This BMW R60 Never Rides Alone

“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®
Petrolicious.com
/ petrolicious

[@henrytupper6959]

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.

[@minhhieuvo9168]

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!

[@henrytupper6959]

@@minhhieuvo9168 On the BMW / 2 bikes. 3.50- 18 “ was standard front and rear. Wheels were interchangeable also.

[@strider5453]

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.

[@iantye2086]

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.

[@cheeptrick5464]

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!

[@GreenWhiteRevolution]

Beautiful bike

[@Makeitliquidfast]

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..

[@lejake]

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 :)

[@slsl-ud2me]

yeah me to is,nt that crazy

[@henrytupper6959]

Sorry, didn’t mean to hit thumbs down.

[@lejake]

@@henrytupper6959 No worries mate, I made that comment five years ago 😂

[@mateussodre1905]

damn this chanel has so much quality

[@aniruddhaupadhyaya7872]

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

[@bazzamow7031]

Forget the bike I would just be happy to have a dad like that

[@arumrunner]

Father and Son = A very Special Bond I know, as I am one...

[@g00dd00d]

you're a special bond?

[@arumrunner]

If you don't get it, move on my friend, move on

[@g00dd00d]

If you don't get a joke, you should move on my friend...

[@cw7422]

Beautiful. I love the old BMers.

[@danielsandoval8345]

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.

[@masqueman01]

Petrolicius gets to the heart of owning a machine like this and storytelling about cool people. This was wonderful.

[@filipshulikov143]

Absolutely incredible

[@billkenney422]

Makes me wish that it was my father-son story. Great video, great story.

[@viriatvsoflvsitania5422]

Another great production by you guys! Beautiful videography

[@tomfrantz]

I had a 1971 R65 and rode around Hollywood in the '80s. Took Miss Hawaiin Tropic 1984 on a breakfast date to Norms-with her on back. Ordered 2X2X2X2 which was two bacons, two pancakes, two sausages and two eggs. She looked at the new Miss America on the cover of La Times or USA today and said, "I think she's pir-ty." Some things you never forget. I remember her holding on to me- as we rode down Ocean BLVD to the Venice Norms.

[@jannekewagenaar5878]

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.

[@tomclarkeofcoventry]

Best one for ages!

[@erneallouietang3644]

old motorcycle and vans old skool wow perfect

[@grahamreeve5209]

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.

[@davehunter9]

What a beautiful bike, and the father/son story is wonderful.

[@therollingwheelz]

one of my dream motorcycle...i must have this one day.....

[@georgec2126]

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!

[@migram4190]

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.

[@AndyvanderRaadt1]

More motorcycles! More Petrolicious!

[@SofaKingTouge]

id probably never get a motorcycle but if i did this would be it. this one has a really cool front fork.

[@andrewtallackson1647]

I know both of these guys. This is incredibly cool, and exceptionally well made!

[@damytzeus]

fantastic video. thank you for sharing my mccomas. very inspiring. i wish i could have that relationship with my father. there's hope.

[@StevenVanLoven]

Wonderfull movie,great father son relationship...

[@roberthorner8494]

I CARRIED MY SON ON MY R50 THE SAME WAY. WISH I HAD ONE NOW.

[@terry5935]

Beautiful

[@patrickshelley5929]

The same model with 2 stroke engine is a Poland bike, " SHL M11". And then Escorts released that model in India in the name of "Rajdoot" along with Yamaha. I am having one " Rajdoot" bike. It is a roaring beast "2 stroke engine".

[@massimocei7905]

Belle sempre,le vecchie Bmw!

[@MollysPa]

Great story, thanks. A minor point, but he actually turned the motorcycle to the right to put the sidecar into the air.

[@nguyenducthong005]

I love this story so dang much!

[@esobeegarage]

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!

[@Ben_Bertucci]

Thank you!

[@absolutepressur]

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.

[@Kbaum752]

A work of art, beautiful

[@faffa5583]

awesome Bike, awesome Video ! Greetings from Hamburg, Germany

[@kennethj1956]

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.

[@grayharker6271]

I have a 66 R60 in blue with the Enduro bags.

[@underarmbowler]

Great bike and a lovely story.

[@NewsMoto]

this is awesome work! keep it up!

[@cassyjackson5669]

love motorcycles

[@thorandmoljnir]

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.

[@iea96]

Wow just wow

[@erwinballings9155]

Beautiful bike and a great vid 👍

[@erinhoover6621]

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

[@sherrysoliz8007]

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.

[@B犬-l1m]

So beautiful. Thanks for the nice vid. From Tokyo

[@honda197056]

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.

[@bluestudio67]

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?

[@gonzalo4307]

He also had a BMW e9 back then I hope my dad was a bike rider so I could share stories like this but he is not :(

[@arielpochoandres]

So, became a bike rider and you will share stories with your son 😃

[@fastnbulbouss]

Indeed he did. I also saw that in the driveway. What a wonderful house to have been born in.

[@carlarthur4442]

I remember my dad riding motorcycles when I was a kid , he bought me a toy motorbike with a see through engine , when you moved the wheels on the bike the two pistons moved up and down , he took me too school a few times on the back of the bike and I was hooked on bikes and have been ever since , all my sons are into motorcycles I have ( 5 ) my uncles had bikes , my cousins are into bikes my brother as well , one of my cousins Ken Arthur was T T champion on sidecars, his dad was a dispatch rider in the army, so I guess it's in our blood throughout the family , and theirs nothing better for freedom excitement and pleasure in life , love bikes and always have , started with a plastic toy motorbike I was about three years old , I am 69 and still ride a B M W K 75c .

[@arisgod2749]

Not really into bikes but what a cool story, father and son doing their thing. Awesome video as usual guys.

[@furself114]

2:15 one of the coolest cars ever! Dad was a fan of BMW, ya think?

[@santhoshktm]

Amazing

[@patricknesbitt9208]

As always great video

[@matschwarz9261]

And again: a wonderful piece of german engineering!

[@MidnightExpressMC]

Beautiful little film. I must say, though, that every time I hear somebody say that they “drive” a motorcycle as opposed to ride a motorcycle, I cringe 😁

[@SamO45]

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.

[@vivek-1318]

Awesome

[@dillydean]

all i ever think about is bikes! all i work for in life is bikes! but i have never owned a motorcycle....my life is pain. should i just go into debt and buy one or keep saving?

[@ape_status]

don't go in debt. buy a used bike, fix it yourself, and begin a life long love affair with riding. I promise, you won't regret it.

[@fullfunk]

you can buy a used one with like 0% interest just search some bike shop

[@andrewpoon6633]

The production quality on these films are so good, I'd watch a video of a vintage lawnmower if they made one.

[@ape_status]

mow tastefully.

[@motorradingaround1220]

This sounds just like my r nine t I love my bmw

[@HiwattScot]

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!

[@ekart56]

Genius Video, even if I prefer the Zündapp bikes

[@milosilic23]

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

[@planpitz4190]

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!

[@mwbright]

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.

[@Lu-KN]

Cool. Time to buy and restore another R60 maybe? :D

[@petewebb6952]

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.

[@bitiberg]

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.

[@AndiRHermawan]

i see a gsx r750 in the garage 😍 nice

[@deweypug]

Nothing like a BMW motorcycle of this era...

[@blodquatsch]

this one was right in the feels

[@tomboard]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Perhaps you could revisit his hanger: that looks like a lovely collection of Suzuki GSXRs in there...?

[@ollieteller]

when is the 288 gto video coming out that you guys filmed with david lee (ferraricollector)?

[@kinglouis6974]

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

[@AviatorRider]

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...

[@tmusic99]

This machine radiates quality. Very robust engineering. Had a R60 in the seventies. Very good for long trips. 8 hour stints OK. Replacing the carborators with Honda CB 450:s (sorry about that) gave an even smother ride.

[@jamdc2000]

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.

[@LaudaMaestro]

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.

[@JR-bj3uf]

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.

[@ApoloniuszMusialek]

Turning right will put the sidecar up in the air. Nice video. Love the story.

[@allwinds3786]

I have a 77 R100RS that I will start restoration on this summer

[@RadensBegin]

well made ` hope can do video like this~

[@MasIki.Gaming]

i always envy to person who have good relation with his dad :3

[@375GTB]

I CRY! Miss my bosses R60 About 1975 Rural Tampa... Thank you JOE P. J.C.

[@epbrown01]

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!

[@eesus55]

I'm just 13, but I'm hoping to inherit this bike from my grandpa when I'm older, so amazing!

[@realmaindrianpace]

You guys still have that E9? Was it a 2800 or a 3.0? Only one of my favorite cars.

[@lacybrown4571]

1973 3.0 CS.

[@bjejoh]

My 2011 (last air cooled) BMW Boxer also pulls to the right. The bmw soul is still in these bikes.

[@kcranny9375]

I think this is your best so far petrolicious! Well done!

[@bgd73]

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.

[@ahmadzahid2801]

Stop in every scene and it would be a good wallpaper.

[@genegoodwin8925]

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.

[@marcr8968]

Beautiful story with a beautiful machine.

[@717rocket]

Wish they still made those, a marvel of simplicity.

[@StevenJeNova]

Stunning vid. Great bike, special bond. Awesome. Thanks!

[@craigrchee]

If they still have that E9 you should do another feature on that car... one of the prettiest Bimmers ever made!

[@tubadude905]

Awesome bike, even more awesome story, and even more awesome way the video relays all this.