The BMW R90S’ biggest asset was its engine. The ‘Boxer’ has been a BMW bastion for decades. It was thus dubbed because of the way the flat-twin’s pistons ‘punched’ their way to and fro. Or, ‘reciprocated’, for the technically-minded. The set-up provided surprisingly swift progress. It is, after all, not a layout famed for its sophistication. However, it was well-balanced and, of course, impressively engineered.
Okay, so the R90S may have been a tad behind some of its rivals in all-out power terms. But, it more than made up the deficit with its styling. A neat bikini fairing topped off stylish smoked orange paintwork.
Within biking circles, BMWs – and their riders – enjoy a unique reputation. A BMW has long been the machine of choice for the respectable, law-abiding biker. Smooth, suave and sophisticated, hell-raising never came naturally to them. BMW’s motorcycles, then, were always a good fit. Certainly, with its blend of upright solidity – and dashing good looks – the BMW R90S exemplified two-wheeled breeding!