1969 BMW R69US, Frame no. 664385 Engine no. to be advised
1969 BMW R69US
Frame no. 664385
Engine no. to be advised
• Rare R69US model
• Believed 4,634 miles from new
• Two owners from new
In the early 1950s BMW concentrated on refining what were essentially pre-war designs, but by 1955 was ready with a brace of new machines, the R50 and R69. Of 500cc and 600cc respectively, the newcomers inherited the up-dated flat-twin engine introduced on the R51/3 a few years previously. The engine was deployed in all-new cycle parts, the most notable departures from preceding practice being the Earles-type leading-link front fork and swinging-arm rear suspension enclosing the drive-shaft in the right leg - developments first seen on the works racers. A luxury tourer capable of over 100mph, the R69 cost as much as a small family car and sold to discerning enthusiasts to whom expense mattered little when set against the excellence of BMW engineering. The R50/69 were produced until the arrival of the slightly more powerful 'S' versions for 1961. The larger of these, the R69S, produced 42bhp and was good for a top speed of around 110mph. 'Luxury roadster with superb high-speed performance yet docile traffic manners; magnificent steering, roadholding and brakes', was The Motor Cycle magazine's verdict. This original motorcycle is a last year R69US complete with this model's 'US market only' telescopic front forks in spite of the R69S badge on the rear fender, a case of the rear fender not knowing what the front fender is doing!
The seller is the second owner. It was he who 'went through' the motor and transmission, cleaning, measuring and checking every last component. New rings were installed. The first owner, a CHP rider, kept extensive records all of which are in the history file that comes with the bike.
The June 1962, Cycle World magazine review read: 'Whatever the BMW's merits in a contest of speed, it is still the smoothest, best finished, quietest and cleanest motorcycle it has ever been our pleasure to ride. All things considered, if we were planning a two-wheel style vacation/tour, the BMW would have to be our choice of mount'.
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1969 BMW R69US
Frame no. 664385
Engine no. to be advised
• Rare R69US model
• Believed 4,634 miles from new
• Two owners from new
In the early 1950s BMW concentrated on refining what were essentially pre-war designs, but by 1955 was ready with a brace of new machines, the R50 and R69. Of 500cc and 600cc respectively, the newcomers inherited the up-dated flat-twin engine introduced on the R51/3 a few years previously. The engine was deployed in all-new cycle parts, the most notable departures from preceding practice being the Earles-type leading-link front fork and swinging-arm rear suspension enclosing the drive-shaft in the right leg - developments first seen on the works racers. A luxury tourer capable of over 100mph, the R69 cost as much as a small family car and sold to discerning enthusiasts to whom expense mattered little when set against the excellence of BMW engineering. The R50/69 were produced until the arrival of the slightly more powerful 'S' versions for 1961. The larger of these, the R69S, produced 42bhp and was good for a top speed of around 110mph. 'Luxury roadster with superb high-speed performance yet docile traffic manners; magnificent steering, roadholding and brakes', was The Motor Cycle magazine's verdict. This original motorcycle is a last year R69US complete with this model's 'US market only' telescopic front forks in spite of the R69S badge on the rear fender, a case of the rear fender not knowing what the front fender is doing!
The seller is the second owner. It was he who 'went through' the motor and transmission, cleaning, measuring and checking every last component. New rings were installed. The first owner, a CHP rider, kept extensive records all of which are in the history file that comes with the bike.
The June 1962, Cycle World magazine review read: 'Whatever the BMW's merits in a contest of speed, it is still the smoothest, best finished, quietest and cleanest motorcycle it has ever been our pleasure to ride. All things considered, if we were planning a two-wheel style vacation/tour, the BMW would have to be our choice of mount'.
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