The BMW R90Ssen were resounding statements. They were BMWs, they were fast and they were a cheerful orange: Daytona Orange (or seriously 'Silberrauch'). The colors were sprayed on. And that spraying was done by hand. Because of that spraying from the wrist, every BMW R90S is actually unique.
Paste is not allowed!
And when a BMW R90S is found with taped instead of hand-drawn piping on the paint, the driver is harshly but honestly reprimanded. 'FOEI !!!' A while ago we were on a BMW R90S meeting. That was a very pleasant, but also surprising day. The first thing a German participant did was after putting his steed on the box? Take out a pile of soft flannel cloths. To brush on the spot. He was busy with that for a good half hour and then he got quite agitated when a fellow enthusiast pointed out to him that the fuel hose connection on the Dell'Orto carburettors may not be in the original color of his pride.
Weird guys who are Italians
Fortunately, a clear answer to that disgusting problem came. With so many experts together there is always an answer. The Dell'Orto carburettors with accelerator pumps were chosen by BMW as a weakness at the time, because house supplier Bing could not supply anything suitable for BMW's racehorse. And you cannot rely on anything with Italians. The fuel hose connection nipples were apparently available from the factory in white plastic, black plastic and metal. The white copies were not UV resistant by the way.
Problems, problems, problems
In the meantime, nobody was visibly concerned about the fact that the engine in question had a recessed fuel cap ... In endearing contrast: a thoroughly original 'Silberrauch' colored BMW R90S that looked as if it had just been successfully deployed at the battle of Arnhem and the most recent Paris Dakar plus a Daytona orange copy where the carefree owner had done some welding on the frame - or had it done. Why? The 'Elephantentreffen' stickers on the suitcases explained it: in winter the Bavarian purebred horse got a sidecar. That idea also made a few people very nervous.
A strong desire for originality
"Nicht original!" "Kein Originalteile!" "Fold!" Within the classic BMW world there is apparently a somewhat Calvinistic penchant for originality. There is something to be said for that.
An R90S is very 'Collectible'
In the meantime, such a R90S is a healed classic. A bike with a fanatical crowd of enthusiasts. Here in the Netherlands the prices are lower than in various foreign countries. Think of asking prices of around € 8.500-9.000 for a very nice and good machine and something of € 15.000 for an absolute winner. In Italy, prices for the absolute toppers were recently about five grand higher. Painting an R90S in color costs, according to BMW master painter Theo Terwel - if the color parts are not significantly damaged - around € 1.600.
Also read:
- More articles about classic engines
- BMW R90 / 6 and BMW R75 / 5
- Angry BMW drivers
- BMW K1, can it be crazier?
- 'Blauwtje': A very special BMW R45
This once made a few people very nervous…. But still: You don't get it much more 'original'
Apparently BMW had a racehorse in mind with the R90S. And a racehorse will immediately suffer from asthmatic bronchitis if you constantly put vacuum carburettors on it. That slide, which is operated by the negative pressure between throttle and slide, really throttles way too much to make a racing bike with it. Therefore the logical choice for a Dell'Orto. For the aforementioned fact I would have liked to screw them onto Blauwtje or even 'flat slides'. However, the costs prevented that. Now there are just 32mm Bing 'gas factories' on it. I have come a long way with that. And accelerator jets just don't need those things, as the concept befits. That is also worth something.
The color scheme of the R90S makes many people chuckle. I also have to grab a tissue. Soooo beautiful, about R90S. Ever, ever, then….
We will intercede for you with friend, fellow townsman and master painters Theo and Robert!