Post photos of your vintage (pre-1970) BMW motorcycle

[MotorradMike]

Wow!
Love the bike.

I also love the way you write.

Tell us some more stories!

[DEDGCOMB141129]

Cousin Sam is really to blame for all this....
I never, ever, ever wanted to ride...everybody I'd known who had, was either dead or crippled or full of horrific stories regarding "murdercycles"....
Besides...I had 2 antique boats to throw money at...
Then gas went to $4.59/ gal ....it was costing me more to get to the boat than it was to go fishing....maybe a little motorcycle ISN"T such a bad idea.....
What could go wrong?????........ :
The next morning Sam calls...
...I've found a motorcycle for you, if your interested...it's in great shape!...a good starter bike....
( A word about Sam....)....
Been riding since '83....MOA member 43529....
Current bikes:
'54 R51/3 , '36 Indian Chief, '51 NSU Max, '68 R69S, '67 R60/2, '76 R90S....many others over the years.....the Man knows his Beemers.....
Gee Sam....funny you should call.....OK...I'm in.....
(What could go wrong??????....if Sam's happy with the bike, why shouldn't I have bologna for lunch too????....)
So I buy a bike, sight unseen, from somebody in Ohio.....
...(I will post my reflections on the beauty of being a newber...not now....but ignorance TRULY is bliss....!)
Sam arrives in June with Jezebel, his 69S, a set of hard Bucos, a Wixom fairing, 2 dogs...ALL stuffed into his '94 Ford Ranger......he loves that truck......
...Here's your new bike!......
...COOL!.....NOW what do I do?......
I've got no gear...no liscence...can't start the thing...can't lift it onto the centerstand...it's 102 degrees out.....I've never ridden a motorcycle in my life....
And so it starts.....
We mess with her....straighten out the carbs and timing...change all fluids....
Gee...what's that "brassy sheen" floating in that noisy tranny?????
Sam has a spare tranny shipped from Ohio...pops it in....
...Now your good to go!......
Oh by the way...I'm headed to NH to a rallye....have fun!.....don't forget your slingers need servicing.....and off he goes.....
I go to Rhinebeck 08' (just up the road)...Wow!.....look at all them old bikes!
I take an early morning ride one Saturday...and end up at Wlicox Park...with a whole bunch of BeemerHeads....7:15AM....
I park it on the road, start looking around, and see SOME GUY...moving my bike!!!
Hi can I help you?....
Oh Yeah....we need to keep the lane clear for cars...just thought I'd move this out of the way...nice to meet you...I'm Mike Freidle.....here's my card....
...like I said ...ignorance is bliss....
Then I ride with my buddy Jason to an antique gathering in Woodstock...for a 75 mile jaunt with 100 of my new buddies....
( Jason Adams just returned from Tunisia...a member of the victorious American BMW Motorrad team...)
And finally, I got lost... looking for Hunter Mountain...but made it to The Color In The Catskills get togther in October....as I'm pulling out to head home....I see a familiar figure working the gate....
Hi Mike....I met you at Wilcox....
...I remember you Dan....the bike sounds good...safe ride.....
I glance at the odometer...and realize I've cranked off 4K since June..
..Jezebel starts on the first kick....I've been offered $10K for her as is....
As the Old Man used to say...."...too soon old...too late shmart!....."
I was concerned in the beginning, about misplaced trust...and my desire to get involved with this activity.....
I want to now express my gratitude to those instrumental in my "formative" stage....I could have not dreamed of being introduced to motorcycling...on such a beautiful machine...by the best and brightest Airheads on the Planet!!!!!
Thanks Boys....
I'll see you in the Spring!

[DEDGCOMB141129]

Sam arrives from Ohio...
...the Ford Ranger looked SWEET!

[DEDGCOMB141129]

Goes home...and RETURNS to New England...and puts THIS in the back of the Ranger.....
I'm startin' to like this truck......
It was a Hell of Summer!.......

[bensonhurst]

[DEDGCOMB141129]

Cool Beans!
Keep on truckin' Mamma!

[bmwdean]

Looks rather familiar ...

1967

[44398]

The Dec 2008 issue of BMWON gives well deserved praise to David Hough"s long time efforts to provide to provide training to both two wheel as well as three wheel motorcycle riders. In the early 80s, when I added a sidecar to my 68 R60/2, I knew I needed some help on setup, as well as, riding skills. David's sidecar manual got me started off on the right foot.

Once I got the sidecar setup completed and sorted out, it was time for training my brain for going from 2 wheel riding to 3 wheel riding and vice-versa, so I headed to the nearest school parking lot to practice per Davids advice. As I became more comfortable riding the rig on the road and having the sidecar come up a few times unexpectedly in a decreasing radius right hand turn.....I knew it was time for some more training...so back to the big parking lot and practicing getting the car in the air, and getting the car back down without having a panic attack.

The attached pic shows my 68 R60/2 rig in the air........and with David's help over the years, I too feel I am a much safer rider/driver on two, three or four wheels. Tks David........we all appreciate your commitment to motorcycle safety.

LARRY ROBISON
Suttons Bay, MI
68 R60/2 Sidecar Rig
04 R1150GSA Dualsport Sidecar Rig

[DEDGCOMB141129]

Jezebel comes replete with the Buco's...and this fairing....
it fits up well....but I've never actually ridden with the thing...it covers up the BarEnds....

[tebogue]

1967 R69S - In 1982 I traded my (purchased new) 1982 R100 for the R69S. Driven for four years (1984-88) and sat for twenty. Cleaned up the head/piston, carbs (one was a mess) - had to drive five miles from the apartment to the rented climate controlled shed. Original plugs, made the trip - lots of kicks. Not counting the engine stuff, which I'll redo, I'm starting at one end and ending up at the other - cleaning, greasing, adjusting and replacing only where needed - a working motorcycle (and my only motorcycle.) So far I have the tires/tubes purchased and the front tire assembly ready to go. Now to attack the steering and front suspension.

Me and my bike 1984

November 2008 - Laredo

November 2008 - Laredo

--

[rpeckham136133]

The diamond pinstriping on the shock covers is a nice subtle touch... I don't normally care for foofystuff, but that looks good... you gotta love a bike like that!

[DEDGCOMB141129]

Jezebel made it to the Rhinebeck Meet

[DEDGCOMB141129]

She held her own...in some very fine company....

[mn86krt]

Hi all,
This bike belonged to my dad, who purchased it new in 1970. He had the dealer replace the telescopic fork with an Earles fork as he wasn't fond of the new US style fork. It's a gem to ride and has less than 11,000 original miles.

[bmwdean]

How can you not love these bikes?!


1954 R51/3 restored by Tim Stafford:




1967 R60/2, restored by Tim Stafford



1969 R50/2, also unrestored: