Roger

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Aha third time lucky! I can understand regretting your action when parting with the R69S. That is one BMW that apart from being quite desirable is an exceptional long distance tourer.

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Whilst passing through England on the way to my country of birth, Malta, I was very fortunate that the mate I was staying with, following a photo session casually enquired whether I would like to take his bikes out for a spin. If my heart was being monitored the result would be that it suddenly started to beat so much faster, it was close to valve bounce. Doing my best to control a quivering tongue I hurriedly blurred out a rather loud “YES” before he changed his mind.

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A helmet and leather jacket was hurriedly borrowed and as I welcomed the warmth of the jacket over a multitude of extra clothing (the English sun isn’t as warm as the Aussie one) I watched him gently bring the 1964 R69S into life. BMW build the exhaust pipes first as hardly a sound can be heard; a most civilised motorbike.

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Straddling this bike was quite similar to my R26, the handle bars/petrol tank and seat are quite low thus easily able to plant both feet on the ground. I was so looking forward to ride as unlike riding a R100RS in America in peak traffic, it was a joy to once again ride outside Australia on practically a deserted road.

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Low first gear saw me easily take off heading down his driveway towards the road. No traffic in sight so it was a gently easing onto the road and starts a new adventure. With the engine still relatively cold I gingerly applied throttle, gently going up through the gears.

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Yet the acceleration was rather startling. It was to say the least quite impressive. I definitely didn’t expect this. If one isn’t careful and paying close attention to the speedometer, going over the existing speed limit was only seconds away. Coupled to this, the surefootedness action on the relatively smooth gearbox was a joy to use, being both light and positive. In a set of twisty bends one can play with the gearbox through the bends flicking the light feeling bike with ease. The clutch was very light in operation at times leading me to think that the cable isn’t connected, it is so easy to use. Light traffic saw me enjoy the ride for quite a few miles. The only time the brakes came into use was when it was time to make a U turn at a nominated railway crossing and head back to base. When called for, the brakes being drum ones are absolutely downright brilliant, strong, and powerful yet offering exceptional very good feedback. Two-finger application was all that is needed.

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On the way back to base I could see why the R69S is such a desired model. This bike does give the rider a sense of dependable reliability and an inner strength that can easily take it from point A to point B irrespective of the distance in between.

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Back at base my mate was warming up a 1939 R51, followed by a 1937 R12. I walked around that day with the widest smile on my face.

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Frank

Down Under

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