1958 R26 250cc BMW motor bike

[Grahamjb]

Since there is no old motorbike forum this seems to be the place to show my latest project which is a 1958 250cc single cylinder R26 BMW that I will be restoring.

[TOMM Moderator]

The name of this category has been updated to include bikes (both motorbikes and pedal).
The moderator.

[Fizza]

It looks pretty good as is!

[Oldengines]

It looks pretty good as is!

i agree, nice looking bike.

[Grahamjb]

Thanks for the comments fellas but photos can be deceiving.

The bike has been repainted before, is licenced, runs and rides ok for nearly 60 years old but it is tired and needs a good going over. The paint has runs and is cracked in a lot of places, the engine burns oil but runs quietly so I am not expecting many surprises when I pull it apart; it has been converted to 12 volts and the wiring is hopeless with loose unterminated wires and even has a bluepoint connecter that has fallen off floating around inside the headlight assy (see attached photo). Smoke comes out of the aftermarket headlight high/low beam switch if you turn the headlight on, the clutch and brake cables have cracked outer casings and are stiff, it has some loose spokes and most of the nuts, bolts and screws are burred on the edges from being removed and re-tightened more than once and look crappy as a result.

I will post up progress pictures as the restore proceeds but don't hold your breath because it might take some time.

Cheers
GB

Wiring inside headlight -the empty claw type fitting at the top of the headlight is where the original ignition/light switch and circuit board was located


Very black sooty Spark Plug


Matching Frame and Engine numbers

[cobbadog]

It is still a beautiful bike. There was one exactly the same for sale near us at Cundletown, Taree, NSW. Was for sale at $7,000.00 from memory. Had historic plates also, I think.
Look forward to the progress as it happens. By your descriptions this will be pristine when finished.

[Grahamjb]

Don't know if it will be pristine when finished Cobbadog but it will look, ride and run a lot better than it does now.

A couple of photos to show some of the poor paint




In this photo the lines underneath and on either side of the hinge are fractures all the way through the mudguard

[Grahamjb]

This photo shows the general oxidised condition of the chrome and shiny bits on the bike

[winchester]

Very nice bike Graham , it is always a hard question ,how far do you go in the restoration of bike . I have a 1925 ,250 Raleigh . It is original ,I dont ride it much now ,but I just wipe it over with an ''Oily Rag''  [ thats a plug for your magazine jayvee].

I visited a friend who has so many bikes ,he collects Veterans ,starts from the frame and works his way through ,he has bikes that I have never heard of .

[Grahamjb]

I would love to see your Raleigh and friends bikes - I still kick myself for not having the money to buy a 1916 Triumph H550 when it was offered to me for sale 20 years ago.

[winchester]

A friend just bought a 1915 Sunbeam,,,,,,, 20K !!.he is going to take it to the next Veterans Rally in SA As for my other friend  with all the bikes ,they are all under wraps .  This is my Raleigh .

[Grahamjb]

Love your Raleigh and $20k for a 1915 Sunbeam is probably about right - I wish I had that sort of money to throw around.

Check out the prices of the bikes in this link.... it is staggering
http://thevintagent.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/top-20-at-auction-updated.html