1966 BMW R69S

A sporty motorcycle like the 1966 BMW R69S begged to be individualized. Indeed, to go touring, you could add a windshield, saddlebags, oversize 6.5-gallon tank, and even a suitcase rack. This setup made the R69S one of the best long-distance bikes available in the United States. The price of $1,564 represented an additional $276 above the R60/2, which shared the same basic configuration. If sport-riding was the emphasis, you could go with a nicely padded solo saddle and add a pillion seat for two-up situations.

Besides the premium ride quality, which was enhanced by lack of engine vibration, you also got entertaining performance. The air-cooled, overhead-valve horizontally opposed 594cc twin produced 42hp at 7,000 rpm, with a 72 x 73 mm bore and stroke and 9.5:1 compression ratio. With two 26mm Bing carburetors managing fuel delivery, the 1966 R69S dashed from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and reached 109 mph. A magazine test in 1966 also recorded the R69S doing the quarter-mile in 16.2 seconds at 101 mph. Shifting the four-speed transmission required deliberation and effort, but the gearbox operated with its own kind of precision and was sturdy. Like its R50/2 and R60/2 siblings, the R69S had a six-volt, 60-watt Bosch electrical system with magneto. Electric start was still a few years away for BMWs. It also shared the twin-loop steel frame, cylinder heads poking out into the wind, shaft drive, and link-type front and rear suspensions with hydraulic dampers. At 83.6 inches long and weighing 445 lb (794 with sidecar), it was a substantial bike but still returned a fairly impressive 44 mpg.