In 1959, BMW was on the brink of bankruptcy until it was saved by a large investment from Herbert Quandt. Quandt’s money funded the /2 upgrades to the R 50 and R 60 and a new Sport version of the R 69 developed by Helmut Werner Bönsch. With a top speed of 109 mph, the R 69 S was Germany’s fastest motorcycle in 1960, and the first BMW equipped with an hydraulic steering damper. The R 69 S excelled at long distances, and it was popular in the US. Importer Butler & Smith ordered the R 69 US in colors unavailable in Germany, and with the higher handlebars and telescopic forks on the unrestored example seen here.

For more pictures and information on this or any other vehicle in the Motorcycles exhibit, check out the exhibition book in our store!