1952 BMW R51/3

I've finally come to the end of a five year on again. off again love affair with this motorcycle during it's restoration.  It is a numbers matching bike that I purchased as a "barn find" in 2009.  It is definitely a 1952 vintage bike. serial number 530922. with the narrow "half width" brake hubs used at that time.  When I got the bike it was literally a compilation of very used parts; only the engine core. front wheel and fenders were still attached to the frame (see "before" picture).  It took a while looking around the warehouse where it was stored to find the transmission and rear wheel along with the boxes of parts containing most of the other pieces on the bike.  Dirt and corrosion were everywhere and the bike had been previously stored in a building with a leaky roof.  Upon disassembly of the cylinder heads massive corrosion was evident in the right hand cylinder; apparently water had leaked directly into it through the happenstance of an open intake valve.  I never had any intention other than a full. frame up restoration on the bike so an exhaustive and extensive process of putting everything to rights was begun.  I learned a lot during the process. even figuring out how to lace and true the wheels with new spokes onto powder coated hubs and rims.  New parts were purchased for anything that couldn't be brought back to "as new" condition with hard labor and ingenuity.  Parts were sourced from both US and European parts suppliers and I learned that buying from firms such as Bench Mark Works is the best option to insure getting exact duplicate replacement parts.  This is very important because parts are so expensive.  For example. I found that two handlebar risers costing $80 each purchased from a European firm would not fit the handlebars I purchased at the same time from the same firm.  Enter Bench Mark Works with the correct risers at a slightly higher cost.  Lesson learned. The following work was performed:Frame. wheel rims. hubs and miscellaneous parts were powder coated. Corrosion damage to frame under battery box was welded and repaired. Sheet metal parts were bead blasted and professionally painted. Gas tank had water damage corrosion in the tool box.  This was repaired before tank was painted. Bottom end of the engine was disassembled. crankshaft tested for wear. new slingers installed then reassembled by Vech at Bench Mark Works including all new bearings and seals. Cylinders were bored and new pistons fitted.  Left hand head was cleaned. right hand head was replaced with a used unit. full valve job performed including new valves and guides as needed. All cast parts were bead blasted and cleaned. Carburetors were overhauled with all new needles. jets and floats. Transmission was completely overhauled by Vech at Bench Mark Works. New clutch pressure plate. springs and clutch plate installed by Bench Mark Works. Final drive was completely overhauled by Vech. as well. New parts were sourced and both front and rear suspensions were repaired. New. correct Avon tires and tubes were installed on correctly painted rims. New wiring loom installed; switch plate. speedometer. ignition switch. throttle handle assembly light switch. seat and mounting hardware were all replaced with new parts. Ignition system repaired. charging system inspected and repaired including new. correct battery and straps. This is by no means a complete list.  Everything was fixed. repaired. replaced. cleaned. inspected or whatever on the whole bike.  It is in almost "as new" condition. Title is clear and bike is a numbers matching machine. I would not have bought it if this hadn't been so.  So many people sell bikes with "bill of sale only". some stating that titles are not required for the machines in their state. Well. Illinois requires titles and it is almost totally impossible to get a valid title issued on a bike without one.  One more time; Illinois title is clear and numbers match. There are some things that keep this bike from being a concourse restoration.  The paint work is a minor disappointment and the pin striping is done with tape after I was told it would be hand painted.  The basic paint is very good. though. and the work was done about 4 years ago so the paint is totally cured.  The two tone wheel rims (correct for the year) were done by powder coating the rims then painting the silver center strips so their is a little inconsistency in the work.  The tail light is not totally correct.  In that year bikes left the factory with no brake lights or the switching assembly needed to operate them.  As a safety feature this was updated to a working brake light system as well as the running light originally utilized.  Mechanically. though. the bike is as new as I can get it to be.  Starts on the first or second kick. pulls strong. clunks through the gears like an old beemer should and is strikingly beautiful to look at.  It's a great looking "go" bike. not a "trailer queen" show bike. The bike is located in Southern Illinois. about 100 miles from St. Louis.  Bidders are encouraged to view the bike in person. The winning bidder will have to pick the bike up themselves or arrange shipping at their own cost.  A $500 down payment is due within 3 days after the auction ends.  The bike will not leave my possession until total payment has definitely cleared a US bank so scammers need not apply.  The bike is for sale locally so I reserve the right to end the auction early if it is sold locally.

Also published at eBay.com