Within the windswept coastal city of Husum, Germany, typically referred to as the “Gray Metropolis by the Sea”, the air is thick with salt and heritage. It’s right here that Holger Breuer of HB-Custom operates, a builder who has spent years proving he’s something however a one-trick pony. We’ve seen him sort out every thing from rally-raid Honda Dominators to sharp-edged Suzuki Katanas, however for his newest private venture, Holger determined to look backward, manner backward.
To know the gravity of this construct, one should recognize the donor. The 1968 BMW R69S was the high-water mark of the post-war ‘Slash-2’ period. A 594cc touring powerhouse, it produced 42 hp and was well-known for its rock-solid stability, because of its double-cradle body and distinctive Earles fork suspension. It was a motorcycle constructed to cross continents with out breaking a sweat, however its quirky geometry makes it a uncommon sight on the customized circuit.
“I couldn’t discover any customized bikes constructed on these outdated fashions,” Holger explains. “The reason being apparent: the body and the suspension are very difficult. They don’t seem to be simple to adapt and are undoubtedly not simple to make fairly.”
Holger’s imaginative and prescient was a contemporary interpretation of the Twenties BMW R32, the bike that began all of it. Probably the most hanging aspect of this homage is the hand-forged, cut up aluminum gasoline tanks. They straddle the body’s prime tube, making a low-slung, classic under-slung profile that instantly visually lowers the bike’s heart of gravity.
However whereas the silhouette whispers of the Twenties, the heartbeat is pure Nineteen Eighties muscle. Holger binned the unique 600cc unit in favor of a totally rebuilt 1000cc BMW R80 engine. To make sure the powerplant breathes with fashionable urgency, he fitted Mikuni TM36 flat-slide carburetors and a sintered clutch to deal with the facility. The end result? A leap from the unique 42 hp to a stout 75 hp.
To make that further energy usable, the chassis wanted an overhaul. The enduring Earles entrance finish was retained however introduced into the twenty first century with totally adjustable YSS shock absorbers. On the rear, the plunger-style motion is now managed by a pair of adjustable Koni shocks.
The bike rolls on high-shoulder alloy rims laced with 4mm chrome steel spokes to new hubs, wrapped in vintage-style 4.00×18 Shinko tires that nail the classic racing aesthetic. The cockpit is equally refined, that includes Magura riser handlebars, Magura switches, and a minimalist Motogadget speedometer.
The extent of element is what we’ve come to anticipate from HB-Customized. A customized chrome steel exhaust system terminates in traditional Hoske mufflers, offering a baritone boxer growl that matches the bike’s aggressive stance. The lighting is ultra-modern however discreet, using Motogadget flip alerts up entrance and Kellermann models on the rear.
The construct took over a 12 months of sporadic work in between buyer tasks. “It is my very own bike; it wasn’t a buyer order,” says Holger. As a result of it was constructed for himself, the end is uncompromising.
Although Holger constructed this R69S to fulfill his personal curiosity, he’s reportedly open to entertaining affords. Should you’ve ever needed to personal a bit of Husum’s most interesting engineering that bridges a century of BMW historical past, now could be your probability.
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