Owning and collecting BMW motorcycles
May/June 2007
By Bill Stermer
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Perfect pair: Kevin and Barbara Brooks clock 15,000 miles a year on their BMWs, a Turf Green 1968 R69S and a Dover White 1965 R69S.
Photo by Bill Stermer
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Keeping any classic machine on the road is a combination of who you know and what you know, and this is especially true in the BMW classic market.
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Shops specializing in classic BMWs are few and far between, so networking can be critical. To learn more about these bikes and the hobby, we turned to four enthusiasts with a great deal of expertise and experience in this field: Peter Nettesheim, Mac Kirkpatrick, Kevin Brooks and Darryl Richman.
Which are the most collectible BMW models?
Our experts all agree that the earliest models (think pre-World War II) are the most collectible. However, because so few early Beemers are left, especially in the U.S., they are increasingly expensive. “Ask a veteran BMW collector about the most collectible early BMWs,” Nettesheim says, “and he might answer the 1960-1969 R69S models. This is probably because most collectors have no experience with the bikes from the early 1920s, and don’t even consider them.”
As for the highest values paid for classic Beemers, Nettesheim notes that 1923-1926 BMW R32s have recently sold for $80,000 to $130,000, and a 1926 R39 has sold for more than $50,000. He also says that other models from the 1920s, such as the R42, R47, R52 and R62, can bring $40,000 and up.
“For the 1950-1954 plunger twins,” he adds, “prices range from about $8,000 to $18,000. And 1955-1969 Earles fork models have been bringing $4,000-$20,000, depending upon model and condition.”
Why collect BMWs? “It’s varied,” Nettesheim says, “but one underlying reason surfaces regularly, and that is the attraction to quality machinery. A BMW is typically perceived as a machine of the highest quality. It is the most significant reason by far that I collect BMW motorcycles.”
Mac Kirkpatrick is also an avid collector. He lives in Pennsylvania and, like Nettesheim, has a personal BMW museum. “I think the R90S is the most collectible, hands down. I am sure there are other BMW models that are rarer, and therefore more desirable, but practically speaking they cannot be more collectible as there are so few,” Kirkpatrick says.
“The R90S is remembered by many riders from their youth. They could not afford it then, but now that they can, they seek to own one as they remember it fondly. Enough were made and parts are available, so owning the bike makes sense,” he says. It was the first BMW with disc brakes, it had that smoked color, a 900cc engine, Del’Orto carburetors, a five-speed, bodywork and a seat cowling. And it won the first Superbike race at Daytona. It was a ‘first’ in many ways.” Kirkpatrick’s next choice is the R100RS. “Again, it is practical to keep on the road from a parts availability standpoint.
“I also like the R68, but that is a very rare bike. Many will say the R69S is the next most desirable BMW, and maybe they are correct. I saw where a beautifully restored R50 and another R-bike went at auction in Las Vegas for something like $18,000. And I know of one immaculate R90S that recently went on eBay for $19,000. That speaks to the desirability of BMWs generally, which 15 years ago was not the case.”
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