77”, and they worth the distinction due to year-specific features like silver/blue paint, blue anodized calipers, and blue pinstriping. They’re rare enough, but this …
No Reserve – 1975 BMW R90/6
Post Sale Update: This R90/6 sold for $4,050 after 58 bids on eBay. Between 1970 and 1973, BMW was producing its /5 motorcycle series with three displacement options of 500cc, 600cc and 750cc. The 70’s were a decade of modernity and development of power for motorcycle manufacturers and competition pushed BMW to make its 750cc engine grow to a 900cc …
1987 BMW K100LT
Ever since they introduced the R100RS, BMW has arguably invented and managed to stay at the top of the sport-touring bike segment. In the mid 80s, BMW wanted a bike that wouldn’t use the famous boxer engine. In fact, BMW was scared that the customers would get bored of the boxer, and without any other alternative in the BMW line, …
Moto2 Tailed – Liberty Motorcycles 1986 BMW R80 Cafe Racer
BMW’s R80 platform isn’t a particularly exceptional machine in any one department, however it’s nonetheless praised for being a generally well-balanced and versatile model. The bike was powered by an air-cooled, 797cc, four-stroke, OHV, Boxer twin that reportedly made around 50 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 42.78 ft-lbs of torque at 4,000 rpm. Introduced as the successor to the R75/7, …
1981 BMW R80G/S Paris Dakar
Post Listing Update: This GS did not get any interest at the asking price of $14,979. In 1978, a French man named Thierry Sabine created one of the toughest and rally raids in the world: the Paris-Dakar. Racers have to find their way in arid and sandy deserts, making repairs when necessary. It is a test not just of pilot …
Time Traveler – 1991 BMW R100GS
Post Listing Update: This BMW did not meet reserve despite 2 bids up to $5,100 on eBay. This interesting build is what the seller calls a “retro-ification”. What do you think of this R100GS that’s been given some dashes of the 70s?
1982 BMW R100RS
Over a long and illustrious history, BMW has built the definitive example for many classes of motorcycles, such as how they created the adventure bike with the R80GS. The R100RS is another example, as it is a masterpiece that formed the baseline of what a sport touring bike could be.
1938 DKW Diamant
Post Listing Update: This Diamant did not meet reserve with just 2 bids up to $1,500. In Sweden, one of the most popular early motorcycles was the DKW-powered Diamant. Per the seller, the Diamant was “sold for about 400kr ($50), which represented about 2 months of salary for an industrial worker.“
Restored – 1965 BMW R69S
Post Sale Update: This R69S sold for $20,500 after 21 bids on Bring a Trailer. This bike has just 30 miles on it since a 2010 restoration by Bench Mark Works, so it looks like it’ll be on you to change that number.
$395 – 1981 Kreidler MP-19
Founded in 1903, Kreidler was a metal/wire factory for nearly 5 decades before they started motorcycle production in 1951. They were immediately successful, as within 8 years they were producing one third of all German bikes. From the late 60s to the early 80s, Kriedler offered MF (mofas) and MP (mopeds) models, and the US got the MP-9 and the …
Dirt Hack – 1996 BMW R1100GS with DMC 72D Sidecar
Named “WIMPA”, this is one of the best dirt-focused sidecar builds I’ve seen in a long time. The seller only finished the build last year, and he notes that it’s a good choice for someone who’s getting older (and doesn’t have the same confidence off-road as they once did) but still wants to get out in the wilderness. It’s also …
German Military – 1944 DKW NZ 350-1
In 1938, DKW released the NZ 350, and it was instantly a popular motorcycle. Almost immediately, the German Wehrmacht asked DKW to start prototyping a military version, which came to be known as the NZ 350-1 when it was released in the early 40s. 12,000 units were built between 1943 and 1945 – here’s one of the few examples that …