BMW R60 (1956–1969): History, Specs and Versions of the Touring Boxer

The BMW R60 occupies an interesting place in the BMW range of the 1950s and '60s: more generous than the R50 but less extreme than the R69, it is the middle boxer, designed for those who travel with a passenger and, often, with a sidecar in tow. Produced from 1956 to 1969 — as the R60 first and then the R60/2 — it is one of the most widespread vintage BMW classics still today.

Visually the R60 is identical in layout to the R50: teardrop tank, side panels with the BMW lettering, chrome mudguards and the boxer's cylinders sticking out sideways. The heart is the 594 cc twin, with smooth power delivery and plenty of torque even at low revs. The chassis has an Earles fork, twin rear shock absorbers and shaft final drive: a combination that favours stability and low maintenance. The wide seat and the central footrests confirm its touring character.

• Engine: boxer twin 594 cc OHV
• Power: 30 bhp at 5,800 rpm
• Gearbox: 4-speed, shaft drive
• Top speed: approx. 140 km/h (87 mph)
• Suspension: Earles fork at the front, two rear shock absorbers
• Brakes: front and rear drum

It brings no revolutions compared with the R50, but consolidates the platform: the Earles fork with hydraulic dampers and shaft drive were confirmed as winning solutions for the long term. Its distinction is mechanical rather than technological: an engine designed to work for tens of thousands of miles with routine maintenance.

The R60 is the BMW for journeys taken at an easy pace: it lacks the extreme appeal of the R69S, but it has the solidity of one that knows how to do its job. And for many enthusiasts that is exactly the point.

In 1950s Germany the motorcycle is not just leisure: it is a work vehicle, a family transport and a service machine. The R60 was created to cover exactly these needs, with enough displacement to move easily with two up or with a sidecar. The main market is the domestic one and that of European countries with heavy sidecar use; in the United States, by contrast, the model sells less than its sportier siblings.

• R60 (1956–1960): first version, 30 bhp.
• R60/2 (1960–1969): evolution with improvements to brakes, suspension and cosmetic details.
• R60US (1968–1969): version for the American market with a telescopic fork.

Note: the R60/6 produced from 1976 belongs to the next generation (/6) and is a distinct model.

The R60 was among the BMWs most used by sidecar riders, also because many examples entered service with military and police bodies in Europe. Its reputation as a bike that never stops is still a distinguishing trait in the historic used market today.

It is one of the most affordable vintage BMW boxers and one of the easiest to use regularly. Checking the condition of the shaft drive and gearbox remains essential; mechanical spares are found with relative ease thanks to the number of examples built. Interesting both for the collector and for those looking for a vintage bike to actually use.