Sun, 01/22/2012 - 19:14
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Hi
I just received a box of goodies from one of our local BMW club members - A pass on from someone who restored some bikes in the 80's .
1. With that came a Denfeld carrier - I would like to find out if this is correct for my R50/2 - 1965 and if so how to install it correctly .I have taken some photos of the carrier and placed on the bike .
2.Also with the box came two speedo's - on marked 120 mph and the other 140mph - the dates at the back refer to 61 and 65 . - Any info on that ?
3. Lastly - there was a chromed dipstick also included - The top one is the new part and the bottom one is the one currently in my R50 - Any light on what bike it was for . The dipstick seems the same but the "wingnut " is bigger?
Thanks
Carel Jacobs
- 783 reads
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 00:56
#2
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I have the same rack on one
I have the same rack on one of my bikes and it works great. I think that the original rubber pieces were orange and you may still be able to get them along with the original style rubber strap and clasps from Benchmark Works. The rack is probably worth at least $150 in nice shape. It looks like yours is mounted correctly. Even though the rack will feel very secure when mounted properly, don't carry too heavy a load. If you really weigh it down it will dent your fender where it mounts right behind the seat. It looks like you received some nice parts. The extra kilometer speedo will sell easily on eBay. The aftermarket dipsticks don't seem to be too popular with the collector crowd. Also, if you use the non-original dipstick, be sure it reads accurately and don't over fill the crankcase. Good Luck!
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 01:09
#3
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...the dipstick with the big
...the dipstick with the big handle is for a bike made between 1951 and 1957 or so: NICE item!...
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 02:02
#4
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It is amazing how you look
It is amazing how you look and don't see - yes it is marked KM - and have at the back and face 1.0 and 4.61 - I assume this will not fit a R50 . The other one is in MPH and is 1.2 and 3.65 same as my current one - The KM one would have been nice to fit as this is what we use here . The KM one is olso complete while the MPH one is missing its chrome trim ring and glass .
Was the km one for a R25 ?
Carel
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 02:59
#5
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...the dipstick with the
...the dipstick with the large handle is for a 1951-1957 BMW, a somewhat difficult version to find. The earliest just have a level indication, but after '52 or so, there is some writing on the stem telling you not to overfill the crankcase...the first type is really hard to find: NICE item...
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 07:30
#6
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Single Speedo
Was the km one for a R25 ?
I don't think so...my R25/2 has a KM speedo with a top number of 120. Possibly the 140 kph speedo is for the R26 or R27??
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 16:24
#8
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This webpage shows a number
This webpage shows a number of KM speedos with W = 1.0 for them; given the slow top speed, I think it would have been for an R26 or R27.
http://bmwvmca.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&...
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 07:11
#9
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hi Son of Rust
Can you send
hi Son of Rust
Can you send me a picture of your carrier instalation. I am just not shure how high up the fender I should drill the two holes . As i have the bench seat it looks possible to plase the holes so that the bench seat will cover the bolts - i just want to make shure before I install it - measure twice cut once or in this case - be shure before you drill.
Carel
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:27
#10
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BMW's /2 factory accessory
BMW's /2 factory accessory catalogue shows two types of racks: the Denfeld and another type which was manufactured by the Leitz company. The Denfeld was the more expensive of the two. Leitz also made other accessories back in the day such as chromed luggage carriers for Porsches. I have two Leitz racks and they do not require any drilling for installation. The part of the rack that bolts to the fender utilizes the two rear holes of the four that were already drilled by the factory. Are you sure you need to drill holes for the Denfeld?
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:54
#11
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I have taken the following
I have taken the following detailed photos of the rack placed on the bike . From it can be seen the two lugs requiring drilling into the fender. As this is a no repeat possible I would like to get it right first time. If you have got a copy of the accessory booklet showing the part it would be appreciated - even if you have a link that I can use . I have also checked - there is no holes in the fender. I could place it that the rear of the bench seat obscure the bolts and would probably look neatest but I would like to make shure. The other thing is that the rack has a cross brace that could obscure the rear part of the fender from opening up if required to remove the wheel . The other rack that I have seen did not have this cross piece but it was red rubber and mine is black - I still begs the question if this rack was for a R50 ?
Thanks anyway for all the feedback - appreciated and keep on doing it .
Carel
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 13:41
#12
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I don't have the catalogue
I don't have the catalogue anymore. It was a re-print that I bought from Roland Slabon as a gift for someone. Shoulda bought two! In any case, I thought that all /2's had four holes pre-drilled in the rear fender for use in attaching a pillion pad. Maybe I'm mistaken about that but my '69 R60 and my '66 R27 both have them as well as my pals' '64 R60 and '67 R50. The bikes came from the factory with small, black plastic (or rubber?) plugs installed in the holes, so they're kind of obscure. The two holes closest to the rear are actually partially hidden by a bench seat. From the photos, your rack looks as if it is intended to utilize these two holes. Are you completely sure they're not there? Try playing some more with the rack adjustment before you either use these holes or drill (ouch!) new ones. If the side braces on the rack are like the Leitz side braces, there is a lot of adjustment there and it affects the alignment of the top brace that bolts into the fender.
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 17:13
#13
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Mystery solved
Following your comment I went and had a hard look at the fender :
1. Definitely no holes in the fender.
2. Then had a look and feel inside the fender and surprise... surprise: there is this little pads with holes in them welded to the inside of the fender just about where the Denfeld carrier indicated where the holes should be .
I assume that the factory provided the pads as strengthening for the solo carrier or passenger seat and Denfeld just make use of it .
It could also be that during a previous restore someone filled the holes - but will see evidence of that when I have the wheel out .
SO all that is required is to drill the hole trough the fender at the pads and Bobs your uncle .
Thanks for the help - now some work for the weekend - I have to take the wheel out to attend to the leaking seal so will do the installation at the same time.
Carel
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 17:22
#14
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Follow up
Just had a look at e-bay and there is the exact carrier for sale except missing the side struts connecting it to the shock mounts - For $170 !!! - I really owe the guy that gave me the box of goodies a beer (or 2) at our next noggin .. Looking at e bay there is some amazing /2 stuff to drool over - with just such amazing prices (eg $2500 for the big tank ).
Carel
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 19:30
#15
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Carel - - Aha! Excellent! I
Carel - - Aha! Excellent! I should have mentioned the small plates that are welded to the inside of the fender but I never even considered that the holes been filled in somewhere along the line, which is apparently what's happened with yours. When you install the rack, leave all the bolts loose until you get the proper fitment, then tighten them up. You might also want to consider putting a couple of layers of something like electrical tape for paint protection on the underside of the part of the rack that bolts to the fender. I've seen Denfeld racks with the cross-piece and without it. I don't know why they did it both ways. As far as I know, it is not a model-specific characteristic. On his Bench Mark Works site under "Accessories", Vech is showing a repro Denfeld rack for $166.50 with both orange and black pads and without the cross-piece. There is also a nice close-up photo of Vech and the rack as if he were installing it.
Richard
Wed, 01/25/2012 - 00:53
#16
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....just catching up, here,
....just catching up, here, and it sounds like you've got it all worked out regarding the rack mounting. Good luck with your bike and your new parts. I think that the Denfeld rack looks nice when mounted with the bench seat and is a very functional period accessory.
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 15:01
#17
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Update
So yesterday finished the rack installation . Had to take the wheel out to drill the holes and yes it was braised shut . Somebody in the past liked the smooth look . Also had a look at the grease leak at the same time . All ok i will only have to replace the outer seal . Used some metal polish on the rack and it came out beautiful. Happy with it and it looks great and is also functional .
So al's well that ends well
Carel
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 18:46
#18
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Denfield Rack
scroll down to page 4 of this 1960 catalog
http://www.beemergarage.com/documents/assc660.pdf
and page 5 of this catalog
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 00:39
#19
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That is really interesting
That is really interesting info - especially the prices !!!!! - A tank for a $100 !!!
Thanks
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 01:31
#20
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Yeah, those old prices will
Yeah, those old prices will make you crazy. The R69S, brand new, was something less than $1500. I remember having to save up to buy a wide seat for $45. A Hella spotlight mirror was about twenty bucks and was thought to be an extravagance (and come to think of it, it still is).
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 16:32
#21
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Well adjusted for inflation
Well adjusted for inflation the "real" prices have stayed pretty flat.
$100 from the 60s is worth about $800 (8x) today's money. Meaning by today's prices they might be $12000. Not too different from the prices that new BMW twins sell for nowadays.
It's always been a "gentleman's" (ie rich) man's bike it seems.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 17:21
#22
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You're right, the prices of
You're right, the prices of new bikes have stayed more or less flat, but authentic accessory prices have gone bonkers. That $20 Hella spotlight mirror is now a $1000 vintage accessory (NOS), a 50:1 increase. By the same multiplier, the $1500 bike would, if NOS, bring $75,000.
1. It looks like you have the carrier in the right spot. Two arms go foward to attach to where the fender stays attach. There is a piece that goes across the rear fender just behind the seat. Be careful you don't scratch the paint.
2. Actually, one speedo is in mph and the other is in kph, right? I would think that the mph one is correct. What is the final drive ratio on the bike? If it is 25/8, then the speedo with W 1.2 should be right. Plus, if it's stamped 65, that seems the most appropriate.
3. My R69S has the smaller dipstick handle...the other one just doesn't look right.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2