Sporting classic: BMW R 90 S

The term 'iconic' is overused these days, but when applied to BMW's exotic and influential R90S, it's eminently fitting.

In the early to mid 1970s the Japanese marques were gaining momentum with their fast but ill-handling superbikes, while the Italian brands were producing performance masterpieces like Moto Guzzi's V7 Sport, Ducati's 750 Sport and Laverda's 750 SFC.

In an age when BMW was largely known for its expensive touring bikes, the company was in dire need of some youthful, sporting appeal. The end result was the R90S of 1974.

First released in a Silver Smoke paint scheme and later (the following year) joined by Daytona Orange, BMW was soon inundated with orders from an enchanted motorcycling public - a public hungry for the model's seamless blend of performance, handling and style.

Developed from the R75/5, the R90S boasted extra cubes to tackle the larger-capacity competitors from Japan Inc, and was fitted with sporty Dell'Orto carburettors - a first for the marque, which until then had favoured its traditional Bing units.

With a top speed of 125mph, impressive acceleration and superb handling, the R90S was the complete package, and the exotic looks were the icing on the cake.

Proving the model's worth in the heat of battle, German racers Hans Otto Butenuth and Helmut Dähne and came in second and third in 1974's Isle of Man Production TT, while in 1976 British expatriate Reg Pridmore piloted the R 90 S to its first (and only) AMA Superbike Championship crown.

Dähne also lead the Isle of Man Production TT from start to finish in 1976, but under a handicap system was credited with fifth. In Australia, Kenny Blake guided an R 90 S to second place in the 1975 Castrol 6-hour, posting the same result the year after, this time while teamed with Tony Hatton.

Although it only remained in production for three years, the R90S helped BMW shed its staid, conservative image of the time, and heralded a new era of performance for BMW's sporting Boxer twins - a proud lineage that continues to this day.