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rrs A BMW,Burrrs SOM~G~E-- -WElL! AS - ~ .""--:' Bob Frink, editor af The Motorcyclist's Past, ;, New England monthly, hod the goad fortune to test the R7515 far e week while In Munich. The new mechine is mare of e sports bike then ony previous BMW. By Robert Frink MUNICH, GERMANY - Thanks to the combined efforts of Mike Bondy of Butler & Smith and the BMW Factory, 1 was presented with one of BM's new R75/5 models to use, not for just a few mUes ride but for a full seven-days. Being an avid road rider and an owner of an R60, 1 was very anxious to compare, one against mine. At present the city of Munich is undergoing a ' mammoth construction boom, which accounts for several one-way streets and numerous detours. Starting from the center of the city and running northward, a new subway system is being built, . and as a result there are temporary trolley tracks all over, Much of Munich'S streets are still cobblestone. lt was a nightmare to drive a car, let alone ride a new motorcycle' with my . wife, in a strange city. Therefore, the first sunny day we rode the machine out onto a newly built sixlane boulevard; and hopped on the Autobahn (a toll free, limited access highway connecting most of the larger German cities) toward the city of Stuigart. The machine handles unbelievably well, especially at high speeds and with Alice sitting in back of me. Although we bad no helmets, fairings or gloves, the machine seemed to have uncontrolable speeds. When It was necessary to use the brakes, the machine came to a quick, positive slow down, - no jerldng, bucking or squeallng, and when power was again applied, the pick-up was fantastic. BMW has put far more horses In this model than the average road rider wlll • ever want to use. Holding the machine at 100 klms. per hour, which Is about 66 mph, the tachometer remains steady at 3500 rpms, At this rate the engine Is in nothing more than a fast Idle, and It pulled us along without bucking or jerking. I tion of his right ankle, since these carmachines for larger riders. buretors are far larger than his previous The R75 comes equJ.pped with an elecone. After a few mUes riding you get tric starter, - the same starting motor used to It and never know they're there. that BM uses in their automobiles. The The R75/5 Is truly a remarkable road machine starts instantly. The starter is holding machine for pavement riding. so wired that It is impossible to acciWhile riding It solo 1 accelerated to 140 dentally engage the starter motor while klms, per hour on the speedometer then - the engine Is running. But watch out, the immediately removed both hands from starter motor wlll engage If the engine the handlebars placing them on tank, idle is so slowed down that the red batthen depressed the rear wheel brake . .tery charge llghts shows on in the inwith all' my might; :.. no slddding, no strument cluster dial. squealing - just a quick, sure stop that The newly equipped larger directional ~ . i 5S J - - t-BIo4W MOTQACVUI[.$ ~ 1 g ul-- -i-- J-- l--J.r--:JI--'=:::"":-; i 401~ .~ ~ ' • w I 1 / v- 601 ~ /. 20 V- !//V i/ ) 2000 4000 .00. EN6IN£ SPUO RPM Although this road was fairly flat, each time I applied a burst of full throttle, the machine jumped up so fast in speeds that I was for ced to decelerate almost immediately. And you must remember, I was riding double. This machine, used on the hilly, winding roads of New England had best be used by a cautious rider. Again, the power Is unbelievablel When I flrst heard the 1970 .mcdels were having a different size rim and tires on front and rear wheels, I was disappointed since It has been my policy with my current machine to rotate the wheels at mileage intervals. To continue the practice It wlll be necessary to either change tires themselves from the rims, or to purchase a set of rims much like the average auto owner does for snow tires. , A huge construction project Is now underway on 3900 acres. of property adjacent to the BMWfactory, preparing for the 1972 Olympics. It was here that I rode the machine solo through loose gravel, powdery sands and rocks that measured In sizes from golfballs to softballs. The handling ease was amazing, - as compared to my R60, and that accounts for BMW's engineers equipping the 1970 model with the larger rear tire. (While at the Dealer's Meeting in N.J., I had an occasion to ride the R75 model and noticed that I was able to spin the rear wheel on the gravel-turf at the rear of the Country Club. This was done accidentally, not reallzlng the power that is delivered from the 75 engine, again as compared to my R60.) The R75 Is equipped with two special . built Bing carburetors, and one of the flrst things an experienced BM enthusiast will discover Is the awkward post- signals are really something and can be forced me to grab the edges of the tank for fear of being thrown across the headseen by both rider and other vehicles on the road very easily. Their size and light. New England riders will also be brightness attracts Instant attention. Impressed with the remarkable grip that And the horn, - a laud shrill bell the front wheel brake used alone has. like warning signal, a sound that cerThe new, lighter hydraulic front fork' ta1n1y will attract all who hear It. BM Seems to be bottomless. I tried three machines are strictly made for the road different times to hit bottom and again while riding the machine down the steep . and touring, and no one can convince me differently. driveway of my hotel's garage, all I Mike Bondy of Bultler & Smith told us could get was the sound of depressed thlit BMW had entered two of their maair. Using both brakes together, as most chines In the ISDT event held in Septemroad riders do, - well watch out, the inertia may send you and your passenger . ber, but these machines were custom, We had a chance to view these machines 'over the bara,' This is by far the best in a demonstration during my stay in brake equippped BM's 1have ever ridden. The year 1969 was the last production year for the Earls type front end. All machines are now equipped with the American type fork, which Incidentally is lighter and steeper positioned than It had been and riders who claim ed they squatted may sense themselves riding in a more ridged position. Even though this machine was not equipped with fairings, guards, etC., my wife Alice had no trouble holding the machine upright, something she has been unable to do with my R60. Mrs. Barbara Mott, wife of Syracuse, N.Y. Dealer Bill Mott, rode the machine around our hotel streets and was unable to touch her feet on the ground. She also felt, due to her small size, she had to sit up forward in the seat and lean over to grasp the short handlebars. This Is also another Indication BM is now building EN'INC S~UD R"M ~ Germany and these machines had small- .:<: er gas tanks and upsweep exhaust. BMW l<:l presently has no plans to equJ.p any of -.l their three 1970 models with this type of ~ woods riding accessories, according to C,,) local officials. As for 'my wife Alice, - her first thoughts of the new machine were the comfortable ride, not only on a short hop, but also on the two hundred mUe ride toward Stutgart and she appreciated the newly designed seat rails. Even though she is not a rider, she posed for a photo and found the machine easy to hold In an upright position, without any help from ldck stand or center stand. About the only disappointing aspect of this machine, - and the other two models as well, Is the unavllabillty of assorted colors. The machine is avallable in silver, black or white, not much more than what we've had in other years. However, one of the factory men pointed out to me that the new larger gas tank can be simply removed and the fenders taken off and painted to the new owners taste at small expense. The demand for the R75/5 and for that matter .the other two models, wlll 'most certainly exceed the supply. During our visit to the factory in Berlin on October 9th, two officials of the plant told me that their single assembly Une can produce one machine every seven minutes . provided there are no delays on the part of the part suppliers. It was a wonderful experience for myself and my wife Alice to be the first New Englanders to get a chance to ride this brand new model that has been In the production stage for aboutfive years. And to ride It In the country In which It originated makes It that much more memorable. After all, who else can say they rode the R75 on the German Autobahn six weeks before It was schedtUed to arrive at NewEngland Dealer's shops. My taanks to BMWand Butler & Smith for making this possible.