This BMW R60 Never Rides Alone
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- “This bike is about history, it’s about my dad…it’s about what started a life-long passion for motorcycles, it’s what launched a career,” Tom McComas, “…and it’s why I’m a Hollywood stunt man.”
In 1963, the first thing Tom’s father-also named Tom McComas-did when he was discharged from the military was to buy a BMW R60 motorcycle. This motorcycle. It was at times colored black, orange, and had a sidecar, which is how Tom Jr. began to experience the “euphoric feeling” he enjoys to this day.
“When I’m riding it and I look down and see the speedometer, it takes me back to 13, 14, 15 years old and having snuck the bike out, riding it on the North Shore of Chicago…it’s a trip, I can’t describe it,” Tom says.
“For him to have the bike makes me feel that it couldn’t be in better hands,” says Tom Sr., “…and I have total confidence that Tommy is going to love the bike as much as I do.”
“Wherever I drive, there’s a part of him riding with me; if it wasn’t for my dad and this motorcycle…motorcycles have been with me ever since, because of my dad.”
Drive Tastefully®
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I know how you feel about that bike. In 67 I bought an R50 and still ride it today. It has 160,000 miles and I am 76.
Hi, wish you best luck. May I ask why vintage motorcycle uses same tire size for front and rear? Is it safe? I wanna use that setting for my SR400, so when I go adventure, I only have to carry 1 spare tire and tube. Thank you!
@@minhhieuvo9168 On the BMW / 2 bikes. 3.50- 18 “ was standard front and rear. Wheels were interchangeable also.
I feel you brother. I had a 1957 and a 1958 both R69's. One I bought and restored while working in Morocco and the other boucht while working in Thailand. Best motorcycles I've ever owned. I owned Harleys, Indians and Hondas. The rubber solo seat is the best riding seat in existence! When I went to work in Spain, I road it to Madrid. When it came time to leave I road the bike nonstop from Madrid to the port of Cadiz, which is the same port Columbus departed from with the Nina the Pinta and the Santa Maria in 1492. It was a ten hour ride and I felt like I'd just stepped out of the back seat of a Rolls-Royce. I shipped it to the Port of Miami. I left the bikes with my brother for safe keeping while I went back overseas to work again. The bastard sold them and didn't tell me until a year later. I don't speak to my brother anymore. So now, living in Thailand, at age 71, I've just finished restoring a 1992 Yamaha SRV 250, nice little bike but its not a BMW. Nothing is like a vintage BMW. Oh, one more thing, its a four speed not a five speed. One down three up. Sounds like shifting a tractor when shift gears. great bikes.
So sorry you had a brother as an a.seh.le. Me too. That was a tough loss and hard to ever forgive. But mate, leave it behind, and try to move on. But I know these things eat away at you as you get older. Better off without him, I know I am.
This is a beautiful bike with a wonderful history; in addition, this is probably one your most unique videos ever that surpasses other's stories regardless of whether it be a car of a motorcycle. Just a perfect story.
you've said everything i've experienced with my Dad's '56 BMW R60. i took it to Bonneville last year and got a land speed record my 1st attempt.. i remember tearing up as i came off the course, knowing that Dad was there, with me :-) beautiful story and tribute to your Dad.
I owned a fully dressed 1966 R/50. It was black with white striping and a Hienrich handlebar mount fairing, Buco saddlebags with the bullet shaped running lights lenses and a Wixom Tour box all striped to match the bike. In 1974 at age 20 I left Michigan on it, headed for California and stayed almost a year then rode back home to MI. Without a doubt the very best year of my life!
What a wonderful story, not just about a motorcycle, but a father /son story. I hope there is another generation to pass it on to. Thank you for such a heart moving video.
The BMW R60/2 is one of the most comfortable motorcycle I have ever ridden. The sprung solo seat makes the bike just float down the road and if you have time to wait while the heavy flywheel gets gathered up it will run at + posted speeds all day long.
As a regular viewer, I must admit I am usually here for the cars; but this particular video has staked its claim as my favorite out of all the Petrolicious videos. Beautiful cinematography, amazing interviewees with great dialogue, and perfect music to set the mood. The whole video is nostalgic, contemplative, and even emotional. Thank you, Petrolicious!
Thank you!
old motorcycle and vans old skool wow perfect
LOVE YOUR STORY AND THE R60
Forget the bike I would just be happy to have a dad like that
Beautiful story with a beautiful machine.
Absolutely incredible
One of the most beautiful bikes ever made... These aren´t just videos, these are beautiful short films, great job as always.
The best video so far in this series. It makes me miss my dad that much more but I also appreciate my two sons even more as well. When you can evoke true emotions with a story then you have done your best work.
My 2011 (last air cooled) BMW Boxer also pulls to the right. The bmw soul is still in these bikes.
Class, right there!
What a great video, probably my favorite of them all so far. I don't think any video has captured the emotional connection we can have with a machine. Truly remarkable.
this one was right in the feels
I founds this bike to be the most ergonomically perfect bike I ever rode. I had the same saddlebags too. These awful kids burned it up for fun. I have an R75/6 now. It doesn't come close.
Wow, your videos aren't even that long, but they're so well made that they just fully take me in and after the video has endet it just feels like I've been somewhere else for half an hour, it's crazy but great :)
yeah me to is,nt that crazy
Sorry, didn’t mean to hit thumbs down.
@@henrytupper6959 No worries mate, I made that comment five years ago 😂
This brings back so many memories. My dad had a Honda 125cc 1967 in the nineties, never taught me how to ride the bike because he said it was too dangerous. If he was right or not I will never know. Truth is, now, I envy those two and the bmw bike.
You edited this one differently than others and it's mesmerizing. You really captured their relationship and the love and character of the bike. Another Perfect video! :) xx
I can't believe it took me this long to find this channel. And that it doesn't have like 20mil subs. Videos are pure art
This is awesome getting the bike from your old man makes it priceless …. Nice restoration
damn this chanel has so much quality
Yup each and every one of these is a cinematic masterpiece. Only other motorcycle/car channel I've loved this much has been Fortnine. You should definitely check them out
I was fortunate enough to quit high school with one month to go until graduation to work at a Norton, Triumph, BSA, Ducati, CZ, Jawa, Moto Guzzi and Bultaco dealership. It was worth it, rode em all but my favorites were the 900 Desmo Super Sport and the Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans. Strangely or not the Triumph 750 triple was also a great road bike if you could keep the three Amals sync up. If only I would have kept a few..
Nothing like a BMW motorcycle of this era...
Wish they still made those, a marvel of simplicity.
that story with any bike is just perfect. thank you
Thanks for this video. I have found an R60/2, 1962, for sale, that I have fallen in love with. This video helped me make the decision to pursue this and maybe one day park her in my garage. Excellent video, excellent machine. As a kid in the 1960s, the closest I would get to owning one was the Matchbox die-cast model on my bedroom dresser. Thank You.
Love this video. I am 40 now and my dad owned a 1976 bmw r100rs. He had to sell it to support the family back then.
Now I am grown I still know the guy who bought my dads old bike all those years ago. He has never ridden it and it sits in his living room as art work.
I am still trying to buy that same bike to this day in remembrance of my dad. I wish the guy would sell it.
Bravo. Thank you so much for what you do. Thanks also to my passionate fellow viewers and supporters of this channel, keeping the comments positive and sharing good thoughts. Awaiting the next masterpiece.
Beautiful bike
Father and Son = A very Special Bond
I know, as I am one...
you're a special bond?
If you don't get it, move on my friend, move on
If you don't get a joke, you should move on my friend...
More motorcycles! More Petrolicious!
Well done Tom McComas !!! Both of you!
What a beautiful story and excellent restoration.
Touching video. So great to see you both in your leather jackets ride this beauty.
Not really into bikes but what a cool story, father and son doing their thing. Awesome video as usual guys.
that orange peel on the painting is outreageous!
It's not orange peel, the enduro bags have a rough finish.
I'm just 13, but I'm hoping to inherit this bike from my grandpa when I'm older, so amazing!
Congratulations !! Excellent video !! I took 7 years restoring my 1969 R60/2 hoping one of my kids will be interested in keep such an incredible dependable motorcycle with a gracious super classic design. It's a kind of aristocratic era motorcycle which one can ride wearing a tuxedo and looking nice in the picture...
This level of cinematography is Academy Award worthy
The superimposing of father and son on the road was a stroke of genius! But before your heads get too big, I think the color grading was a little overdone on this one. Have a nice day and thank you for all the videos!
Makes me wish that it was my father-son story. Great video, great story.
Beautiful. I love the old BMers.
When I was 5 the first bike I was ever on was my dad's R75. 32 years later I'm driving his bike 😁😁😁 what a machine
R60's have a terrible handling problem that BMW never sorted. Every time you ride one they fight you when ever you try to turn for home. Sometimes you think you've got it under control, get to the end of your road and the dam thing goes right past it and you're of again. Lovely bikes.
What do you need more than an old BMW, an eighties bike collection ,a Piper Malibu and a Hangar at Burbank AP to store everything!
The production quality on these films are so good, I'd watch a video of a vintage lawnmower if they made one.
mow tastefully.
This video brought a smile to my face. What a great story. His dad's a pretty cool guy. Not sure of his age, but my pop is 82 and still goes to the pistol firing range, is a great Texas hold 'em player at the casino, and goes to Canada as a consultant to an explosive company. He loves life - that's the secret - just as these two men in the video know.
P.S. Being a stunt man looks like it pays a bucketload of bucks, eh?
What a stunning bike .. Timeless beauty !
fantastic video. thank you for sharing my mccomas. very inspiring. i wish i could have that relationship with my father. there's hope.
You love your dad! Big respect! Great video!
Great thanks. Enviable. I love those old Beemers. The nearest I’ve had was a retro styled R1200R. My Dad rode motorcycles but before I was born. I believe he rode a Brough. I learnt about the feel of engines and gear shifts (and lighting cigarettes at the same time) in cars. He died about 13 years ago. I ride a Triumph Bonneville now, which I’m sure he’d like. I wouldn’t say no to an old Beemer.
I think your dad got his $550.00 worth. Great bike, great father & son story!
Another great production by you guys! Beautiful videography
Petrolicius gets to the heart of owning a machine like this and storytelling about cool people. This was wonderful.
sweet memories of a dad and son.
Funny , i am the owner of the same BMW R60 ,1957 year of built for 46 years now , it was the possesion of my granddad an when he passed away i take it over for the same reson , memories and respect.
Fantastic. So great he tried to restore it as it was in the period. I love that. Beautiful machine and story.
Loved this one! Sometimes the people featured on here can be a bit douchey, but this was just a really special, really neat story to listen to. I'll probably watch this again at some time, because I enjoyed listening to them explain their passion for this bike, what it means to them, and why.
Sometimes I almost feel persecuted here in Sweden for being passionate about anything with an engine, because right now it is really trendy to shame those like us because what we love creates CO2 emissions and that's synonymous with a strong desire to destroy the planet (nevermind stores only selling clothes shipped literally from across the world by unregulated cargo ship emissions, no that's not worth talking about i guess). So watching movies like this and appreciating someone else's passion for the same thing I'm passionate about sort of sets things right with the world again. My world anyway :) Keep stories like this coming.
I know both of these guys. This is incredibly cool, and exceptionally well made!
I very much relate to this video. I grew up riding to BMW Rally's with my father. Multiple bikes but my earliest memory is riding in a Steib sidecar, attached to a 67' R60. My father past away last year and I plan to restore the R60 very soon. I have twin boys age 4 and can't wait to take them for a cruise.
I CRY!
Miss my bosses R60
About 1975
Rural Tampa...
Thank you JOE P.
J.C.
What a beautiful bike, and the father/son story is wonderful.
Best one for ages!
JUST SIMPLY PERFECT.
Awesome bike, even more awesome story, and even more awesome way the video relays all this.
I have a 1968 R69 with a '68 R60 engine. Smooth as silk, almost like a side valve in smoothness. Wish I could find those teardrop saddlebags...
Great story and a beautiful Bike cant beat an old air head ....
beautiful video mate! shows how close this bike is to you and to your dad!An homage to a timeless machine and lifetime of memories! kudos!!
If we have to explain how we feel about our motorcycles you wouldnt understand. In 1954 my dad borrowed a Vespa scooter from one of his army buddies and took me for a ride. I was hooked then and there and I promised myself that someday I would ride one of my own. Now at 73 I still ride and every day weather permitting i drink my coffee and saddle up. When my Harley doesnt come down the road ANYMORE you will know that i am dead !
Very nice video
My dad had BMW’s he started out with an R60,then bought an R50 for my mother.Later on bought a R69S with a sidecar but he didn’t keep the sidecar very long and my mom got in an accident with the R50 so I sort of took over on that one.Dad painted the R69S in Cadillac colors,it was unique
Nice slabsides and slingshots
I have one the same as them , I’m just putting it up for sale now and I know I’m gonna regret it
I'll buy a classic bimmer someday so I too can pass it on to my son. Damn, this story is such an inspiration! Greetings from the Philippines.
I usually like the motorcycle videos more than the car videos and this is no exception.
I love the Earls type fork on BMWs of that period. I think it is the reason why BMWs of that time seem to float along.
NICE! story. Thanks. I miss my Dad.
I think this is your best so far petrolicious! Well done!
that stumped me for a second as well. I like how he admitted the linear to rotation, the torque pulls the bike to the right. It seems to reveal no counterbalance to a balanced boxer...and more plans for a side car reason.
"wherever I drive there's a part of him driving with me"
Can't be more true
I used to share a R69s and a R100GSPD with my father
Awesome. She’s a beauty with a thumping heart ❤
If they still have that E9 you should do another feature on that car... one of the prettiest Bimmers ever made!
I CARRIED MY SON ON MY R50 THE SAME WAY. WISH I HAD ONE NOW.
I love your videos guys, but I was spoiled by Bentley Boys. That video was so raw, so beautiful... Everything flowed together, the sound, the cinematography, the feeling of being on the edge of that car.
The stories you tell and show of owner and machine are one of the best parts of your channel. But once again, that Bentley and its owner take the cake. Your person that filmed that episode, the editor and sound guys all deserve huge props for that one. I throw it on periodically just to get that feeling of being there just because that video was epic.
Keep up the awesome work, I look forward to seeing if you guys can top that Bentley episode.
Did you like that Bentley Boys video?
+ape_status Haha, yeah, kinda gushed about it huh? It truly is their most wonderful video to date though.
+ape_status That's awesome. I like just about everything that comes out on this channel. You did a great job with this one. The story of the motorcycle being passed down, and all the family memories were great to hear. Good job with it. I enjoyed it very much so.
Turning right will put the sidecar up in the air. Nice video. Love the story.
Great vid as always! Thanks for posting. I loved my 67 toaster tank R50 back in the late 70's. Thing was pretty gutless (friends on 350 Honda's were always waiting for me lol) but my R50 was the one people wanted to check out when we got there. With the swingarm front end it looked like it was from the 40's.
The company in Germany I ordered parts from had the solo seat but not the rubber bushing so I fabricated using part of a spring off of a dirt bike shock, worked well. Did a top end rebuild on it in one evening. Was only getting 80 compression in one side and around 100 in the other. When I pulled the cylinders off the rings fell out in pieces but the chrome lined bores showed no damage. Reground the valve seats with the new valves and put it back together and ran like a dream. It was by far the easiest to work on cycle I ever had, the very few times I had to work on it.
Nice video. I know what he means about sneaking the bike out - Sheridan Rd. along Chicago's North Shore is too tempting; a beautiful ride even at slow speeds. I have similar nostalgic feelings for the Honda GL1000 - my uncle taught me to ride and he owned one, and I wish he and it were still around. And count me in for more bike vids!
I believe these are a Four-Speed not a Five-speed......
My 1970 R75/5 was a four speed; I kept calling it a "Sofa"; it was so comfortable to Drive.
i always envy to person who have good relation with his dad :3
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Perhaps you could revisit his hanger: that looks like a lovely collection of Suzuki GSXRs in there...?
he also had an E9 .... what a great life !!
Thank You for putting out such quality videos every week!
I love flat-twin BMW bikes. A low centre of gravity, shaft drive, superb build quality-and to me they look terrific.
Even an '89 Dnepr 650 I had was good. Weak brakes, rubbish carbs and ponderous handling, but it never let me down. Good transport!
A work of art, beautiful
why do i feel so nice whenever I watch any video from Petrolicious ... absolutely makes me feel so bloody alive. Thanks to the entire team for amazing videos. It takes such passion, dedication, effort and.......... goes on and on and on.
thumbs up for this video and all that you have made and will make in future..... LOVE
Stunning vid. Great bike, special bond. Awesome. Thanks!
Was reading 'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance', was wondering what a r60 looks like, saw this, and in the book there are also stories of father and son riding a bike...
Great story Great Production and of course a great Motorcycle..
it's awesome to see Bmw motorcycles out there.
I thought the /2 was one down, three up...4-speed. But...as an owner of an R60 I consider it to be sublime.
You're not wrong.
Great bike and great story.