MAX BMW COLLECTION This autobahn express was the ultimate European touring motorcycle of the 1960s, and this 1967 BMW R60/2 is fully kitted for long-haul rides. Its black paint with signature dual white pinstripes is in lovely condition, and the extras on this bike are very desirable, including the matching Craven saddlebags and top box, the extra-large Heinrich fuel tank, the Hella bar-end turn signals and rare VDO tachometer mounted on the top of the forks. The odometer shows just over 44,000 miles, which is just about time for a crankshaft slinger service, one this bike has received. There’s just enough patina on this R60/s to lend credibility to its status as an old-school luxury tourer that’s been used but clearly well taken care of. In the 1960s, BMW was the undoubted king of reliability and quality, and for contemporary collectors and riders, it is the BMW R60/2 that has a rock-solid spot in their hearts. Designed as the new foundation of BMW’s model line from 1956, the R60 was an evolution of the R67/2 600cc ‘plunger’ model, but with a newly uprated swingarm frame on the front and rear. The ‘Earles’ fork, developed by Englishman Ernie Earles, was made under license and at the time was a novel and effective solution to the problem of fork-flex when hauling a sidecar to which many an R60 was hitched. The gearbox of the new swingarm models was entirely new, using three shafts with an improved shock absorber on the input shaft. The driveshaft was fully enclosed within the rear swingarm, and long-lasting universal joints were used to compensate for rear wheel travel. The clutch, still housed within the flywheel (which was attached directly to the crankshaft), sported a single diaphragm spring. In 1960, a series of improvements were shared among the twin-cylinder BMW range, and the R60 added a /2 to denote changes that weren’t visible; the crankshaft and camshaft were strengthened, the main bearing housings thickened, cam followers and the clutch spring were improved, crankcase ventilation freed up, and the compression ratio increased to 7.5:1. The engine now produced 30 HP, giving this gentle beast a feeling of surprising power when the expensive chain-pull throttle assembly was rolled back; cruising in the 80s is easy, with a top speed in the 90s. While the motorcycle was hurtling forward in near- total silence, the suspension took on all surface irregularities with aplomb, and its enormous brakes made the BMW the best stopper on the road. This example is willing to continue further touring adventures, with all the best touring goodies already installed. T166 1967 BMW R60
