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Hello! New R50 owner here

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Kidasters
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Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by Kidasters »

Hey Guys -

Just wanted to say Hi. I'm the new owner of a 1957 BMW R50. I've named her Ruth - the Patina Machina. It's missing a lot of small parts, and I am trying to get it sorted. I've always wanted a BMW of this vintage, so I'm very excited.

Looking forward to the journey with this one.

Ken
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57R50april2025.jpeg
Member #11670

What do you mean "next" project?

--My wife

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skyler.robbins
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by skyler.robbins »

Welcome aboard the vintage life!

FL54
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by FL54 »

Welcome and don’t take offense but please lose the ape hangers.
Central Oregon

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Kidasters
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by Kidasters »

no offense taken!

However, I'm not removing the high bars for now. The bike also came with a fairing, and that definitely had to go. In the near term, I just want to get it running. Longer term - we'll see.
Member #11670

What do you mean "next" project?

--My wife

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Kidasters
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by Kidasters »

A little more context on why I don't want to change anything.

I bought this from a woman in her 80's that has owned it since 1973. She bought it from a man named Dan Cooley, who was the head BMW mechanic from Brattin Motors in San Diego. If I'm really owner #3, I think it's earned the right to stay looking like it has for the last 68 or so years.

A bunch of parts that were missing are still arriving in the mail. I'm hoping after a week or two, I'll have it breathing fire.

We'll see.
Member #11670

What do you mean "next" project?

--My wife

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skyler.robbins
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by skyler.robbins »

With bars that high, where are getting new cables that length?

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Kidasters
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by Kidasters »

If you look through "cables" at a lot of the suppliers (EME, Boxer2Valve), there's usually an option for cables for "high" bars. That's what I'm using right now.
Member #11670

What do you mean "next" project?

--My wife

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Flx48
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by Flx48 »

Hi Ken-
You didn't mention if you're new to dealing with the Earles fork bikes or not; that'll make a difference in the kind of opinions and recommendations that come your way.

Definitely a wonderful patina candidate, as it looks like its been stored dry and dark.
Have you run the serial number to find the build date yet?
Best-
George

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Kidasters
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by Kidasters »

Hey George -

I'm brand new to the Earls fork bikes. I've had 2 R100/7's, an R90/6 and an R75/5.

I almost scared myself out of buying this bike because I read some threads on slinger cleaning. That was quite a rabbit hole to go down.

I'm pretty sure it's a 1957 build date. I've sent an e-mail to the BMW Archivist. I know I've seen mulitple websites that detail build numbers by month, but my google-fu is weak today.

EDIT: They will give me a "Birth Certificate" if I pay them 150 Euro. That seems a bit much. Might pass on that right now. Also - my wife's google-fu is better than mine, and we're guessing build date September 1956.

I'm looking forward to learning more about this for sure.

Ken
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What do you mean "next" project?

--My wife

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skyler.robbins
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Re: Hello! New R50 owner here

Post by skyler.robbins »

Kidasters wrote:
Wed Apr 16, 2025 6:07 am
If you look through "cables" at a lot of the suppliers (EME, Boxer2Valve), there's usually an option for cables for "high" bars. That's what I'm using right now.
Cool.. I’d make sure you measure the length of course. Should be a fun project!

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