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    1974 bmw r90s Island * HERO

    Jan 11, 2017 6 minutes
    WORDS ALAN CATHCART PHOTOS PHIL MASTERS
    “THE RESULT IS THAT TRADEMARK BMW FLAT-TWIN IMITATION OF A LOW-FLYING AIRCRAFT AT FULL THROTTLE”

    HELMUT Dähne joined BMW as an apprentice mechanic, aged 15, in 1959. In a 15-year career, he rose to development engineer and chief road tester before moving to Metzeler. He also raced BMW boxer twins in enduro events and, from 1970, in road racing, generally with little support from the factory.

    He debuted at the Isle of Man in 1972, after a credible 13th on his home-built R75/5 at the Imola 200 behind Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari on their all-new desmo Ducatis (Retrobike #23). Riding a stock R75/5, Dähne placed fourth in the Production TT, and backed up with fourth again in 1973.

    In 1974, BMW released the revered R90S streetbike; Dähne immediately upgraded his race bike’s engine and cosmetics (but not the chassis) to R90S specs and was rewarded with third. A holed rocker cover while leading the race in 1975 thwarted what looked like certain victory,

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