Anyone know what bike this is?

[davetastic]

So, I was at an indie film fest and saw, "The Kids are All Right," which is a great movie by the way and you should see it when it hits theatres in July. Anywhooo... the male lead rides a classic BMW motorcycle in various scenes throughout the movie. I want it!!While I still love my R1150RT, I am now thinking thinking of buying a classic like the one in the movie to keep it company. I was wondering if anyone could identify the model and maybe year of the bike. Also, does anyone own one and, if so would you recommend them, how's maintenance on it, etc?

 

After much searching I was able to get one a couple pics of it:

[Paul Mihalka]

Looks like a early 197x R75/5. The good thing is that these bikes are perfectly ridable in today's traffic conditions and spare parts are available.

[davetastic]

Looks like a early 197x R75/5.

The good thing is that these bikes are perfectly ridable in today's traffic conditions and spare parts are available.

Thanks! Yeah, the movie shows him riding around LA, where I live, and I thought it would be great for around town.

[upflying]

Lack of gloves, eye protection not setting a good example. Is that the riding outfit for the actor?

[davetastic]

Lack of gloves, eye protection not setting a good example. Is that the riding outfit for the actor?

 

Yes, that's what he wears while riding in the film, but I'm interested in the motorcycle. Of course, when/if I get one I'll continue to wear appropriate gear.

[johnlt]

Looks like a early 197x R75/5. The good thing is that these bikes are perfectly ridable in today's traffic conditions and spare parts are available.

 

I've many miles on /5s and /6s and they are really reliable but they have "old brakes" especially the /5 with drums front and rear. You have to factor that into your riding style.

[davetastic]

Thanks for the input John. So this is definetly a R75/5 then?

[peterbulgar]

Could be an R75/5, R60/5, or even an R50/5. They look identical except for the carbs and the badging and you can't see either in the pictures. The muffler is non-standard - stock is cigar shaped. There's no white piping on the seat, only one mirror, and it looks like a high-capacity oil pan - a popular mod. Otherwise complete and stock with period appropriate "crash" bars.

 

If you are interested in a /5 I suggest the excellent site:

www.5united.net

It's part of yahoogroups and it's free to join. All sorts of archived material, useful information, helpful members.

 

Ditto the caution on the brakes.

Peter '73 R75/5 (owned since new), '04 R1150RA

[Whip]

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=567071&page=1

[Penforhire]

The badging on the engine is poorly visible but it looks like R75. The engine front cover looks solid, would be another /5 indicator but it also looks polished, not the OEM finish.

 

Clean example. Seat look thinner than stock? Also odd having one mirror. The bar rise seems low so probably the Euro bar?

 

I'll second the 5 United guys but also check out Airheads.org and Duane Ausherman's site (http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/index.htm).

[Peter Parts]

The megaphone looks none too authentic! Although the "casual" dress and shorty lid do.

 

Traditional BMW logic is to buy the end of a series, not the beginning, so it is debugged.

 

Far more beautiful is a 1961-68 Earles forks R69s - like in all the classic bike pin-up books.

 

Had one 34 seasons, till 1999.

 

Might take me a micro-second to decide to trade my Oilhead for that sup'ed up /2, if the opportunity arose.

[upflying]

Is it just me or is it lacking a front brake cable?

[Boffin]

Is it just me or is it lacking a front brake cable?

 

It's you...

 

The brakes are twin-leading shoe design, with two actuating levers on the hub. The cable runs from behind the wheel to the rear-most lever where the outer cable butts, with the inner continuing to the front lever.

 

Andy

[tallman]

Nice bike, but I'd be tempted to go for at least the single disk up front that the R 90 had.

 

More likely the R100 and double/triple disks while still getting "the look".

[Paul Mihalka]

Rare occasion that I disagree with Tim. I found a well adjusted drum brake from a /5 or early /6 better than the single disk setup with the cable operated under-gastank master cylinder of a /6.

[tallman]

Paul,

on reflection you may be right.

I should have stuck to my first thought which was go w/the double front disks or all around.

My 1972 R75 and 1980 R100 were worlds apart w/regard to braking.

The triple disks w/stainless lines and upgraded pads on the R100 were quite useful.

[outpost22]

My bet is it is a 75 too.

 

This is my buddies 60/5 from two months ago in Death Valley for comparison:

 

[Peter Parts]

Rare occasion that I disagree with Tim. I found a well adjusted drum brake from a /5 or early /6 better than the single disk setup with the cable operated under-gastank master cylinder of a /6.

 

You can have excellent double-leading-shoe drum brakes if you machine the drum and shoes while fully laced to the rim and tight.

 

Won't help prevent fading when very hot, but quite super in ordinary riding.

[davetastic]

Whip, thanks for the link. Really great story. I went and read his side of it as well. Great.

 

Penforhire, thanks alot for the link. That site has a bunch of good info.