The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: montmil on June 20, 2011, 03:01:34 PM

Title: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: montmil on June 20, 2011, 03:01:34 PM

While talking with Scotty -as he was fantasizing about buying half a dozen BMW sidecar rigs from Perry's in Fort Worth- he casually mentioned that he had come late to motorcycling.

About sixty winters he said he had passed before buying his first ever bike. A BMW R27 it was. The kick start and often erratic number of strokes required beforw the bike would make steam brought him into the electric starter era of BMWs.
   I shared with Scotty that one John Penton had won a Gold Medal in the SDT riding an R27. John P will always occupy a soft spot in both mine and Bengt Phorqs hearts as we both enjoyed a number of years on our 175cc Jackpiner enduro bikes.

Any way, his stories reminded me of a vintage one-lunger BMW I spotted at the Oct 2010 Harvest Festival in Luckenbach, Texas. Y'all know the place; "Where everybody is Somebody".

I believe this is an R25/3. The older gentleman that rode it to the event was very proud of the bike. And even with its home-brewed, ghetto fixes, I would have bought it in a New York Minute but, alas, it was not for sale.
 
Monte
Old School and Old's Cool [smiley=beer.gif]

(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520pics%2FR253.jpg&hash=f0f5f6ccf8c3096376591d01665665db87a71e98)

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: John_Banks on June 20, 2011, 04:27:38 PM

It looks great - really my kind of thing.  Do you think he'd he swap for an R65 c/w fairing and panniers?

Johnny B

1956 Matchless G80S since 197?
BMW R65 this year!

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: John_Banks on June 20, 2011, 04:30:47 PM

It looks really great.  My kind of thing.  Would swap for 1981 R65 c/w fairing and panniers.

Johnny B

1956 Matchless G80S since 197?
1981 BMW R65 this year!

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: scottyintex on June 20, 2011, 05:56:41 PM

Yep, I did love that bike...was light, nimble...fun to ride. A great first bike. However, it did need be be tuned almost after ever ride, every change in the weather. Ya had to be careful not to flood it and careful to give it enough gas before you started it. It started with the first or second kick most times...but some times took more than a few. I rode it to Luckenbach several times...even won second place in a show and shine. I saw it on E bay a few weeks ago. I was tempted...but not that tempted. Now if BMW ever made an electric start 250.......ohhhhhh

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: montmil on June 20, 2011, 06:36:01 PM

Bee-You-Tee-Full bike, Scotty. Thanks for posting a photo of your R27. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Monte

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: Bengt_Phorqs on June 20, 2011, 08:15:09 PM

Is that R27 a side valve?

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: scottyintex on June 20, 2011, 10:09:34 PM

This was my saddle bag/luggage rack. I think the box was older than the cycle and the cycle was a 1964.

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: darrylri on June 21, 2011, 08:54:09 AM

Quote

Is that R27 a side valve?

Nope, OHV.  BMW's last side valve is a 1941 R71, with the double decker heads.

Here's a photo from a few years ago at a picnic.  The bike in front is a 1938 R61 (600cc side valve) and the one behind, a 1939 R71 (750cc side valve).  The guy riding the R71 is our local vintage guru, Joe Groeger.  At the time of the photo, he was only 86.

(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdarryl.crafty-fox.com%2Fmcpics%2F2005%2FVasona%2Fslides%2FP6050938.JPG&hash=2d4fc4ed003bdc5552f830a7e535d8b159f599de)

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: RSMike on June 23, 2011, 02:20:46 AM

Great bikes, I also came across an original condition R25 recently, wasn't for sale, the guy who owned it had been lucky enough to have had it willed to him by a collector, at last it was going to be ridden again, :-)
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi719.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww198%2Fmiketruss1%2FR25.jpg&hash=f966c7bb6e3d717357113b53764af21f23b9d9fb)

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on June 23, 2011, 05:53:31 PM

Yes Darryl, this picture of the R71 was taken at your last tech session by Marco Hyman:

(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F133858848%2Foriginal.jpg&hash=ef552833b90dca80c65304a7f39324d68331e99a)

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: darrylri on June 24, 2011, 08:26:46 AM

Actually, that's not the R71.  The OHV engine on the left is in my 1953 R51/3; the side valve engine on the right is in my 1928 R52.  They're both 500cc motors, but the OHV makes 24hp while the side vale makes 12; not to mention the 25 year difference between them.

Title: Re: Luckenbach R25/3
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on June 24, 2011, 04:53:46 PM

You're the bee's knees, Darryl!

I will have to add that information to my PBase site.
http://www.pbase.com/image/133858848