How do I identify /2 verses US tank?

[CTHalk]

Well, I have a new filly in the stable....a 1967 R60US....that needs a gas tank. How do I tell the difference between an R60/2 tank, and an R60US tank? A friend tells me there IS a difference, and if I put a /2 tank on it, the forks will hit the tank before the go to full lock. Anybody hoarding a US tank that needs a home? Trades or cash? My first-born male child? Thanks, Hal

[20774]

I could be wrong, but I don't think there's a "US" or a "/2" tank. There are certainly different size tanks for this era of bikes. I've got the "small" tank, I believe it's 4.5 gallons with the tool box under the left kneepad. There's the sport tank, larger volume and the tool box is on the top behind the gas cap. There are the monstrosities such as the Heinrich tank, on the order of 10 gallons. You might try looking at various websites that show all kinds of pictures like Jeff Dean's at http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/slash2.htm and the wikipedia page he started at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_R60/2.

Also, part of your problem may be the handlebars. There are the European bars and US bars plus there are several mounting holes on the upper mounting plate.

Kurt in S.A.

[CTHalk]

Well, I guess there isn't a difference between the R60US and the R60/2 small tank. But, there might be a difference between.....the US lower triple tree, and the /5 lower triple tree! My new R60US has a /5 fork brace on it (only took me 2.5 days to figure that out). So, the bike probably has a /5 front end. I did some parts list surfing, and it says that the lower sliders, and the fork tubes are the same part numbers for both the US and the /5. I couldn't find part numbers for the lower triple tree though. I am guessing that because the frame is different between the two models, the fork stops on the trees are too. So, I need a set of US fork triple trees... Arrgg. At least I don't have to find a complete front end!

[20774]

I'm not sure if I'm 100% correct but one source (ETK) says the early R75/5 lower fork yoke is 31 42 1 230 577 and RealOEM says the R60/2 (US model) lower fork yoke is 31 42 2 000 375.

Kurt in S.A.