My Vintage Ride: 1950 BMW R51/2
7/6/2010
By Jay and Rene Huffman
As a boy growing up in Houston, Texas, I was always interested in motorcycles. My sister, brother and I all began riding at an early age, starting with a Bonanza mini-bike -- then Honda Z50s. Many times, Dad would bring home a basket case motorcycle and the following weeks would be spent in the garage bringing the relics back to life. When most homes in the area had manicured backyards with barbeque grills and patio furniture, our backyard had a mini-bike track complete with jumps.
One day, when Dad was helping our next-door neighbor, Raymond Horn, in his garage I discovered an old BMW motorcycle over in a corner. Raymond’s son, Dick, had bought the BMW in Germany. Dick and his friend Melvin had gone to Europe to tour the country hitchhiking. Hitchhiking was not going so well so they pooled their money together and bought the BMW. After touring Europe, the BMW was brought back to the United States and Dick used it for transportation throughout college. Dick bought a newer BMW and the old one, which had generator problems, was parked in the garage.
The following years were spent with my little brother and I “sneaking” into the neighbor’s garage through a side window and “riding” the BMW on many imaginary adventures without even moving. At the age of 14, we moved to Conroe, Texas, and the enthusiasm for motorcycles continued to grow with a job at the local bike shop, along with an interest in motocross, cross country and enduros (which continue today).
At the age of 25, my wife and I opened our own dealership. To my surprise, I was contacted by my old neighbor, Dick, who wanted me to have the old BMW. He thought it would make a nice display and maybe we could restore it. (We never knew that he was aware that we would “sneak” into his garage and “ride” his bike.) The BMW always drew a crowd even in its poor condition and restoration soon began.
A customer of our shop who was in the paint and body business offered to paint it for trade in motorcycle parts. He took the fuel tank to begin. Then a series of bad luck followed. The paint and body man was injured when a car fell on him. Our dealership fell on hard times and had to close. Many attempts to locate the tank failed and it was considered lost. Eleven years later, a friend called and said he had found the paint and body man and that he still had the tank!
Restoration began again this time with help of BMW expert, Perry Bushong, in Fort Worth, Texas. The next two years were spent locating parts such a missing generator. (Dick had sent the generator to Germany with a friend to locate a replacement. The friend never came back, and neither did the generator.)
At the 2008 B.M.O.A. Houston Chapter rally in New Ulm, Texas, the 1950 BMW R51/2 was reunited with its original owners, Dick and Mel. Many memories were recalled. The BMW now resides in our personal “mini” museum in climate-controlled storage. We take it to vintage rallies all over the country.
I rode it in the 85th AMA Anniversary Parade at 2009 Vintage Motorcycle Days. It is shown on the front row of the starting line pictures.
My wife and I continue to make additions to our collection of vintage motorcycles which includes: 1926 Royal Enfield, 1937 Harley Davidson w/sidecar (restoration in progress), 1952 Simplex Servi-Cycle, 1962 Harley Davidson 175 Scat, and numerous others in different stages of restoration.
Jay and Rene Huffman are AMA members living in Donie, Texas.