1960 BMW R60 /2 - She Runs after 19 years

[beemerdons]

I sat and ate my waffle for breakfast while watching this video. Awesome! What a great way to start the day. I hope your friend Don gets it restored and has many wonderful miles on that beautiful bike.

Thanks for sharing, Don!

- Jo
"Never say never because you never know."
"The best line isn't necessarily the smoothest."

Check out my blog: https://azgsgirl.wordpress.com/ and https://azbeemergirl.wordpress.com/
Don when you rode over to my house for the AZ Beemers Movie Night showcasing the Mexico Off Road Videos that Brian and I went on, you met our Friend Jo. She writes motorcycle articles for the Arizona Republic and Mesa Tribune, as well as having two blogs. Here are azgsgirl's comments on your restoration. https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=4508.msg35794#new

 

[dcarver]

Don't restore it. Just fix the stuff that needs fixing.
Then ride it.

Exactly. At least at first. You may have noticed I wasn't getting full stroke on the kick start lever. The /2's get notchy on the first tooth engagement. Gotta pull the tranny to get to it. Fortunately, I have freshly rebuilt tranny in the R69.

Other things include:

• Bearings - steering head is notchy, front and rear swing arms (look close), wheel bearings
• Clean engine oil slingers - the /2's had no filter and most ran non-detergent oil back in the day. At either crankshaft end sits a small metal stamping used to collect oil the force oil out via a small hole to the ball bearing supported crank. Yes, ball bearing crank. The holes plug with sludge particles caused by running high-detergent oil. The only safe thing is to pull the crank, clean or replace those slingers. Then again, I did run the bike quite a bit in the 70's, and that was a detergent oil era.
• Cables.. All are shot
• Final drive oil seal. Yes ,BMW has had final drive issues since at least 1960! You Feejer peeps will probably chuckle at this comment.
• Fuse the battery. Believe it or not, not one fuse on this bike.
• Rear brake shoes. No longer available. Now, you but a strip of brake material and glue it on. Much better and easier than riveting on the shoe as in the past.
• Keys - the tank has a pouch for a tool kit or whiskey flask. My key is long gone.

..and on it goes.

I actually joined AzBeemers club today, hoping that peeps over there might have some good /2 info.

So I have a good idea, I'm gonna go turn a wrench or two on Uncle Dutch instead of typing away at the keyboard!

 

[dcarver]

Side note. this is the bike I plan to do a SS1K on.

KaitsDad has already volunteered to ride Amentia so I have good lights at night.

Maybe next summer when the days are long?

 

[beemerdons]

Don't restore it. Just fix the stuff that needs fixing.

Then ride it.

Here is what Dave Alquist Owner of Quality Cycle Service of Mesa, AZ just posted at AZ Beemers, DA is the Premier /2 Mechanic/Restorer in Arizona!

"A major service including wheel bearings and tires would make that bike a real peach! All original? Don't restore it, leave it the way it is. For aesthetic as well as monetary value, it's way better off in original condition!" https://www.qualitycycleservice.com

 

[dcarver]

Dang it Don, you are an enabler.

 

[beemerdons]

Dang it Don, you are an enabler.

Yes, I am!

 

[Tanker]

That was a fantastic video Don!

It will be fun watching you get her back into fighting trim for the SS1K next summer.

 

[kawabeemer]

Great old Beemer. One of my cronies bought a ( '62 I think ) R50 at the factory in Germany, rode that puppy for over 300k. Only sold it when his vision got so bad he couldn't read the speedo and was no longer able get his leg over the seat. He converted his to a 12 volts system so he could have a real headlight and a starter that would turn the bike over more than once.

Glad to see another oldie heading back to the road.