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takefive · Dec 9, 2007

Hello All,
I just came accross a 1969 R50. Never seen one before but just knew I had to have it. I am in the Bahamas, so no loca help here at all. First thing, I need to find some books on this bike, can anyone recomend some good ones and where to get them? Looking forward to a fun project.

PAULBACH · Dec 9, 2007

Try this site to start

First

Here is another.

A site from the UK

BMW Motorcycle Restoration

20774 · Dec 9, 2007

Clymer sells an aftermarket repair manual for 500/600cc twins 1955-1969. It's not great, but it's better than nothing! Check out Duane's website for a lot of good information on the /2s at:

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/index.htm

A couple of other fora for evaluation where you might be able to get some guidance and if not that, a good ribbing(!), are Boxerworks, the Yahoo /2 Forum, and Vintage BMW Motorcycle owners. All of these have on-line forums that you can join and participate in.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/slash2/
http://www.boxerworks.com/message.phtml
http://www.vintagebmw.org/version6/

Any particulars on the bike - miles, general condition, pictures??

Good luck...

takefive · Dec 9, 2007

Thanks for the replies

Thanks for the replies and the leads, The bike has been well cared for up untill recently when it got left out in the weather for a few weeks. I just got it home last thursday and have not had much time to play with it. The engine is frozen, I found water in one carberator, I can see a little rust in through the spark plug hole. I filled the cylinders with marvell mystery oil, in through the spark plug holes.
and took the carbs off and soaked them in corosion block. I don't want to get ahead of myself and do any more damage, so any help on how to proceed will be welcome. The bike seems to have all the parts, I believe it was running up untill about a year ago then got burried in the garage, then outside , then I found it.
The wrench for the exhaust flanges, Is that universal or has to be a BMW wrench??

RIDERR1150GSADV · Dec 9, 2007

Welcome!!

I hope you get the bike going. IIRC the wrench is a BMW item as it fits the fins just right. They are available on the web. If you need parts, 441 Cycle Shop in Ft. Lauderdale (no affiliation) carries quite a bit of parts or can get them for you as they are just across the pond.
Matt Parkhouse is an authority on airheads and has numerous articles on fixing them in the ON magazine. Good luck getting your bike running, but take your time as it could get $$ if done wrong.

20774 · Dec 10, 2007

takefive said:
The wrench for the exhaust flanges, Is that universal or has to be a BMW wrench??

Do the exhaust nuts have large fins that stick out or is it a larger diameter collar with holes in it? Early on, I believe most of the exhaust nuts were the collar type while the sport models and later bikes got the finned nuts. Either way, I'd be careful about what you use to take them off. You could break fins off or you could strip out the holes if you're not careful or if the nuts are on very tight. I'd suggest getting an "official" wrench.

If the nuts don't budge or if they start to turn and then get tight again, it's time to back away from the wrench. You're on the verge of galling the threads. Best to find a hacksaw blade or dremel to cut across the nut, but only down far enough so that you can you a cold chisel and split the ring of the exhaust nut. Clean up the threads on the head and use a quality anti-seize paste on reassembly.

takefive · Dec 10, 2007

More great help, thanks. The nuts are the round type with the holes, I'll give 441 Cycle a call , Many thanks
Graham

ISAMEMON · Dec 10, 2007

Ill agree with the earlier post
messing up the exsaust threads is...$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Friedle · Dec 10, 2007

59 R 50

Neat bike, I had a 58 R 50 hooked up to a Steib S-500 for a bunch of years.

Try Googling "Bench Mark Works" in Sturgis, Mississippi. Craig Vechorick knows
more about the "/2" models and stocks more parts than just about anybody else.
Very easy to deal with and very fair and honest.

Friedle

takefive · Dec 10, 2007

Thank you. What does the "/2" stand for??

Graham

James.A · Dec 11, 2007

/2 is a model designation that corresponds to the generation of that design. All /numbers relate to years of production. /5's are 1970-73, /6's are1974-76, and denote design changes.

I know a guy who un-stuck a cylinder using Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinder and a heat lamp left on continuously under the cylinder for about a week. A potential fire hazzard, yes, but it worked in that case.

20774 · Dec 11, 2007

woodnsteel said:
/2 is a model designation that corresponds to the generation of that design. All /numbers relate to years of production. /5's are 1970-73, /6's are1974-76, and denote design changes.

The / was also a way of indicating that the given model was "significantly" changed over a predecessor. In the late 50s there were R50 and R60 models, then in the 60s, the R50/2 and R60/2 came out. There were R25/2 and R25/3 models. There's some general information here:

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/slash.htm
http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/motorcycles/bmwbikenames.htm

takefive · Dec 11, 2007

Sooooo.. How do I know if Ihave a /2 ? will it be on the data plate on the front of the frame, cause mine just has R50.
Regards...Graham

20774 · Dec 12, 2007

takefive said:
Sooooo.. How do I know if I have a /2 ? will it be on the data plate on the front of the frame, cause mine just has R50.

Graham -

Based upon the year, 1969, you have an R50/2. The data plates only said R60, R50, etc. You may want to confirm the year by looking at the engine/frame number...do they match? Check this page to see the range of numbers for the R50 and R50/2.

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/chassispages/enginechassisto69.htm

There's a gentleman at Mobile Tradition who could provide some basic information about the bike. Read this thread:

http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=19213

takefive · Dec 12, 2007

Thanks Kurt.
My chassis # is 644231, the engine and frame match, so it seems I am the proud owner of a R50/2. Graham

kbasa · Dec 12, 2007

Maybe one of the mods will move this over to Vintage, where it'll get more views by the right audience.

BUBBAZANETTI · Dec 12, 2007

KBasa said:
Maybe one of the mods will move this over to Vintage, where it'll get more views by the right audience.

on it

Rapid_Roy · Dec 12, 2007

20774 said:
The / was also a way of indicating that the given model was "significantly" changed over a predecessor. In the late 50s there were R50 and R60 models, then in the 60s, the R50/2 and R60/2 came out. There were R25/2 and R25/3 models. There's some general information here:

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/slash.htm
http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/motorcycles/bmwbikenames.htm

I thought they changed in 1955? I have a 1955 R50 and it had a smaller taillight.
I heard they changed the tail light later that year (among a few other small things) and called it a /2, from the middle of 1955 on.

Friedle · Dec 12, 2007

/2

One easy way to tell whether the frame is a /2 model or an earlier R 50,60 or 69 is to look for a small piece of flat stock bracing where the rear frame loop meets the bottom frame rail. ?2 models have it and the others don't.

The motors fit in either frame as will other later model motors such as /5, /6, /7 and some others with at most some minor modifications.......but that is another thread.

Friedle
62 R 75/2 with Steib S-500

20774 · Dec 12, 2007

Rapid_Roy said:
I thought they changed in 1955? I have a 1955 R50 and it had a smaller taillight.
I heard they changed the tail light later that year (among a few other small things) and called it a /2, from the middle of 1955 on.

I bought a nice book from my dealer called "Motorcycles from Munich 1923-1969". Lot of nice background and pictures. In the back are specs for each series. Years of production are listed as:

R50 1955-1960
R69 1955-1960
R60 1956-1960
R50/2 1960-1969
R60/2 1960-1969
R69S 1960-1969
R50S 1960-1962
R50US 1967-1969
R69US 1967-1969
R69US 1967-1969

You can also tell (my guess) on the switch over from non-/2 to /2 by the big jump in engine numbers. For instance, the R50 numbers were 550001-563515. The R50/2 numbers were 630001-649037. This big gap in number indicates they considered the later series completely different.

So, it appears the significant changed happened around 1960.

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