The R69S, R69US, and R69 are
motorcycle
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...
s, fitted with 594 cc
boxer twin engines, that were manufactured by
BMW in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
, Germany.
Production history
From 1955 to 1969, 15,347 of these 594 cc shaft-drive,
opposed twin motorcycles were built. The R69 was produced from 1955 to 1960, the R69S was produced from 1960 to 1969, and the 42 hp R69US was produced from 1968 to 1969.
These models were designed as relatively high powered, high compression sport bikes, although the
Earles fork R69 and R69S came with sidecar lugs installed on the frames. These lugs were deleted from the telescopic fork "US" models. The low compression
R60/2, produced from 1955 to 1960, was designed primarily for
sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, making the whole a three-wheeled vehicle. A motorcycle with a sidecar is sometimes called a ''combination'', an ''outfit'', a ''rig'' or a ''hack''.
...
use, though it was popularly used as a solo bike, along with the 30 hp R60US, which was produced between 1968 and 1969.
The sport-oriented R69S, R69US, and R69 succeeded the plunger-framed 1951 to 1955
R68, which had an engine very similar to that in the later R69.
The R69US models, with telescopic forks, which were used later on the
BMW R-/5 series motorcycles, were introduced in the United States for the 1968 model year and then continued for 1969. Front and rear side reflectors, demanded by the U. S. Department of Transportation, were introduced only for the 1969 model year, along with a DOT sticker that was placed on the rear fender. The previous Earles fork continued to be offered during these years.
In June 1962, ''
Cycle World
''Cycle World'' is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the US. ''Cyc ...
'' magazine published a review of the R69S. Its initial and concluding paragraphs read:
Specifications
R69S Specifications. (R69 specifications shown in parentheses when different from the R69S
R69 Specifications
/ref>)
* Start of Production — 1960 (1955)
* End of Production — 1969 (1960)
* Numbers Produced — (11,317) 2,956
Engine
* Internal Designation — 268/3 (268/2)
* Motor Type — Four-stroke two cylinder flat twin
* Bore × Stroke — 72 mm × 73 mm (2.83 in × 2.87 in)
* Displacement — 594 cc
* Max Power — at 7000 rpm ( at 6800 rpm)
* Compression Ratio — 9.5:1 (7.5:1)
* Valves — OHV
* Carburation System — 2 carburetors, Type Bing 1/26/75-1/26/76 or 1/26/91-1/26/92 (1/26/9-1/26/10)
* Engine Lubricating System — Forced feed lubrication
* Oil Pump — Gear pump
Power Transmission
* Clutch — Single plate, saucer spring, dry
* Number of Gears — 4
* Shifting — Foot shifting
* Gearbox Ratios — 4.17/2.73/1.94/1.54 (5.33/3.02/2/04/1.54)
* Rear Wheel Ratio — 1:3.375 or 1:3.13; with sidecar 1:4.33 (1:3.18 or 1:4.25 sidecar)
* Bevel/Crownwheel — 8/25 or 8/27 teeth; with sidecar 6/26 (11/35; 8/34 sidecar)
Electrical System
* Ignition System — Magneto ignition
* Generator — Bosch LJ/CGE 60/6/1700 R (Noris L 60/6/1500L)
* Spark Plugs — Bosch W260T1 or Beru 260/14 (Bosch W240T1)
Chassis
* Designation — 245/2 (245/1)
* Frame — Double loop steel tubular frame
* Front wheel suspension — Earles fork with suspension units and oil pressure shock absorbers
* Rear wheel suspension — Long swing arm with suspension units and oil pressure shock absorbers
* Wheel rims — Deep bed 2.15B × 18; with sidecar, rear 2.75C × 18
* Tires, Front — 3.5 × 18 S
* Tires, Rear — 3.50 S (4 × 18 S with sidecar)
* Brakes, Front — Drum brake diameter duplex full hub
* Brakes, Rear — Drum brake diameter simplex full hub
Dimensions/Weights
* Length × Width × Height — 2125 mm × 722 mm × 980 mm; (83.66 in × 28.42 in × 38.58 in)
* Wheel Base — 1415 mm (55.7 in); with original sidecar 1450 mm (57.1 in)
* Fuel Tank Capacity — 17 L (3.73 imp or 4.49 US gal)
* Unladen Weight with Full Tank — ; with original sidecar
* Idle/Riding Noise — 84/82 DIN phon; from 13 September 1966: 78/84 dB(A)
* Load Rating — ; with original sidecar
* Fuel Consumption — 5.3 liters/100 km / 44 mpg (US) (3.6 L/100 km or 64 mpg (US))
* Oil Consumption — 0.5 - 1 liters/1,000 km approx.
* Top Speed — ()
Speed record
In 1961 an English team of four riders used a considerably modified machine to set 12 and 24-hour average-speed records for both 750 cc and 1000 cc categories at Montlhéry
Montlhéry () is a Communes of France, commune in the Essonne Departments of France, department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located from Paris.
History
Montlhéry lay on the strategically important road from Paris to Orléans. U ...
, France. Modifications included a tuned engine with higher final drive ratio
A gear train is a mechanical system formed by mounting gears on a frame so the teeth of the gears engage.
Gear teeth are designed to ensure the pitch circles of engaging gears roll on each other without slipping, providing a smooth transmission ...
, a race-crouch riding position with race-style full fairing, and extra lights.[Motorcycles, ]LJK Setright
Leonard John Kensell Setright (10 August 1931 – 7 September 2005) was an English motoring journalist and author.
Early life and education
Setright was born in London to Australian parents; his father, Henry Roy Setright, was an engineer who ...
, 1976, pp.84-89 Weidenfeld & Nicolson London. Accessed 30 June 2019 The 1000 cc 24-hour achievement of endured until surpassed by a Kawasaki Z1
The Kawasaki Z1 is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, double-overhead camshaft, carbureted, chain-drive motorcycle introduced in 1972 by Kawasaki. Following the introduction of Honda's CB750 in 1968, the Z1 helped popularize the in-line, across-the- ...
in 1972 on the banked Daytona racetrack, at an average speed of .[Motorcycles, ]LJK Setright
Leonard John Kensell Setright (10 August 1931 – 7 September 2005) was an English motoring journalist and author.
Early life and education
Setright was born in London to Australian parents; his father, Henry Roy Setright, was an engineer who ...
, 1976, pp.138-143 Weidenfeld & Nicolson London. Accessed 30 June 2019
See also
*BMW R51/3
The BMW R51/3 was BMW's second post-World War II 500 cc motorcycle, following the briefly produced R51/2. It featured a flat-twin engine and exposed drive shaft. In 1951, the R51/3 succeeded and modernized the 1950 R51/2, which was es ...
* BMW R60/2
*History of BMW motorcycles
BMW's motorcycle history began in 1921 when the company commenced manufacturing engines for other companies. BMW's own motorcycles—sold under the BMW Motorrad brand—began in 1923 with the BMW R 32, which was powered by a flat-twin engine (a ...
*List of motorcycles of the 1950s
This a listing of motorcycles of the 1950s, including those on sale, introduced, or otherwise relevant in this period.
* AJS 18 (1949-1963)
References
Notes
Bibliography
*
* “Birth of a Legend,” ''Cycle World'' magazine, June 1962
* “1965 R69S,” ''The Art of BMW: 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence,'' by Peter Gantriis and Henry von Wartenburg, MBI Publishing Co., Minneapolis, 2008
* ''BMW Profiles: Motorcycles from Munich, 1923–1969,'' BMW Mobile Tradition, Munich, Germany, 1997
External links
1956 BMW R69 — Selling Performance, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum
BMW's R69US: Born to Wander, Motorcycle Classics, May/June 2007
BMW R69S at Bonhams
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bmw R69s
R69S
Motorcycles powered by flat engines
Shaft drive motorcycles
Motorcycles introduced in 1955