A BMW junkyard in the Middle East. How many items do you see that YOU'D like to have?

In with the sidecars was this 1950 R51/2. Other then finding the one year only carbs, this would be a very easy restoration. This bike has a very desirable Hoske sport type gas tank, which is a variation of the type used on racing BMWs of the period. Note the Hoske chrome grab handle behind the pillion seat. The tool box on the side is British.

Another view of the the same pile of parts. See more of the roof top photos here.

What everyone seems to want... a nice looking Hella spotlight mirror, seen here mounted on a Steib Sidecar. I took this photo because I really liked the looks of the spotlight mounted in this position, and I'd like to do the same thing on my Steib (if I ever find a spotlight mirror again!). Years ago I could have gotten them without difficulty, but I never cared for how they look on a bike, so I didn't bother. Can you say 'stupid'? I knew you could...

An R69, seen here with an owner-modified 6.5 gallon tank. Nicely done, but IMHO it doesn't flatter the bike. Someone went to a lot of trouble to do it though, so you have to give them credit. Note the early style tailight on the back. Only fitted from 1955 to 1958, before the larger and more common "coffee can" style tail light became standard equipment in 1959.

A close up shot of the same style tail light as seen in the previous photo. This one is from my 1955 R69. This light has the correct pattern lens, which shows up nicely due to the flash of the camera.

Circa 1980, as found, my first 1950 R51/2. Incorrect tank and rear fender, and missing a few other important 'bits', and as always I was happy to have it. "Mom, time for my medication!!"

1955 twins had wheels and rims that - while they LOOK the same - are quite different then wheels used from 1956 to 1969. Wheel "A" is the early wheel, while "B" is the more common later version.
If you look closely, on the early wheel the two adjacent spokes "cross" each other about 10mm above the edge of the hub, while on the later wheels they cross 40mm above the edge of the hub. This is because different spoke angles where used on each style wheel. Early hubs can not be laced to late rims, and late hubs won't work with early rims. The spokes used in each case are also different in length.
The early style wheels were used on R50 models from serial number 550001 - 556241, and R69 models from 652001 to 652304. R60 models (introduced in 1956) came only with the later wheels.

 

An R16 and R2 for sale at an early 1980's BMW meet. Boy, I wanted this R16 in the worst way, but it wasn't a good time for me to buy a bike.

My '75 R90S. When the Daytona Orange color first became available in 1975, it was quickly dubbed "Sunkist Orange" by the locals.