Description
I’m selling my BMW R90S after 28 years of ownership. I bought it in 1997 and it had 2 previous owners before that.
It’s a rare unrestored example with original 2-tone smoked grey and silver paintwork and matching frame and engine numbers. The bike has been self-maintained and is in good running order. It has 100, 774 kilometres (62, 618 miles) on the clock, and is ready to use with its historical patina, or would make a fine subject for a running or complete restoration...
The paperwork states that it was manufactured in May 1976 and remained in Germany until October 1978 when the first owner imported it from a German dealer. This explains why its speedo and milometer are in kilometres and the headlight lens has a dazzle deflector.
Condition
The engine is in good order; it starts on the button from cold, sounds happy running, and is clean & tidy under the alternator and starter motor inspection covers (see photos).
It's fitted with Boyer Brandson electronic ignition - original box and instructions included, as are the old point sets etc. This is a reversible installation if required.
The fuel tank is in good condition on the inside with no significant rusting visible (see photo)
The fuel tank, mudguards and seat valence are the original items with the paintwork showing signs of wear and tear with some paint chips and scratches - please see the photos for details (I recommend an inspection in person to verify the condition for yourself).
There’s a small dent and some small paint chips on the seat valence.
The front mudguard has two cracks in the fibreglass at the back of the mounting bracket, due to catching the mudflap on an obstruction at some point - please see the photos.
One side panel is original and the other has been replaced and is sprayed black. The damaged original has been retained for reference if a more accurate paint finish were required in the future.
The seat cover is a replacement in good condition, and the seat base is sound.
The exhaust downpipes are probably the originals - the silencers are aftermarket stainless steel ones from SITO.
In 2021 after a period of the bike being off the road I rebuilt the front brakes and master cylinder, and replaced the pushrod seals, taking the opportunity to lightly hone/ deglaze the cylinder linings - there was no sign of wear to the bore and so I fitted a set of new standard sized piston rings at the same time.
The LH cylinder rocker cover is a new replacement from Motorworks Ltd (the original slightly dented one has been retained).
The brake fluid reservoir cap/ fluid-level switch has been replaced, and silicone brake fluid is being used in the system.
The battery was replaced July 2022, but has done little work and kept well charged.
The tyres are good with plenty of tread.
The bike is MOT exempt, but I put it through an MOT in 2023 which it passed with no advisories, and I had the engine, gearbox and driveshaft oils changed at the same time. It has been stored in my garage and done no mileage since.
Additional items
Original chrome pannier racks - showing some pitting and rusting through age, currently not fitted to the bike.
A pair of well-used original Krauser Panniers requiring refurbishment, all with keys.
Keys - a full set of ignition, steering lock, fuel cap lock & seat lock keys with spares, and keys for the Krausser panniers
Original tyre hand pump (surface rusted)
Original tool pouch (marked and showing signs of wear) plus original tools.
A set of exhaust heat shields for the downpipes and silencer.
Workshop tools - Cylinder head exhaust nut removal tool, carb vacuum balance gauge, clutch removal and aligning tool.
Various spare parts old and new, including unused clutch cable, various gaskets, a spare diode board, indicator units/ lenses, spark plugs and a headlight bulb.
The original mechanical voltage regulator has been replaced with a digital one from Motorworks (the original still works and has beeb retained). Extensive documentation
There are invoices for the sale & purchase of the bike between the first and second owner in 1985 and the second owner and myself in 1997. The first UK owner appears to have imported the bike in October 1978 from Germany, and there is a German BMW dealers original billing list in English itemising the bike cost and various added extras in Deutschmarks so it seems likely that it was imported new from that dealer.
There is BMW (GB) Club letter confirming the manufacture date of the R90S as May 1976.
Copies of the various DVLC V5 documents show owner details from 1978 until now. I have most of the road tax discs from 1986 to 2015, plus the MOT test certificates and some insurance schedules for the period I have owned the bike.
There is an R90S Owners Handbook, and several original sales brochures for the R90S in both english and german, a couple of classic bike magazines with R90S reviews, some BMW Club membership documents, plus a well-thumbed Haynes manual!
Mileage
As an imported bike it has a speedo running in kilometres.
There’s been a longstanding problem with the accuracy of the speedo milometer which started to malfunction in 2006-7. The MOT certificate kilometre totals are accurate up to that point (89, 528 km), and tie in with my use of the bike at the time.
From 1997 to 2005 I used the bike for journeying between London and Cornwall, doing the long fast road journeys it was designed for. Then in 2005 I moved to Penzance full time, after which the bike was used for a decreasing number of local journeys as my life changed and needs shifted. In 2017 I stopped using the bike, registering it as SORN, then putting it back on the road in 2021 at which point I repaired the speedo milometer. I reset the 5-digit milometer reading to 00000 to represent the 100, 000 km which I believe to be an accurate estimate of the total mileage I had done on the bike.
The current mileage on the speedo at time of photographing for this listing is 00774 km, representing 100774 km or 62, 618 miles.
MOT record
I have original copies of all but one of the previous MOTs for the bike during my ownership for reference.
If you check the DVLA MOT online record you'll see that the bike comes up as an BMW R100. This historic error was supposed to have been rectified at the last MOT and indeed the last 2023 MOT download available shows BMW R90S, but the online MOT history still shows BMW R100. I have again contacted DVLA formally to get this amended and can provide documents of this ongoing process if required.
Buying the bike
I'd want to view an old motorbike if I was buying one, and I appreciate that Penzance is a long way from much of the rest of the country so I've put it up for sale with a 30 day classified listing. Please get in touch if you would like more information, and I’d recommend you to come to see the bike if possible.
I can fit the panniers if you buy the bike and want to ride it away - the spare parts and documentation will fit in the boxes…
I am happy to liaise with a motorcycle courier if you wish to arrange collection of the bike, or I can help you load it onto a trailer or van if you decide to do this.
I am also selling a set of R80 body panels painted a lovely orange colour (RAL 2000 yellow orange) which I used on the bike for some years whilst keeping the original panels in storage - see the last photo in this listing. I think it looked great - two bikes for the price of one! These body panels are not included with this sale but are available by separate negotiation.
The buyer will need to pay cash (during bank hours, so the cash can be counted and checked by my local bank) or to make a bank transfer with the funds cleared into my account before the keys and bike are handed over.
Thanks for looking.
