Before the /5 series, BMW had a reputation for producing expensive and
idiosyncratic touring motorcycles. But the /5 changed that. Although
still expensive, the market was opened to a new world of riders, and
during the 1970s the air-cooled boxer evolved into the ground-breaking
R90S and R100RS. These were among the first motorcycles with
factory-fitted fairings and they also offered class-leading performance.
Even when BMW decided to discontinue the twins in favour of the new
four-cylinder K-series in 1984, demand for the older boxers forced BMW
to reconsider. The boxer was resurrected and continued for more than a
decade. Author Ian Falloon has numerous motorcycle books to his name,
such as the Original BMW Twins, BMW R90S, BMW Story, Moto Guzzi Story
and Laverda Twin and Triple Bible. He has a small collection of classic
sporting motorcycles - including a 1976 BMW R90S.