Zeer mooie 1969 CJ 750 (1938 BMW R71 M72 clone )

Name: Zeer mooie 1969 CJ 750 (1938 BMW R71 M72 clone )
Brand: Zeer mooie 1969 CJ 750 (1938 BMW R71 M72 clone )
SKU: advertentiex-1321798
Price: 3.750 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (5 reviews)

3.750 EUR

This is a project bike for a motorcyclist who knows what they’re doing. It’s beautiful clone of the 1938 BMW R71. It runs and drives and has valid Dutch registration but will need to have things looked at before being put back on the road. It was unused for many years but thanks to my efforts and new Mikuni style carburetors it now starts and runs nicely. The bike will now need to have the sidecar properly aligned or have the front tire replaced because the handlebars wiggles when driven. From what I understand this isn’t unusual for a sidecar rig that isn’t set up properly. In addition to this, the transmission will need to be looked at. Rather odd by today's standards, the transmission can operated via three different levers. There one is for hand shifting, another for foot shifting and a third lever is for engaging reverse gear. The hand shifter works and all gears can be selected, however the foot shifter is not very accurate. According to online information from various owners, the foot shifter has two adjustments that need to be set carefully. However I haven’t been able to find a setting that pleases me. The very desirable reverse gear works well. This engine also has electric start, which is a feature that none of the other BMW clones offered.

I’m selling it because after playing with it, I’ve decided that three wheels isn’t for me. I’ve ridden motorcycles for most of my life and I have no interest in changing my riding style. I’m tempted to remove the sidecar but honestly that would be a shame. So I’ll leave it to a new owner to do what he or she wants with it.

When I acquired this bike I was told that it had been completely restored in China for a European buyer 15 years ago and then shipped to the Netherlands. It was registered here in 2007 and it has valid Dutch registration and documentation (which makes it easy to re-register it in any EU country). All the serial numbers on the bike and the paperwork match and it’s registered it as a 1969 Chang Jiang 750.

In all probability 1969 isn't when this bike was first built, but rather the date that it was first registered as a civilian motorcycle. If you know anything about the CJ 750 you’ll know that they were produced exclusively for the Chinese army begining in the mid 1950's. As with all CJ750’s of this age and frame design, this one started off life as a military bike until it was decommissioned and sold. Nearly all Chinese sidecar rigs have this military background and a look at them on te streets of China will reveal many of them still running around in their original olive drab paint. There are many firms in China that specialize in rebuilding, restoring and refitting these bikes into a variety of specifications and overall look.

After its arrived in Holland it evidently spent many years as a store display and after that on display in a private collection. (This is reflected in a milage of approximately 1200 kilometers on what I assume was a new speedometer added when it was restored.) I am it’s third European owner. At the moment it’s been geschorst and it’s not insured, meaning it can be looked at, started and listened to but you can’t take it for a test drive. It’s sold as is. Feel free to get in touch with me if you have an interest in a fun project. The price is 3750 euro which is modest for a R71/M72/CJ750 style bike. It’s in great condition and the european license is going to save you a lot of time and effort.

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Here’s some historical information:

The R71/M72/CJ750 series of motorcycles represents one of the longest produced designs in motorcycling history. The first iteration of the design first saw the light of day with the release of the 1938 BMW R71. The R71 was the top model in the BMW lineup and it was the first to offer rear suspension, which was mounted directly to the frame. It featured a 750cc air-cooled opposed twin with a bore and stroke of 78x78mm. It was praised for its smooth, reliable power. The R71 was put to work by the German military pulling sidecars, machine guns, supplies and even light artillery pieces.

Through a complex political deal in 1939 referred to as the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, (a non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union prior to them going to war with each other) the BMW R71 design plans, production equipment and BMW technical support was transferred to the USSR in trade for raw materials and logistical support needed by Germany.
The BMW R71was renamed the Ural M72 and when Germany invaded the USSR in June of 1941, it was used to fight the Germans. After the war the M-72 motorcycle continued to be produced for many decades. Eventually the design was sold to Red China. There it was renamed the Chang Jiang CJ750 and produced for the Chinese military. Production continued for about another 30 years. The CJ750 was arguably the best iteration of the original design featuring a 750cc with a bore and stroke of 78x78mm combined with the improved OHV cylinder head design of the BMW R75 which powered German sidecar rigs from 1941 -1945. The CJ750 was upgraded with electric start and a reverse gear, fitted into seamlessly into the design and an iconic frame that remained virtually identical to the original 1938 R71.

Because of its very long production run, parts for these bikes are cheap and easy to find. A quick google search for "CJ750 parts", "Ural M72 parts" or even "BMW R71 parts" will reveal a true treasure trove of parts from many suppliers all over the globe. Most of these parts are interchangeable. Some are still being produced. While others originate from dusty warehouses containing original unused new iparts n former east-bloc countries and Asia due to its military background.

Although not of the highest quality by modern standards, the R71 based bikes none-the-less allow owners everywhere to enjoy the ride, feel and experiance of a 1930's motorcycle at very modest prices. Unfortunetly same cannot be said of a 1930's Harley Davidson or any of the other bikes used in!

Locatie: Noord-Holland - Amsterdam

Toegevoegd op 5 dagen geleden en vervalt op 16 December
Advertentie id: 1321798 [ ] 119 bezoeken