Home » Why I Bought This Teal 46-Year-Old BMW Airhead Motorcycle

Why I Bought This Teal 46-Year-Old BMW Airhead Motorcycle

Teal Airhead Ts
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Over the weekend, I dragged yet another vehicle home to my junkyard vehicle refuge. After writing numerous pieces for this site about vintage motorcycles and including classic finds on Mercedes’ Marketplace Madness, it was clear that I really want to swing a leg over another old bike. I put my money where my mouth is and brought home a 1977 BMW R60/7. The bike came from the estate of the original owner and amazingly, included the original title and financing paperwork from 1977. Oh, and did I say it’s custom painted in teal with metal flake?

Two years ago, I rode a BMW motorcycle for the first time ever when I reviewed the BMW R 18 and the BMW R 18 Transcontinental. The style of BMW’s boxer engine and its distinctive exhaust note captivated me and ever since then, I’ve been finding myself looking at getting a BMW of my own. As someone who adores vintage style, I kept drooling over airhead boxers from the 1970s and 1980s. Now, I finally have my own and I’m glad I waited so long to pick one up. My phone’s camera just doesn’t do this paint justice. To say it’s dazzling in real life is a gross understatement. It’s actually a bit baffling because my eyes see a bit more green in this paint than my camera does, which is a shame.

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

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A Century Of Boxer Reliability

To get to the root of where this beautiful motorcycle came from, we should start at the very beginning. BMW says its roots go back to 1913 when Rapp-Motorenwerke GmbH began aircraft engine production. Rapp supplied aircraft engines to the German Empire during World War I. Rapp-Motorenwerke GmbH was located in Munich along with Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik, the factory where Rapp’s engines were fitted into aircraft. Otto went bankrupt in 1916, becoming Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG. Rapp later changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH and BMW was born. For a weird diversion, apparently, BMW initially didn’t have a logo.

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BMW

As BMW explains, when Rapp became Bayerische Motoren Werke, it initially didn’t need a logo. BMW didn’t have public customers as it served the German Air Force. The first BMW logo appeared in October 1917 and continued Rapp’s tradition of a black ring around the company logo that contains the company’s name.

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It’s actually pretty awesome how the BMW has evolved over the years. BMW also notes that its logo is not depicting a spinning propeller, but colors of the State of Bavaria in Germany. That said, in 1929, the manufacturer released an advertisement showing the BMW logo inside of a spinning propeller. BMW then stoked the myth further in 1942 Flugmotoren-Nachrichten backed up the story of the BMW logo being a spinning prop.

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BMW

So, the logo isn’t supposed to be a propeller, but BMW itself really hasn’t made an effort to say that it’s not a propeller.

Anyway, getting back on track here, the Treaty of Versailles halted BMW aircraft engine production, leading the company to manufacture railway brakes, household goods, farm equipment, and other machines. In 1919, BMW made a flat-twin industrial engine for Victoria Werke AG.

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BMW

This engine found its way into Victoria and Bayerische Flugzeugwerke motorcycles. One of those motorcycles was the Helios, a sort of makeshift motorcycle with a transverse-crankshaft layout that led to poor cooling of one of its cylinders.

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BMW

When Bayerische Flugzeugwerke merged into BMW, BMW General Director Franz Josef Popp asked Design Director Max Friz for his opinion on the Helios. Reportedly, the designer said the best place for the Helios was a lake, apparently citing handling and engine design issues.

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Friz was given the mission to fix the Helios and then design a new motorcycle. That new motorcycle hit the show circuit in 1923, starting at the Berlin Motor Show. The BMW R32 was shorter, lower, and lighter than the Helios, and crucially, BMW designed a motorcycle that would be easier to live with:

The quality of the machine was a major factor for success. All the parts likely to need repair were encapsulated and the drive shaft was easier to service than standard chains or belts. The Boxer engine with cylinders mounted transverse to the direction of motion remains a characteristic feature of BMW motorcycles to this day, alongside the cardan shaft. The very successful overall design of the R32 was penned by Max Friz and is regarded as a milestone in motorcycle history.

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BMW

That first R32 had a 494cc flat-twin making just 8.5 HP and had a top speed of just 58 mph. The R32 was a smash success and the company decided to follow it up with a sports model, the 1925 R37. That motorcycle was one of the most expensive bikes in Germany, so that was followed up with the 1925 R39, a lower-priced single-cylinder Beemer.

BMW started slapping a slash onto some of its motorcycle models in 1950. BMW used slashes to distinguish models and sometimes it was a bit confusing. The BMW R51/2 was the first slash bike and it was followed up by the BMW R51/3 and the BMW R25/2. BMW mechanics say that R51/2 is only a “Slash 2” in name only and it’s technically a “Slash 3” bike The R25/2 is also a “Slash 3.” Then there were motorcycles that didn’t have slashes in their names but are still a part of of a new “/2” series in 1955, which also sold alongside the older “/3” series.

I’m pretty sure you have a headache now and don’t worry, we’re going to skip to the good part.

The R60/7

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As BMW writes, the /6 Series was replaced in 1976 with the /7 Series. BMW notes that the R60/7 did not gain power over its /6 predecessor, but did get a bigger tank and a more modern design:

After only three years of construction, the /6 series was replaced in 1976 by an upgraded new model generation. The /7 models received some detail improvements and modifications. The most striking visual difference was the new 24-litre tank, which until now was only available on the R 90 S. However, with a small but effective change. The fuel cap was now recessed and was given a roll-over valve that prevented fuel from spilling out in the event of a fall. In addition, the change made it possible to better attach and use an accessory that was very popular at the time, namely the tank bag. With the new tank and the new front mudguard, which now had to do without a strut, the /7 models looked more elegant and modern overall. The valve covers also got a new one, Angular shape and greater wall thickness to increase puncture security.

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Though it did not get more power, BMW says the R60/7 got improvements to reduce valvetrain noise. Meanwhile, the front wheel saw its drum brake replaced with a perforated disc brake. BMW notes that during the 1970s, customer interests shifted toward larger displacement motorcycles. Thus, the most popular motorcycles of the /7 Series are the likes of the influential BMW R100RS. The R100RS is notable for its full frame-fixed fairing, which was designed by Pininfarina and optimized with wind tunnel testing.

BMW says the R100RS is “the first production motorcycle in the world to be equipped with a standard full fairing.” I suppose that depends on what you consider to be a full fairing because the Vincent Black Prince had a large fairing in 1954 and the Ariel Leader had an even larger fairing in 1958.

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Anyway, back to the R60/7. BMW says the entry-level model wasn’t very popular and it was discontinued in 1978. Despite just a couple of years of production, BMW was able to move 11,163 units, most of them to government agencies. For comparison, BMW sold three times as many R100RS units.

My R60/7

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As many of our readers know, I love when a vehicle has a story to tell and my new-to-me 1977 BMW R60/7 is no different.

I bought the motorcycle from a friend of the original owner. He told me that the original owner was a man who adored teal and had all of his vehicles painted teal with metal flake.

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The original owner purchased this motorcycle new and apparently didn’t wait long before taking it to a custom shop to have it painted teal. The motorcycle started life painted black with white pinstripes and it appears it stayed that way for just two years. Then, the original owner ditched the motorcycle’s original fairing, mounted a Luftmeister fairing, then had it all painted in the glorious color that you see here today. Apparently, this BMW was joined by a Chevy truck that was also painted in a matching teal.

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The original owner then loved this motorcycle, riding it over 46,000 miles between 1977 and about three or four years ago. Then, his friend explained to me, he lost his balance and was no longer able to ride the bike. It was stored indoors and sadly, the original owner passed away. The caretaker of the man’s teal vehicles was his widow, and recently, she decided that she no longer wanted to keep his old stuff around. The original owner’s friend was enlisted to see his prized belongings sent to new homes.

The friend explained to me when the motorcycle was parked over four years ago, gas was drained out of the tank and carburetors. Thus, the teal Beemer fired right up after fresh gas and a battery.

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Sadly, with the passing of his friend, parts to the motorcycle may have been lost. What I did get in the sale was the fairing the motorcycle was sold new with, a spare engine cover, the original seat, a spare seat, a new rear tire, and the original title alongside the original financing paperwork. Aside from a crack and a few scratches, which are believed to have been caused during storage, the fairing is in great shape. The friend told me he found the fairing in the attic, where it had perhaps a half-inch of dust on it.

The financing paperwork is a fascinating look into how loans worked 46 years ago. In 1977, the BMW R 60/7 had a base price of $2,995 ($15,620 today). The paperwork says that the original owner financed $2,200 ($11,474 today), racking up another $538 ($2,805 today) in finance charges and fees. He had to pay off the note for 36 months at $76 ($396 today) a month at 13 percent interest. Accounting for inflation, that’s more money than I spent to finance a $17,000 Smart Fortwo, which was just $272 a month. Of course, keep in mind that the 1970s experienced double-digit inflation, unemployment, an oil crisis, and more.

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On Sunday, I became the first person to take the motorcycle on a long ride since it was put into storage. I gave the seller $3,000 and pointed my tires toward home. It was just an 80-mile ride, but one that would prove if this old Beemer still had it. At first, the bike seemed a bit too tight, the engine a bit too cold-blooded, and the suspension way too harsh. I confirmed everything was torqued correctly and safe, then got back on the road. As each mile passed, the motorcycle loosened up. The engine woke up, the suspension smoothed out, and the tires got back in the groove of running down the road. With every mile, the motorcycle rode better.

The specs of the R60/7 may not inspire confidence in the modern day. Its 599cc boxer made just 40 ponies and 35.4 lb-ft torque when new, and I’m pretty sure horses don’t live that long. When new, it was more or less double the bike of my 2023 Royal Enfield Classic 350, and I avoided highways to ride that home. Though, notably, the BMW weighs the same as the Royal Enfield at 430 pounds. So, twice the bike but the same weight and roughly the same stature, too. The R60/7 is small, which is something I love!

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Anyway, I put the BMW through trial by highway. Sadly, the speedometer broke during storage, so I had no idea how fast I was going. I had Sheryl match my speeds for a rough estimate and apparently, I had it as high as 80 mph. That’s when I was just trying to keep up with traffic. The BMW definitely had more left in it, so I reckon it’s still making close enough to its original power figures.

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How does it ride? For now, it rides like a vintage machine that could use some refreshing. It seems the carbs could be tuned better and the suspension feels a little worn. Both of which are easily solved with some minor wrenching. Otherwise, the ingredients are all there for a great ride. The engine sounds fantastic, the motorcycle will lean into corners, and the transmission has a confident bite. It’s also somewhat comfortable, too. I wouldn’t do an Iron Butt on this BMW, but it also doesn’t give me back pain, so that’s a win.

Not What I Wanted, But Better

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Admittedly, I wasn’t looking for an R60/7 at all. Since March or so, I’ve been searching for an R100RS, R100S, or perhaps something like an R75/5. All of my searches were for the bigger airheads out there. Yet, I kept striking out on buying them. I saw a fabulous dark metallic green R100S for sale, then I went to Hawai’i for the Toyota Tacoma reveal. It sold before I got back home. Then I saw another dark metallic green BMW, but that one was an R100RS. I think that one sold while I was in Detroit driving the Ford F-150 FP700. I also tried to buy a handful of /5 Series bikes, but their sellers said one thing while the bikes were in far worse shape.

The entry-level R60/7 never really crossed my mind. But when I saw the listing, I pounced on it, trying my best to secure the deal before anyone else could even think about it. I’m happy I did because this bike is too cool. Teal is easily my second favorite color, second only to hot pink. So, when the paint glistened on my phone screen, I was ready to buy it, even if the motorcycle didn’t run. I paid $3,000 for it, which doesn’t seem too bad.

Its Future

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I had this idea that when I bought a classic BMW, I’d give it a sort of mild racer look. I’m not going to do that here. I want to continue this motorcycle’s story. It’ll go on scenic rides and be one of the lucky vehicles in my warehouse of favorite toys. It has just a few problems, namely the broken speedometer, some paint chips, and a really excited tachometer. The rear tire is right on the wear bars, too. It seems the original owner was about to service the machine right before he stopped riding it, so I’ll complete what he started. Freshen the bike up and keep riding it.

Come to think of it, I am still a bit wowed by the idea that I’ll be the second legal owner a full 46 years after the machine was put on the road. Hopefully, here’s to another 46 years, if not longer, of this little BMW sticking around.

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(Images: Author, unless otherwise noted.)

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Gary Lynch
Gary Lynch
1 year ago

Great find and congrats on the new -to – you bike. Personally I don’t know how you can afford to store and insure so many vehicles. I kinda gave up on quantity.

at first glance the fairing looks like a Windjammer. But there are a number of differences. Still, that’s what the bike was made for. And especially for more mature folk like me.

Bruce Smith
Bruce Smith
1 year ago

Great score, Mercedes! It’s beautiful! The fairing looks like the one on the R75/5 I had in the mid 1970s. It was a Windjammer by Vetter. If it isn’t a knock off there is a metal ID tag riveted inside.

ADDvanced
ADDvanced
1 year ago

I feel like this was a missed opportunity for a blink 182 reference.

Teal the, small things.

Unclewolverine
Unclewolverine
1 year ago

Welcome to the correct side of the motorcycle fandom, as the saying goes: First you want a motorcycle, then you want a BMW. Does it have a name yet? Xenia and I would be happy to cruise with you if you ever go through kansas.

10001010
10001010
1 year ago

A beautiful story for a beautiful bike. I’m sure the dearly departed is happy his bike went to someone who appreciates it.

Myk El
Myk El
1 year ago

Not all vehicles look good in all colors, but teal needs to be more available.

Droid
Droid
1 year ago

beautiful!
welcome to the bmw motorad community, please consider joining bmwmoa.org and/or airheads.org.
yes, new tires and flush fluids (you knew that already).
it’s an airhead so consider greasing the tranny splines.
r100rs was my first bike (now on my third bmw), one of the big attractions is that factory fresh replacement parts were/are available for old bikes – try that with other brands…find a dealer with micro-fiche part diagrams on line – e.g. http://www.ascycles.com (west coast) or http://www.maxbmw.com (northeast) i’ve used both.
agree wholeheartedly with all these other posters.

Dar Khorse
Dar Khorse
1 year ago

I’m not a motorcycle guy, but if I was ever to ride one, it would be a BMW. They’re just so cool, and that vintage airhead in that color is the coolest! Congrats on a great find.

Dennis Birtcher
Dennis Birtcher
1 year ago

A few days back, in the the “Automotive trends we’d banish forever”, I called for less grayscale and more actual colors. This. This is what I was talking about. Teal all the things!

CSRoad
CSRoad
1 year ago

Congrats, that is a great find, a beautiful looking time piece.
That does look like an early Craig Vetter fairing.
You are the caretaker of that beauty for the next 50 or 60 years, definitely new tires, all fluids and a complete look over before covering any major distance, you don’t want to mess it up, you get to skip the coolant though. (-:

Scott Ross
Scott Ross
1 year ago

YEEEESSSS!!!!!. I love it. I love the air head boxer engine, I love the sweet fairing. Here is my question is that a Vetter Fairing or a Vetter Knockoff? If you ever need an idea for an article write one about Craig Vetter that man is incredible and is more than just motorcycle fairings.

I do recommend the airhead 247 podcast. Lots of great information. Also You might want to join the BMW MOA or BMWRA. I joined the BMW MOA. Im very grateful for it because Im able to compare notes with the older members about my 02 oilhead bike. Good luck with riding that thing

Also check out the book Lone Rider by Elspeth Beard. She was the first woman to navigate the world on a motorcycle. Her bike a BMW R60/6.

Diana Slyter
Diana Slyter
1 year ago

Airheads are the unofficial trans bike as Corvairs were the unofficial trans car in the 70s, which probably explains why I have four airheads. Tends to be long term relationships, still have the ’84 R65LS and ’92 R100GS I bought new, and have met most of the past owners of my ’83 R80ST and ’82 R80T.

Diana Slyter
Diana Slyter
1 year ago

Welcome “airhead”, knew you’d find your way to your forever bike! FFI: airheads.org

MrLM002
MrLM002
1 year ago

Teal is the best color!

MaximillianMeen
MaximillianMeen
1 year ago

This 1974 DayStar St. Tropez popped up in my feed when I was looking for a BMW airhead (more on that tomorrow). 

So did the DayStar article publish late or the BMW article publish early? Lemme guess, you were just too excited to wait until tomorrow to tell us about the R60/7, right? I don’t think anyone here could blame you! Very cool bike and seems like an awesome deal.

Gubbin
Gubbin
1 year ago

Ohhh those pinstriiipes… $3k is “hipster kid’s first bike” money so I’m glad it was adopted instead by someone who can ride it well and appreciate it for the li’l marvel that it is.

Stink E. Jones
Stink E. Jones
1 year ago

FTR, I haven’t read a word of this yet, I just came here to say “love love love love love love love drool”

Canopysaurus
Canopysaurus
1 year ago

For $3000, I’d say you got the Teal of the Century!

Freelivin2713
Freelivin2713
1 year ago

That is beautiful! Another great article Mercedes

DadBod
DadBod
1 year ago

First off, I wish you got a picture of the matching teal truck!
Old boxers are so cool and sound great. Have fun balancing the carbs.

Droid
Droid
1 year ago
Reply to  DadBod

carb balancing is easy on an airhead: two 10mm wrenches and a DIY manometer (an 8-10 foot length of tubing with ATF in it – bike will burn ATF no problem if balance way off and it all gets sucked in…).

EmotionalSupportBMW
EmotionalSupportBMW
1 year ago

An Emotional Support BMW in every home! For every person regardless of their need or ability! The teal shreds harder then doing the ACT while skydiving.

Thx1138
Thx1138
1 year ago

I had a 1984 R65 that I loved to drive, very similar in type to this one with the dual shocks. I would recommend airheads.org for looking for what you need, it was a great community to be a part of. Hopefully you have the original toolkit, which was great! The best quote I ever heard was that the old bimmers were made for a Bavarian farmboy to fix it on the side of the road. Keep the rubber side down and put in some miles for me (I had to give up mine for the same reasons and regret it each time that I see a motorcycle go past).

ChefCJ
ChefCJ
1 year ago

You got the most 90’s looking bike from the 70’s, well done

Taco Shackleford
Taco Shackleford
1 year ago

Absolutely beautiful bike, Congratulations Mercedes!

Scoutdude
Scoutdude
1 year ago

Sounds like you got a great deal on a well kept and unique machine. Congratulations!

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