Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:31 pm
+2!sjbmw wrote:+1!mcooperstein wrote:ok Tony...enough of this. Go take some digital photos and post them. Right now!
Mark
Tony, at least you will no longer be the only one that is 'vintage'
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Anyone know anything about early 70's R50/5's ?
Page 2 of 2
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:43 pm
Har dee har har !!!!
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:56 pm
Tony, I need some pics! 
Finally picked it up.
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 2:08 am
OK guys, I picked it up Saturday morning. My buddy Vin and his brother Mike came over with a M/C trailer (Mike rides a Harley 
) and we headed across town.
I looked at the manufacturer plate (and the title) and the bike is a 1970 R50/5....not a '73 as I had thought (and certainly not a '75 as the previous owner thought, but what the hell...). so it is definitely the Short Wheelbase model. The owner told me it was a '74 or '75 but a little research told me that the last R50/5's were made in '73...
Serial numbers on the frame and engine match which is all I care about.
I checked the oil and it was totally CLEAN - like honey. There is fuel in the tank but it doesn't even smell like gasoline anymore. The mounts for the bags are intact, as is the seat. The handlebars are badly pitted. The only rust I can see so far is the battery bracket. I have the key to the seat lock but not the integrated fork lock. The rubber boots on the forks are also intact.
This bike has no electric start, only kick start. I gave it a couple of shots and she sure feels like she wants to go.
Behold Gisela. I decided to call her that since the previous owner's wife is a lovely 80 year old lady named Gisela who speaks with the thickest German accent, and Giselle, the French form of the name, was the name of my late sister.
The headlight-mounted speedometer:
Looks like this is one of the Slash 5's with only a left side mirror, notice the mount on the left side vs the right-side add on:
Some of the shiny bits are a bit pitted:
Complete toolkit. I even found the original BMW air pump under the seat.
It looked like it had never even been taken out of the bag:
After I tucked her in for the night:
This is going to be a fun project; I'm thinking of doing a cafe conversion on her.....we'll see. The Clymer manual shipped today according to Amazon.
Don't know when I'll get started as I just accepted a new assignment with Big Blue effective 1 October which will keep me very busy..
) and we headed across town. I looked at the manufacturer plate (and the title) and the bike is a 1970 R50/5....not a '73 as I had thought (and certainly not a '75 as the previous owner thought, but what the hell...). so it is definitely the Short Wheelbase model. The owner told me it was a '74 or '75 but a little research told me that the last R50/5's were made in '73...
Serial numbers on the frame and engine match which is all I care about.
I checked the oil and it was totally CLEAN - like honey. There is fuel in the tank but it doesn't even smell like gasoline anymore. The mounts for the bags are intact, as is the seat. The handlebars are badly pitted. The only rust I can see so far is the battery bracket. I have the key to the seat lock but not the integrated fork lock. The rubber boots on the forks are also intact.
This bike has no electric start, only kick start. I gave it a couple of shots and she sure feels like she wants to go.
Behold Gisela. I decided to call her that since the previous owner's wife is a lovely 80 year old lady named Gisela who speaks with the thickest German accent, and Giselle, the French form of the name, was the name of my late sister.
The headlight-mounted speedometer:
Looks like this is one of the Slash 5's with only a left side mirror, notice the mount on the left side vs the right-side add on:
Some of the shiny bits are a bit pitted:
Complete toolkit. I even found the original BMW air pump under the seat.
It looked like it had never even been taken out of the bag:
After I tucked her in for the night:
This is going to be a fun project; I'm thinking of doing a cafe conversion on her.....we'll see. The Clymer manual shipped today according to Amazon.
Don't know when I'll get started as I just accepted a new assignment with Big Blue effective 1 October which will keep me very busy..
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:07 am
A cafe conversion? Are you out of your mind Tony? Gisela needs to stay stock! There were not a lot of R50's made. The R60 and R75 were by far the most popular in the /5 series in the early 70's, until the R90 came along. You need to get rid of the engine guard, get the mirrors stock, get all the pitting ot of the chrome and you'll have a sweet little old BMW from another age! I noticed that the carbs look different then what I had on my R75/5. I had Bings, not sure what those are. Good luck!!!
Mark
ps - get an R90/S if you can find one. They were the ultimate BMW cafe racer!
Mark
ps - get an R90/S if you can find one. They were the ultimate BMW cafe racer!
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 5:52 pm
Mark I wasn't aware that the R50's were a bit more rare than the R60's or the 75's...you're probably right...maybe stock is the way to go...
I already pulled of the non-BMW aftermarket windscreen; it looked terrible.
Look for it on eBay !
Thx
T
I already pulled of the non-BMW aftermarket windscreen; it looked terrible.
Look for it on eBay !
Thx
T
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:13 pm
I love the steering dampener. Had one on my 1966 Honda 160cc! 
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:02 pm
It takes a brave heart to remain stock.
How many Broncos do you see without cut out fenders.
You found the proverbial "garaged for 20 years" story in real life.
Would you change that pleasant old lady, or the memory of your sister (no offense). While Cafe might be 'cool'. I think you might find stock more rewarding over time.
How many Broncos do you see without cut out fenders.
You found the proverbial "garaged for 20 years" story in real life.
Would you change that pleasant old lady, or the memory of your sister (no offense). While Cafe might be 'cool'. I think you might find stock more rewarding over time.
The New R50
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:28 pm
Hi Tony,
Nice score on the vintage R50!
You can (or could) get a flatter "Euro" bar for the slash 5 models. You'll need shorter brake and clutch cables for it. Looks way better than the big bars.
Other improvements are a deeper oil pan with a spacer for the oil intake.
The bike would sound great with some stainless steel Dunstall mufflers if you can find them.
Look out for the fuel taps, they are probably shot and not exactly re-buildable. Newer ones screw right in.
Watch out for the pinion gear shaft where it sticks out at the back of the tranny case. They sometimes get loose and fall into the tranny. There is a fix-drill and tap the shaft and add a SHCS and washer to trap it to the outside of the case.
Good luck!
Nice score on the vintage R50!
You can (or could) get a flatter "Euro" bar for the slash 5 models. You'll need shorter brake and clutch cables for it. Looks way better than the big bars.
Other improvements are a deeper oil pan with a spacer for the oil intake.
The bike would sound great with some stainless steel Dunstall mufflers if you can find them.
Look out for the fuel taps, they are probably shot and not exactly re-buildable. Newer ones screw right in.
Watch out for the pinion gear shaft where it sticks out at the back of the tranny case. They sometimes get loose and fall into the tranny. There is a fix-drill and tap the shaft and add a SHCS and washer to trap it to the outside of the case.
Good luck!