BMW Motorrad is celebrating 90-years of two-wheeled history. The R 90 S likewise has reason to celebrate – it turns 40-years-old in 2013.
Image gallery
As a tribute to both these anniversaries, BMW worked In partnership with the custom bike company Roland Sands Design to create the BMW Concept Ninety.
BMW R 90 S - 40 YEARS
In 1973, BMW unveiled its flagship model in the “Stroke Six” range. It had a top speed of over 200km/h, it was one of the fastest production bikes of its day and the first motorcycle to feature a front fairing as standard. Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad Design, said: “The BMW R 90 S hails from an era in which bikers were regarded as outlaws. There was something rebellious about it – it was fast, loud and wild. And it has retained its fascination to this day.”
CONCEPT NINETY
According to BMW the Concept Ninety resurrects this spirit by translating the emotion and inspiration of the earlier model into a contemporary guise. Ola Stenegard, head of vehicle design BMW Motorrad, said: “With the BMW Concept Ninety we want to show how reduced and pure a BMW motorcycle can be.”
The upper ergonomic and aerodynamic bodywork is visually separated from the black air-cooled flat-twin boxer engine and chassis. The bodywork is hand crafted from aluminium and delivers a sporty interpretation of the front fairing while honouring its ancestor with a round headlight design.
CUSTOM PARTS
Many of the specially-made parts of the Concept Ninety come from custom bike specialists Roland Sands. He said: “It was important for me to translate the special statement made by the BMW R 90 S into the present through the use of unique parts – employing emotional design and cutting-edge technology.”
Edgar Heinrich adds: “The BMW Concept Ninety is sheer enjoyment in every respect – from the development of the idea to the sketching stage to the construction process. But above all it’s an absolute riding machine – just like the R 90 S was in its time.”
Image gallery
As a tribute to both these anniversaries, BMW worked In partnership with the custom bike company Roland Sands Design to create the BMW Concept Ninety.
BMW R 90 S - 40 YEARS
In 1973, BMW unveiled its flagship model in the “Stroke Six” range. It had a top speed of over 200km/h, it was one of the fastest production bikes of its day and the first motorcycle to feature a front fairing as standard. Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad Design, said: “The BMW R 90 S hails from an era in which bikers were regarded as outlaws. There was something rebellious about it – it was fast, loud and wild. And it has retained its fascination to this day.”
CONCEPT NINETY
According to BMW the Concept Ninety resurrects this spirit by translating the emotion and inspiration of the earlier model into a contemporary guise. Ola Stenegard, head of vehicle design BMW Motorrad, said: “With the BMW Concept Ninety we want to show how reduced and pure a BMW motorcycle can be.”
The upper ergonomic and aerodynamic bodywork is visually separated from the black air-cooled flat-twin boxer engine and chassis. The bodywork is hand crafted from aluminium and delivers a sporty interpretation of the front fairing while honouring its ancestor with a round headlight design.
CUSTOM PARTS
Many of the specially-made parts of the Concept Ninety come from custom bike specialists Roland Sands. He said: “It was important for me to translate the special statement made by the BMW R 90 S into the present through the use of unique parts – employing emotional design and cutting-edge technology.”
Edgar Heinrich adds: “The BMW Concept Ninety is sheer enjoyment in every respect – from the development of the idea to the sketching stage to the construction process. But above all it’s an absolute riding machine – just like the R 90 S was in its time.”