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1958 R69 correct tail light

joeR69
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Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:00 am
Location: Dover, OH. USA

Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by joeR69 »

George - don't worry, the tail light is not loaded!
Thanks to all for your responses, it has been a great help and education.
Joe

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Flx48
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Flx48 »

Hey Dave-
No, his R69 doesn't have the 3rd muffler, and believe it's a late '56 build date.
He's had a number of R69 models starting in school days, (mid '60s) and said none of them had the 3rd muffler.
He's on the list so may chime in.
My '56 didn't have one either, it has a 4/56 build date.
It was the neighbor's bike, I knew it since mid '60s, though didn't own it till '80.
Think they were hen's teeth.
Or quite rust prone.
Best-
George

R68
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by R68 »

I always thought the 1955-57 R50 and R69 were originally equipped with the Eber twilight with the three small externally visible acorn nuts retaining the chrome or nickel plated thin bezel, mounted to the fender tail with three M5 machine screws and using the same gasket as the pre 1955 motorcycles. I also always thought the post '57 twilight was the same "coffee can" as used on all the post 1960 motorcycles. More interestingly, there was an optional Hella tailight that was a smaller version of the coffee can using the same lens/bezel as the typical later larger coffee can, but with a smaller size and mounting on the fender tail with the three hole system as used with the Eber...this third type is very rare, I've only seen one! I'd assume it was an option for folks who thought the Eber lens was too small?

Daves79x
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Daves79x »

George - thanks for that. There is always discussion as to when the R69 had the crossover muffler. The parts book says only '59-'60. But others swear their 'original' earlier R69 came from the factory with it. I'm going with the parts book, but that sometimes is dicey too. Evidence 65 years later is almost always anecdotal.

Dave
Dave

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Flx48
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Flx48 »

Dave, I have it stuck in my head that only the first couple of years of the 69 had the third muffler; but I cannot recall why, so that's useless hearsay...
I recall Ausherman saying they were late in the run or something, so my memory is probably upside down.
Best-
George

Daves79x
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Daves79x »

There is sort of a consensus that the early R69 bikes did not have the crossover muffler. Thought is it appeared in ‘58-‘59. But that is based on some conjecture too. I’m going with it, especially since I restored my ‘55 without one! Haha.

Dave
Dave

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