Today I took delivery of my very own classic motorcycle. It's a 1957 BMW R50. It's not perfect by any means, but it is all original and in near perfect mechanical condition. Everything is there (even the tire pump) and everything works like it should. I snapped a few pics upon getting it home. Click the image below for a few more.
So far I've cleaned out the front brake cable as it was pretty hard to pull. That made the brakes a little bit more effective. I've also got to finish tuning the carbs as the previous owner rebuilt them but didn't get them dialed in yet and while the bike runs it's not terribly happy about idling. Beyond that there are some things that could use replacing like the brake/clutch/throttle cables and the ignition key cover. Oh, and
tylerpierce? I'll be needing your help to get to the tool kit. See that lock in the middle of the knee pad? There's no key.
So, how is it to ride? In a word: fun! It's a little harrowing since as you may have noticed there are no mirrors or turn signals. Apparently those were aftermarket extras in 1957.
So far I've cleaned out the front brake cable as it was pretty hard to pull. That made the brakes a little bit more effective. I've also got to finish tuning the carbs as the previous owner rebuilt them but didn't get them dialed in yet and while the bike runs it's not terribly happy about idling. Beyond that there are some things that could use replacing like the brake/clutch/throttle cables and the ignition key cover. Oh, and
tylerpierce? I'll be needing your help to get to the tool kit. See that lock in the middle of the knee pad? There's no key.So, how is it to ride? In a word: fun! It's a little harrowing since as you may have noticed there are no mirrors or turn signals. Apparently those were aftermarket extras in 1957.