R69 motor in R50 Frame Value

[pinbill]

Hello,

I know that threads asking value of a bike are pretty pointless, but I could use a little guidance.

I ride an r50/2 but have an opportunity to purchase a bike with an R50 frame and a R69 motor. It has the correct R69 air cleaner, intake pipes, and exhaust for the motor. The seller is going to have it sold on consignment at a dealer on Monday. They said they will charge him $800 and sell it for $13000. He will sell it to me for $11000. If it was numbers matching I would have bought it already.

The bike is dusty, has some seepage on the trans and motor, a small oil leak, but it runs really good. The chrome and wheels are good, the inside of the tank is good, the odometer and speedo work, all the lights work. The tin could use paint but I know a guy who does good work for a good price. There are no records indicating that the slingers have been done. The odometer says 35k miles but who knows. Not sure of the final drive gear ratio or the speedo gear ratio.

I am the type of guy who will take the bike apart, buff everything out, seal everything up, and paint the tank, headlight bucket, and fenders. I will probably put 2-3 grand into it plus my time. I work on bikes quite a bit and I understand you don't always get all the money back. I plan to keep it for a long time. I just don't want to put more into it than it is worth.

I know not having the correct engine in these bikes can effect the price considerably. Does the R50 frame mean I should pay R50 pricing instead of R69 money?

Thanks for your help,

Bill

[R68]

It's a very desirable motor with it's original hard-to-find carburetors, air intakes, and correct headers in good condition. It's curious that it retains it's original timing hole white plug and original early pattern valve covers suggesting that it's a low mileage motor. It also has a very desirable early pattern Bowman oversize oil pan. I dunno what this stuff sells for nowadays, but I'd buy that bike, put a replacement R60 or R50 motor in place or sell it to someone into building up a "conversion", and use the motor to build up a pseudo R68. If you mention the serial number someone here will tell you the production date, and maybe you'll win the vintage BMW lottery with an early R69 motor.
If you can, see if it still has it's manual advance magneto, and then REALLY win the lottery!

[pinbill]

Thanks for the reply.

I am actively looking for reasons to buy it. As of last week my 50/2 is sorted and running great. It is ironic that this came up right afterwards. (the car gods have a weird sense of humor) It is an upgrade that I can ride for a few seasons and fix up one winter. There are so many variables that effect the desirability of these bikes and there is a lot that can happen to them in 65 years. I am glad to have the pool of knowledge here to look at it. I don't want to end up buying a cobbled together mess.

My neighbor saw the pictures and mentioned the original timing hole plug. I noticed the valve covers were correct and in good shape. The oil pan was different than mine but I thought it might be aftermarket.

The motor number is 652614. The stamping looks different than my R50 and my neighbors R60. The R69 engine codes start at 652xxx .

What should I look for on the magneto to see if it is manual advance?

Thanks again for the help,

Bill

[schrader7032]

The R69 number is certainly within the first 100 or so that were built. My registry indicates that it was built in April 1956 and delivered to Butler & Smith in the latter part of May 1956.

What do you mean that the other stamping looks different? It should have the roundels on either end. The font might change a bit I suppose. Are those images available?

[pinbill]

I meant the font is different than my R50/2 motor. The font on my bike looks like this.

That is good news on the production date.

[schrader7032]

Your R50/2 motor was probably build in July or August 1967.

How early is the R50 frame?

[pinbill]

The attached picture is a stock photograph to show the change in font.

The frame number for the R69 I am interested in is 560191.

[schrader7032]

Looks like the R50 frame 560191 is around a 1959 frame.

[sherman980]

Silly money for a "bitsa" bike even with an early R69 motor. Either find a matching numbers bike or a much cheaper non-matching numbers bike. Just one guy's opinion.....

Chuck S.

[jwonder]

I was holding off my comments but figure I will weigh in. I agree with Chuck that the value is in the originality and numbers matching matters. My thought is that is a lot of money for that particular motorcycle and you would be better served buying a matching numbers motorcycle.

My other thought is that everyone is looking at the inflated prices on bring a trailer and thinking everything is worth those dollars. With covid and the market, people have “extra” funds and the numbers (in my opinion) are very inflated over real worth. I am sure they will fall in the coming year or two. I hope I am proven wrong with that by the way.

Hope this helps somewhat.