BMW R90 S Motorcycle-Restoration Phase 1

BMW motorbike restoration phase 1

The first phase is all about making a plan and setting a budget. And, if you don't already have a motorbike, to find a suitable base vehicle. Together we talk through what is feasible with the given budget and whether the expectations can be met. If this is the case, the project can start.

In the case of this BMW R 90 S, SE Concept Bike was commissioned with the search and purchase of a suitable motorbike for the restoration, which in this case was not easy. There were offers on the market, but most of the vehicles had already been restored in various, and unfortunately mostly not very professional, ways.

In its day, a BMW R90S was one of the fastest and sportiest motorbikes you could buy. At that time, it was referred to as the "Über-BMW" which, with its 67 hp, could reach speeds of over 200 km/h, making it one of the fastest motorbikes in the world. Standards were the double-disc brake, an aerodynamic rear apron and, as a world premiere, a cockpit fairing installed for the first time on a production motorbike. The fastest BMW at the time was offered in smoke grey and Daytona orange, the latter still being the most popular variant today. The list price at the time was DM 9,130. Today, you pay between €7,000 and €9,000 for unrestored pieces that have not been tinkered with. If such a bike is professionally and 100 % restored, the price level is in the range of 30,000 € and above. Since one must assume that the value of such vehicles will continue to rise, such an investment also represents a first-class value investment.

The BMW R 90 S in Daytona orange is to be completely restored. The engine, the gearbox and the cardan drive are to be overhauled or rebuilt and restored to a condition comparable to new.

The motorbike is to be ridden in the "Daily Drive". To achieve this, some improvements must be incorporated into the restoration, so that the handling and braking performance do not spoil the riding pleasure. It's not that the BMW icon R90S is a bad bike, but in the last 40 years technical details have developed further and these positive developments should be incorporated into the newly built vehicle. It's not about turning an old BMW into a superbike, the 2-valve BMW has to remain a 2-valve BMW and the technical changes should be kept as unobtrusive as possible.

So a workflow is created and the budget is adjusted and redefined with the changes. The price for such a complete motorbike restoration is fixed before work begins.