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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

1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by joeR69 »

I would like to know the correct tail light for a 1958 R69 (VIN 553416). Is it the smaller Eber or the larger Hella, coffee can style?
Thanks. Joe

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schrader7032
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by schrader7032 »

Are you sure of the model and VIN? The lowest VIN on an R69 is 652001. Your VIN is in the range of a 1955 R50.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

Daves79x
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Daves79x »

If the serial number is a typo, 653416 would surely have had a normal coffee-can tail light.

Dave
Dave

joeR69
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by joeR69 »

Thank you for your responses. I wish I could say it was a typo. On closer inspection the correct VIN is 653416. The bike came with an Eber that is in really bad shape and needs replaced. From the picture on Vech's site the tail light is for a R25/3-R68. That same picture shows an Eber for the R26-R27 and R50-R69S. This is what prompted the question of the proper tail light.
Again thank you for your help.

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schrader7032
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by schrader7032 »

Thanks for the update! As Dave said, it should have the coffee can light. Roland's book says that beginning in 1955, the tail lights were changed to the bigger type.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

joeR69
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:00 am
Location: Dover, OH. USA

Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by joeR69 »

This is good new because I have a coffee can light!
Thanks again.
Joe

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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Jim D 5112 »

I used to have a 58 R60 and seem to remember that the tail light or lens was slightly different than the later coffee can style tail light. Maybe someone else clarify that.

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Flx48
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Flx48 »

Hey Joe-
(..where you going with that tail light in your hand..)
(nod to Jimi)
(never mind...)

I have an R69 that came with the eber taillight, a '56. (652505)
A friend's 69, low mi unmolested '57, (653042) came with an eber from new.
While my later 69, a '59, came with the coffee can. (654246)

By my reckoning, your '58 (653416) falls heavily in the transition time, the gray, or twilight, zone.
So to my mind you can choose either tail light, whenever you want, and always be correct!
Best-
George

Daves79x
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Daves79x »

The small Eber tail lights from the plungers were used throughout '55-'56 still. Some were the two-lens style and some were the single lens. A smaller version of the coffee-can appeared briefly, then the regular one we all know, certainly by '57.

Dave
Dave

Daves79x
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Re: 1958 R69 correct tail light

Post by Daves79x »

George - does your friends original '57 have a crossover muffler?

Dave
Dave

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