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Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

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ZebZ
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2022 3:05 pm
Location: Annapolis MD & Chincoteague VA

Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by ZebZ »

So excited to have finally scored a project /2. She's a 1968 R60US in Dover white. Has the original dealer paper work too specifying the color, larger fuel tank and bench seat. If you were the guy I outbid by 15 bucks to score her, I'll buy you a beer (or you'll buy me one if she turns out to be a dud). Apparently previous owner started to take apart but stopped before he got too far, thankfully. She needs hug but has compression and my intent is to keep as original as possible, including the paint which I think will clean up pretty well.

I'd like to start sourcing parts so I thought I would ask you more knowledgeable types to play 'What Parts are Missing? or broken or wrong...

Short list so far I see are:
- New speedo glass and bezel (ordered, guess I will have to get hole drilled for trip odometer)
- Hella bar end lights (maybe not original to this bike but I want to live)
- white tool box lid? it looks old but I've never seen one not color matched to the tank. thoughts?
- Finned exhaust nuts

What else do you all (not) see? Thanks - Tobias in Annapolis, MD
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therealkennyboy
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Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by therealkennyboy »

Unless the front end has been changed, this doesn't look like a 'US'. Given the Earles front end, it looks like a standard R60/2.

Fun project! Good luck, Ken
Ken Walker
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1960 R60 (currently), 1974 R75/6 (past), 1981 R100CS (currently), 1984 R100RS (past), 1989 K100RS (past)

Tinkertimejeff
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Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by Tinkertimejeff »

No side car mounts on the frame, correct air filter housing for a US bike and the gas tank is a large tank designed for a US fork bike. Yes there are two (2) versions of the large sport tank for /2's. A trained eye can tell by looking, untrained need a side by side comparison.

Tinkertimejeff
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Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by Tinkertimejeff »

It is a a US fork bike that had the front end changed.

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schrader7032
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Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by schrader7032 »

The handlebars don't look stock.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

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ZebZ
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2022 3:05 pm
Location: Annapolis MD & Chincoteague VA

Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by ZebZ »

Yes, I'm seeing it now. Will try to source some correct US handlebars. I can see the paint chipping on the downtubes of the forks, looks like black paint below and slightly different white paint hue on those and swing arms. I had done some research of the topic of whether or not you could order a US model with Earles as an option but never found a definitive answer (I guess if you had the Deutschmarks, BMW would do almost anything you wanted). This BAT auction of a 68 R60US seemed to think so and a couple of books suggested it as well. The BAT bike is just a few hundred production numbers and has the same unpainted shock. When the BMW archives re-opens I'll see if there's any factory build info and I think there are some more original documents that go with the bike. Mostly fine by me, I prefer the looks of the Earles.
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schrader7032
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Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by schrader7032 »

To get a jump on when the bike was built, click on Knowledge Base and then on BMW Model Info. Type the VIN into the box which will take you to the model. At the bottom of that page is a PDF file which a running list of model, year, and build date for the various bikes. This is not definitive info but it a crowd-sourced listing. If/when you contact BMW to get more info, let us know and I can add that info to the list.

Oh, and "finned exhausts" by which I think you mean the exhaust nut with the fins around that circumference, that was a R69S feature only. I believe there are "slip-ons" that could be used, but the R50/2 and R60/2 didn't come with those.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

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ZebZ
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Location: Annapolis MD & Chincoteague VA

Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by ZebZ »

Copy that Kurt- here's the head tag and the original dealer invoice. Will let you know if other documents turn up
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wa1nca
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Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by wa1nca »

1968
New $1537.00 !!
What was your bid
I think you owe me a beer
Tommy
Tommy Byrnes
54 R51/3, 55 R50/Velorex 560 sidecar, 64 R27, 68 R69US, 75 R75/6
Ashfield, Ma
USA

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ZebZ
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Location: Annapolis MD & Chincoteague VA

Re: Time to Play 'What Parts are Missing?' 1968 R60US

Post by ZebZ »

It was ebay, the next bidder down from me shot mine right up to my max of $5666 which means they were very close.

It wasn't a "must" but thought it would be neat if I could find one of the handful of not-black painted bikes out there. Of course the same week, an absolutely gorgeous unrestored and fully operational R60/2 (also in Dover white) came up for sale on FB Marketplace and sold the same day for $11k just 40 miles from my house. I haven't even seen an unrestored non-black bike for sale at any price anywhere in over a year then 2 the same week??

We'll see how much I end up having to sink into "Betty White" the Beemer. I don't so much care if I over-invest, I like challenge but also have to be cognizant of my time and hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew.

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