Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners

Good points from all. My take is that you should by all means run non-ethanol fuel if you can (I'm lucky and it's readily available near me). But if you can't, the bikes will run fine with 10% ethanol, perhaps with a bit richer carb settings, but will run fine. The problem is once you shut it off - ...

Sticking slides are common enough. Likely only one of them, determine which one and message the slide where you find shiny spots.

Dave

I must have missed something - what was the epiphany?

Dave

If you adjusted your points, then you changed the timing. Did you verify timing was still correct?

Dave

The reproduction Everbests I've had didn't leak, but after sitting in the 'OFF' position for some time, it takes pliers to start the lever to move to 'ON'. Once you get some fuel coating the rubber seal inside, the lever moves quite stiffly, but OK. I've bent my lever trying to get it to move.

Dave

Pretty sure all '56s had the small tail light. Look under your coffee can and you will see the original 3 holes that the small tail light mounted to. If your fender is original. I think the early air filter disappeared sometime in '56, no idea when. After that, all R69 bikes had the rounded air filt...

I do not think the R50S head would be butterheads. They and the R69S heads were unique and as far as I know, never suffered the problem. Your heads may have had myriad problems, but I don't think the butterhead issue was one of them. I assume you have had the magneto apart, timed it, cleaned all the...

Whew! That is getting pretty pricey though, great service or not.

Dave

If the coil is original - change the coil - it will run. A bad coil will show spark at the plugs, but not enough to run.

Dave

Use GL4 synthetic. And they all shift like an old truck.

Dave