BMW R 90 S
BMW gave its dependable boxer twin bright paint, a tiny wind-cheating fairing and enough speed to reach 200 km/h—and invented a very different kind of BMW motorcycle.
1973 BMW R 90 S cover · Ermell · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
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More than a set of wheels.
BMW presented the R 90 S in 1973 as the sporting flagship of its new /6 family and as a 50th-anniversary statement. Designer Hans Muth gave it a sculpted tank, a neat tail and what BMW calls the world's first series-production cockpit fairing attached to the handlebars. The 898 cc boxer twin used large Dell'Orto carburetors to produce 67 hp, while twin front discs helped control its near-200 km/h speed. It sold through 1976 and helped turn BMW's motorcycle image from conservative touring toward high performance.
Look a little closer.
Each Silver Smoke bike was shaded so the dark paint faded into silver; Daytona Orange, now the most famous color, did not join the catalog until 1975.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
The moment BMW hired design
BMW says the R 90 S was the first time its motorcycle division commissioned a designer. Hans Muth treated the tank, seat tail and handlebar-mounted fairing as one flowing shape instead of styling each part separately. The change mattered beyond looks: it announced that a BMW could be bought for excitement as well as durability.
Source: BMW Group Classic · BMW R 90 S ↗A road bike that opened a racing chapter
The standard 1973 motorcycle made 67 hp, but American tuner Udo Gietl later enlarged and modified race bikes to roughly 102 hp. In 1976 Steve McLaughlin won the first AMA Superbike race at Daytona and Reg Pridmore took the championship. Those were modified competition machines, not evidence that a showroom 1973 R 90 S had the same output.
Source: BMW Group PressClub · first Superbike victory history ↗Where these facts come from
- BMW Group Classic · BMW R 90 S
- BMW Group Classic · A Head of Steam
- BMW Group PressClub · 90 years of BMW Motorrad
- Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners · R 90 S documentation archive
- BMW Group PressClub · first Superbike victory history
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.