1964 BMW R50/2 with Steib S350 Sidecar

Frame no. 641467 Engine no. 641467

Previewing in Bedford Hills, New York by appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.

In the early 1950s, BMW concentrated on refining what were essentially pre-war designs, but by 1955 was ready with a brace of new machines, the R50 and R69. Of (nominally) 500cc and 600cc respectively, the newcomers inherited the up-dated flat-twin engine introduced on the R51/3 a few years previously but deployed this in all-new cycle parts, the most notable innovations being the Earles-type leading-link front fork and swinging-arm rear suspension enclosing the drive-shaft in the right leg - developments first seen on the works racers. Luxury tourers, the R50 and R69 sold to discerning enthusiasts to whom expense mattered little when set against the excellence of BMW engineering. Production finished in 1969 – in model year 1964 BMW built some 3,817 R50s.

This example is believed to have been retained for the earlier half of its life by Lindner Cycle Shop in New Caanan, Connecticut where it was kept as a display piece and rarely ridden. It was in Lindner's ownership that the bike was mated to the 1954 Steib S350 sidecar, serial number 11491. Eventually the bike would end up in the basement of the shop, largely neglected and forgotten. When the shop closed the bike was acquired by Michael R. Gabriel. Gabriel, who had worked as a mechanic at Lindner Cycle Shop, restored the Bimmer in the 1990s then displayed it in his own shop in Stamford, Connecticut. The process was seemingly repeated, with the bike being display, forgotten, neglected, and finally in 2019, sold to the current owner.

The numbers matching motorcycle was sent to MG Cycles in Howell, New Jersey for a largely mechanically restoration. Invoices of over $12,000 reflect the work completed, which was finished in early 2020.

Sparingly ridden since completion, the bike shows nicely today. Pictures of the bike in front of Lindner Cycle Shop and after Mr. Gabriel's restoration document its history, while is lovely presentation reflect its current nick. Showing well cosmetically with a few paint imperfections commensurate with age, and complete with it's tool roll, it would make a lovely touring machine or get around ride for town or country.