Hello I am brand new to the site and for the most part to sidecars. i have and r60/5 and a flying tiger sidecar. I am pretty squared away with mounting it and adding subframe, but my real questions are about what type of rear end I could replace my stock R/60 with to get the best performence. I am really wanting to get 65 top speed if possible with the best performence in between. Any suggestions? and if so where can it be purchased. I noticed that the r60/2 with sidecar from bmw factory specs gave it a 90mph top speed. How is this possible? Could I every get that Without getting into the gearbox and just setting up the rear end? Also. Would putting one size smaller tire help at all?
Thanks a lot!
Hello Tim,
Your Baby is at least 44 years old, take it calm.
In Germany I would say, go to Stemler in Köln or better direct to the BMW-Oldie spare part factory in Bremen, they have everything from stock with the old tooling and right on the spects. (to BMW prices...there are no gadgets with that brand)
Sven Peter
BMW made an assortment of different final drives for the /5's. I installed a 32/9 final drive on my R75. I found a nice one for $150.00. The drive ratios usable for a hack are: 31/9 which is a 3.44-1 ratio, 32/9 which is a 3.51-1 ratio, or the 35/9 (Euro R45) which is a 3.89-1 ratio. I used the 32/9 which puts me at 4000RPM at around 60 mph. I can still run up to 85 w/ no problem. (down hill w/ tail wind). I bolted a 1974 900cc top end/ cylinders and pistons to my R75. Still looks exactly like the R75 but now is at 60 H.P. rather than 50 H.P. The extra H.P. isn't a glaring gain but the torque and power are definately increased, but the gas milage is decreased.
Thanks, I am having trouble finding any of these drives anywhere. Could you give me any ideas on where I might be able to locate one?
Join the Vintage BMW Owners Club and ask,
Yahoo has a /2 forum, they probably have a /5 forum, too. ?
Call Benchmark Works (Craig Vechorick)
Ask HackAsaw at (615) 478 -4175
Ask Barrington Motorworks
Report back on what you find.
Watch E-Bay, but beware of unscroupulous sellers. The Internet BMW Riders Site is a good spot to advertise your needs under the "wanted " ads. I did get rooked by a guy selling a final drive with worn output splines, (he said they were good.) I got my money back but got ripped off for over $50.00 in shipping costs. I don't think the seller knew what he was looking at. He was an M.D.- Hope he's better with human diagnostics than he is with mechanical ones. Keep snooping the web and you'll eventually find what you're looking for. I've found many rare parts for my hack project at cheap prices the last few months. D. Smith
Originally written by windriverpg on 8/17/2008 11:36 PM
I noticed that the r60/2 with sidecar from BMW factory specs gave it a 90mph top speed. How is this possible?
Maybe they dropped it out of an airplane.
It may not be impossible but it's certainly highly unlikely. What is entirely likely is that the German factory manual was referring to kilometers which translates as 55.92 miles per hour. Rear transfer case ratios might improve that a little but it's not likely to add 30 miles per hour to the top speed.
I see a 32:9 bmw final drive on e-bay this morning. Just what you are looking for.
