My neighbor flagged me down yesterday and asked me to come in his garage and discuss a motorcycle he just got. He does not know much about bikes, and wanted my opinion on something.
So he opens up the doors, and an old BMW R50/5 is sitting there. He said it was “given” to him from another guy who was cleaning out his space. I didn’t want to get into how he acquired it (he is a bit sketchy), but I did want to have a look.
He thinks its a 1968, but wiki says the /5 series goes from 70 to 74. It only has 19k miles on the clock, and while I’m not a beemer guy, I have heard stories of these boxer engines going 200k and beyond. It is in pretty rough shape, looks like it’s been sitting for decades.
He’s hoping to turn it into cash ASAP, not restore or ride it. I’m trying to figure out it’s value today during my spare time. He’s hoping it’s a gold mine, I think it’s value might be very low in it’s present condition. My reccomendation for him is to sink some time and money into it, then flip it, but he’s not into that. He wants $ now. With no title that’s going to be tough.
When I made it home, I tried to convince my wife to let me buy it. I would hang it on the wall as garage art. She thinks I’m crazy.
Your area may be easy to get a new title or have it searched for stolen?? He willing to give the name of person he got it from? Can contact for bill of sale or some way to prove it is not stolen? Worth a bit of trouble to see if you can buy it cheap.
I thought it was a R50/2 at first from the casing, but the tag behind the forks says “Model R50/5”.
But if it’s a slash two then the 1968 year might be correct. I gotta get a better look at it tonight, now that I’ve done a bit of research.
And yes, GusNSpot, no title may be the biggest issue. Knowing this guy, stolen 20 years ago and hidden away till now is a very real possibility. Another reason to hang it on the garage wall and call it good. Any idea on how to find that out?
*For the 1970 model year, BMW launched three new models having engine capacities of 500 cc (R50/5), 600 cc (R60/5), and 750 cc (R75/5).
…The /5 series was the first series to be manufactured completely in Berlin, as by 1969 all of Munich’s production capacity was needed for automobiles. "Berlin with its well-trained workforce was an obvious choice. So in 1969 the Berlin Plant started production of the all-new BMW /5 Series, a completely new design and construction following a modular principle all the way from the suspension to the flat-twin power unit.*
The serial number could possibly help the police, insurance company, or BMW identify the bike.
Bolding mine. My wife says the same about me. I remind her that I was crazy when she married me.
Around here, in Colorado, it takes around $200.00 & 6 months time to get a title for a rig like that. Assuming of course that it is not stolen. If it is stolen, you will be out whatever money that you have into it.
As far as him getting big bucks for it, his best bet is to part it out. That will be more time & hassle than he will want to invest.
I would either check with the local police before I bought it, or make it into wall art. Of course you could part it out yourself.
The most obvious difference between the R50/2 and R50/5 is in the front suspension: the /2 has leading link forks, while the /5 has telescopic forks. You should be able to tell which it is with just a glance.
I wouldn’t want to possess a vehicle that may have been stolen, or even to have it on my property.
Thank you Jeff Lightman for that advice, they are telescopic forks, with no leading links. /5 it is, then. I wish we could post pics, I have a nice shot of the forks and front wheel.
I have not been able to get back inside the neighbors garage yet, but now I am better prepared. I used the 7 digit serial number in a couple stolen vehicle databases…no hits.
I’ve owned plenty of motorcycles in my life, including a couple of BMWs. Putting aside the provenance of this bike, I can tell you that classic BMWs just don’t have the value that, say, old Harley-Davidsons have.
Wild guess, but a really nice R75, with a good title, might go for $4,500?
Don’t rely on that - as I said, it’s a wild guess.
Definitely follow up on the SN. That said, some states (Georgia for one), do not require a title on any vehicle more than 25 years old - a bill of sale will suffice.
