1959 BMW R 60

1959 BMW R 60 sits in BMW's mid-displacement touring range, the practical sibling to the sportier singles and twins that got more attention in period road tests. This is a boxer twin built for covering real distance, not for showing off at a stoplight. The shaft final drive means no chain to clean or adjust on a rainy tour through the Alps, and the low center of gravity from that flat-twin layout makes the bike feel planted at speed and manageable at a crawl through town. Riders who've spent time on chain-drive British twins from the same era often describe the R 60 as noticeably less fussy to live with day to day.

The 1959 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year — buyers comparing it to a 1958 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences.

Today's buyer tends to be a rider with some mechanical patience and an interest in old-world touring machines rather than someone chasing outright performance. Collector interest sits at a moderate level, making the 1959 BMW R 60 a reasonable entry point for someone building a small vintage BMW collection without competing for the rarest boxer variants.