Market Spotlight

What makes this BMW bike worth $50k? It's all about the ride.

by James Hewitt
3 November 2022 5 min read
Image
The author's 1968 BMW R69S Photo by James Hewitt

There is no electric starter, just a polished kickstart lever rising vertically from the left side of the bike. I stand to the side, swiftly yet softly kicking it down, perpendicular to the bike and out. A well-tuned BMW doesn’t require much force—even a fluid hand push can ignite the gases in the boxer twin-cylinder engine. This is my introduction to a motorcycle that for the cognoscenti needs no introduction—the 1967 BMW R69S, arguably the most reliable and effortless touring bike from the 1960s, and, just maybe, the best motorcycle ever made.

That’s a heady statement, but the fact is that the market has taken notice of these BMW cruisers. Now considered a blue-chip bike worth investing in—not just riding on long journeys—these bikes have surged in value of late, some more than doubling their worth since 2020 to around $50,000 for the best examples. That’s a hefty sum for an old motorcycle. Even BMW capitalized on the popularity of this bygone era, launching the R18 in 2020, a new cruiser designed to evoke their cross-country bike roots. Enjoyable though that new bike may be, today I am after the real thing.

The engine fires and my visceral interaction with the R69S begins in earnest. At idle, the engine’s arrangement—crankshaft running front to rear and opposed cylinders protruding on either side above the rider’s feet—gently twists the bike with each ignition in the combustion chambers. I swing a leg over the low seat and begin my unforgettable journey as rider and owner.

James Hewitt

After it gets to temperature, I pull the clutch lever and tap the shifter down into first. It engages with that metallic clunk, a feeling and noise familiar to riders of BMWs old and new. With an audible whir, the clutch slowly engages and the bike surges forward. At this point, it’s just me, the fresh Colorado air, the scenery, and sensations of the motorcycle beneath.

The term “/2 BMW” (pronounced “slash-two”) is catch-all term nowadays for BMW’s top of the line twins from 1956 to 1969, rather than merely referring to the actual /2 bikes. From 1956 until 1960 they were only called the R50 (500cc, touring/sidecar), R60 (600cc touring/sidecar), and R69 (600cc, sport with higher horsepower). 1960 brought a slew of updates, most of which focused on improving the bike’s power and reliability. These new models were called the R50/2, R60/2, R50S and R69S. BMW modernized them again in 1967 with the same telescopic forks that would feature on the upcoming /5 series. The bikes now went under the monikers of R50US, R60US, and R69US. Each model and update through these years provides its own unique riding experience, especially when fitted with different seats and handlebars.

All were offered with either rubber Denfeld saddle seats and two-up bench seats (which came in two widths) from the factory, and each provides a differing riding experience. The solo saddle seats are preferred nowadays for looks by many (let’s face it, these help make the /2 one of the coolest looking motorcycles ever) but are more upright and provide less of a connected riding feel; they tend to wiggle a little bit and provide a more spongy ride. This isn’t a bad thing at all on a comfortable cruiser like the /2. If anything, I prefer the feel of the saddle over the bench. It’s also a more unique look, and that’s half the fun. Riders can further differentiate the look and feel of their /2 with low sport bars without a cross brace and higher, more relaxed ones with a brace.

James Hewitt

It’s hard to imagine a bike that can be worth upwards of $50k today being ridden hard across the country in the ’60s, but when you realize Ferrari 250 GTOs were once thrashed on the race track and passed between owners like the used cars they were, it makes sense that the best touring motorcycle of the day was going to be used and trusted as one. The R60 became the first motorcycle to ride from the Arctic Circle at the top of Alaska to the tip of South America when Danny Lisko completed the journey in the 1960s. Even the 1967 BMW R69S pictured above has touring pedigree. It was bought new in 1968 from Recreation Equipment Inc. in Denver and quickly was put to work as intended. The husband and wife owners took it across the country and from Colorado to Canada. Many owners on more modern bikes today wouldn’t even consider trips like that.

Despite most having lived out their touring bike duties to the fullest, it seems more /2 BMWs survive today in good original condition than other bikes from the ’60s. They’re even frequently owned by the original owner or passed down in the family. After my own time on the saddle, I’d say their longevity and duration of ownership likely stems from a combination of two things: the /2 is a bike you can trust to get you to the end of your journey, and you’re unlikely to find a mechanical companion that offers such an engaging rider/bike connection during that adventure. There aren’t a lot of other bikes out there that offer both.

The engineering on these 1960s BMWs bests bikes 20 years newer, even from the same brand, and that’s what fosters the trusting relationship between owner and machine. Even the effort you can’t see will impress you: most other bikes of the era employ ball-end cables wrapped around a disk in the throttle housing. These can stretch over time, creating slop in throttle application. On a /2, the throttle cables are linked to a tiny chain wrapped around a geared cam disc. When you twist the throttle, a gear on the throttle tube rotates the cam disc, meaning there’s no opportunity for wear or slop within the throttle housing. The /2 is the antithesis of planned obsolescence, and that’s why buyers today are undaunted when they see a /2 for sale with 20,000 miles. A ’60s Triumph 20,000 miles would be unheard of.

As one of the most collectible motorcycles ever and the most expensive of the line during the time, the R69S would logically sit atop the pedigree of the model range in terms of values. Yet the R50S, the R69S’s less powerful and less-expensive-in-the-day model, takes top honors at $48,600 compared the R69S’ $47,500. This is thanks to the R50S’ limited two-year production and its riding characteristics: many prefer the 500cc sports model due to its smoother engine.

This doesn't mean every #1 R50S or R69S sells for that amount. Rather, these values ballpark their respective market's averages. What's behind the strong values #1 condition bikes? Two primary reasons: original parts are hard to come by, and production for the whole range was relatively low. For instance, while the R50US was the least expensive of the bunch, it's also the rarest by far. A perfect #1 R50US is a unicorn among unicorns, with its production numbers representing 25% of the R50S and less than half that of R69USs. As a result, when a R50US comes up for sale, it commands a premium above its original status in the lineup.

Dig deeper and you'll notice an evolving valuation brought by certain features. Earles fork-equipped earlier versions tend to fetch more than the US bikes because of their classic /2 look, for instance. That said, US bikes have come into their own recently and are increasingly appreciated by collectors. Don't be afraid of them, but don't expect them to be viewed the same by the true purists.

Considering the mechanical strength of the /2, you don't need to worry about finding a #1 bike. Just find one specced to your taste and ride it—you won't be disappointed. Care for your /2 like its prior owners did and it'll thank you with years of reliability and an experience that's truly like no other in the classic bike market.

James Hewitt

A story about

Comments

  • Scott Elsbree, M.D. says:

    Thanks for the very well written, enjoyable and informative article about this iconic line of Beemers.

  • Irwin Shapiro says:

    I thoroughly enjoyed the R50 I owned back in the 1960s. It always started with one gentle kick, even the time I took out the battery (magneto ignition took over). Now I am retired, have a Chinese electric scooter in the garage and rarely use it.

  • Ray Hull says:

    Lovely bikes. I started out on a /6 and it’s still traveling around the area 48 years later. You don’t have to know anything about motorcycles to just stare at and appreciate the castings and engineering elegance. A friend used to park his right next to his S600 Mercedes of the same era. What a garage-full!

  • Henry Brock says:

    Still have my dad’s 1966 R50 that he purchased new December 1965.

  • David Stewart says:

    I think you mean 200,000 miles, not 20,000 miles.

  • Timehunter says:

    I really liked riding the R69S all over Texas in the late 60’s into the 70’s.
    With the bench seat to pack your gear on behind you for a backrest, it was great!

  • Paul Taylor says:

    I am in the process of restoring a 1965 R69s, the poor thing sat in a damp mouse infested garage for 47 years and it still was beautiful. During the teardown/assembly I marveled at the simple and robust construction of this elegant machine. Replacement parts are still available from the original manufactures. The restoration is not cheap, done correctly will be in the $16K range.

  • James McCoy says:

    When I was stationed in Key West while in the Navy, circa 1964-67 I owned a 1958 R60. It was used to travel from Key West to Miami on weekends. It was dead reliable even after setting outside of the base, exposed to the elements, for weeks at a time. It was trouble free and never failed me. When I was being discharged I sold the bike for more than I had paid for it. Wish I still owned it.

    I remember one occasion after being at sea for an extended period, trying to start the bike. Engine was stuck, probably due to humidity and sea air. After spraying oil into both cylinders, leaving it sit for a short period, then putting it in first gear and rocking it forward and backward a few times, the engine came loose and fired almost immediately.

  • WILLIAM GEORGE SCHMITT says:

    I find it interesting that the article fails to mention the most memorable post WW-II BMW twin, the R68, of which only a few still exist. I would assume this is the most valued post war BMW motorcycle and set the bar for all that followed.

  • Bob Clement says:

    Great article, thank you! I purchased my first BMW, a used 1960 R50 in April of 1962, I was 16 yrs. old and had lusted for a BMW since the first time I saw one at the Boulder Cycle center in Boulder Colorado in 1960. I rode that first one 67000 miles and traded it in for a 1960 R60 in 1964 or 1965. In the 1960’s, in my opinion, the BMW was the only bike out there that you could do repeated long distance days on without fear of a breakdown. I owned several other R60/2’s until purchasing a 1967 R69S in April of 1970 and I still own it 52yrs later. I did many 700+ mile days on them in the 60’s, many times riding thru the night ( 6V lights, I was young!). Long distance riding has always been my passion although now at age 77 I have tamed it down a bit. The “/2’s” opened up a world of adventure to me.

  • Bob Clement says:

    Hello James, or is it Jim? I just finished reading your article about the Slash 2 BMWs for the second or third time. My name is Bob Clement and I have been riding BMWs since 1962. I lived in the Boulder area of Colorado and worked for Clem Cykowski at BMW of Denver from 1980 until 1990. I still own and ride a 1967 r69s that I bought from one of my customers in Boulder in April of 1970. I now own and run a business in Montana called Bob’s Motorwerks. I have thousands of miles on BMW motorcycles and put many many of them on an R50 and multiple r60s in the 1960s before purchasing the r69s in 1970. The first BMW I ever saw was at the boulder Cycle Center in 1960. Even as a 14-year-old boy at that time I was so impressed by the aircraft type engine, the drive shaft, and the gorgeous baked enamel paint that I knew I had to have one. My desire as a motorcyclist then and now has been seeing the country from the seat of a motorcycle. Great article. I wonder if we ever met in Colorado? I moved to Montana in 1996. I would enjoy hearing from you at some point.

  • Ken Cruise says:

    I still have my first BMW, an R60/6 purchased in April, 1987. I rode an R60/2 for 10 years in my home province of British Columbia. I sold it to pay off a debt and regretted it ever since. I loved the Swiss watch predictability and smoothness. My current project is a 1955 R50, which I hope to ride this season. My wish is to be at one with road and machine again! Not that I don’t enjoy the slash 6! Everything on it works, perhaps a bit better with 750 cc’s and dual disk braking! The R50 will be the last one I part with.

  • Ken Cruise says:

    I have sorely missed the R60/2 I rode for 10 years. Not that I don’t enjoy my R60/6, which I continue to ride after nearly 36 years. Everything works, perhaps a bit better, now with 750 cc’s, higher gearing and dual disk braking. My current project is a 1955 R50, which I hope to have ready for this season. Once on it I will again be in tune with the road and a machine that turns over with a steady beat, ticking over like a Swiss watch. It will be the last one I part with.

  • Phil Marx says:

    In your third-from-the-last paragraph, line 6 where you wrote “…representing 25% of the R50S” would make more sense if you wrote “R50s” instead of the model R50S. You’ll see what I mean. The mythology around any R50 (other than the R50S) is just that—a myth. As the original owner of an R50/5 I can tell you I bought it over 50-years ago because at that time I couldn’t afford the extra $200 it took to get an R60/5. I learned my lesson and today own two R60/5, an R69US, and an R27, among my six BMW bikes. That poor R50/5 didn’t have enough power to take me over the Rockies one-up with my camping gear at more than maybe 45-mph. The R50/2 was even slower. My current R60/5 and my R69US have never limited me in that same way. If folks really think being slow is an attribute they want to pursue in a BMW bike, they should try an R26 with a side-car! Thanks for the article. Hopefully you’ll make my wife an even wealthier widow since I’m never selling my BMWs.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More on this topic

Hagerty Insider Newsletter

Your weekly dose of auction reports, market analysis, and more.

Thank You!
Your request will be handled as soon as possible
Hagerty Insider Newsletter
Your weekly dose of auction reports, market analysis, and more.
Share