1967 BMW R60/2 VMW 1.6L Conversion

Chris Runge gives an in depth look at his 1967 BMW R60/2 Motorcycle powered by a Volkswagen 4 Cylinder Conversion. In the early 1970's there were conversion kits available to turn BMW and Motoguzzi motorcycles into 4 cylinder bikes. This particular conversion was done after the original engine through a rod bearing. The BMW has covered over 29,000 miles around the US since the VW conversion and continues to bring smiles on every ride.

[@barqwoof]

I returned from VietNam in August of 1970 and my wife and I were renting and apartment in Tempe, Arizona. I just bought a CB750 Honda I was very proud of when my next door neighbor showed off what looked identical to your bike. I was dazzled even though my Honda was the hot bike of the era. Thank you for sharing. Jim

[@donalfredisaac]

Hi Chris, if you had driven this bike with the original motor I don´t think you or anyone would ever think about switching the engine, hope you get the chance of riding one sometime.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Thanks for letting me in on VMW. On the first corner in the test drive, the unmistakable sound of a v dub pulling away put a huge smile on my face! That's a cool jewel for any gear heads crown. 👍

[@andrewwolf4430]

Saw one of these in mpls in the early 70’s at a ride with the West Bank motorcycle club. We’d meet on Wednesday evening for short rides and Saturday morning for camping trips at the joint bar

[@dannyjonze]

Love this having worked on vw's forever. Straight away I'm wondering if it has a lightened flywheel which it really needs. The 1600 is quite a bit heavier too. I would love to try a 1500 with proper 1500 cylinders and a few tweaks. It's the opposite problem than for beetles so would be a fun project. Can make a narrower engine with standard crank and lightened flywheel. Maybe a 1300, would be fun to modify the lump.

[@graemelliott3942]

Never heard of that conversion. Understandably logical👍

[@TheMarcball]

Cool couple of bikes, sir. I just have a good old 1200 vmax since 1993, and it's highly loveable. Thanks for the inspiration and keep on trucking!

[@quas392]

Always a pleasure watching your videos

[@DavidLucas-hf1cx]

Man, that’s a nice copy.. it’s one that’s been on my list since I was a kid. Missed one a few years ago and I’m still regretting it.. I’m really enjoying your videos, keep up the good work.

[@SquirrelsForAll]

This is really unique and absolutely wonderful!

[@nealefrazer4247]

Your Cars Chris are sublime..the R60 is a neat toy..A friend a long time ago had a vw modded R75 toaster..all I can say is gentle on the gearbox ...

[@pbgd3]

The gearboxes are clunky you want to make sure not to linger with the clutch in or things slow down and then you won't get your shift. A very light preload before you pull the clutch and they pop right in. No syncros so its not like you're wearing them but it will prevent the dogs from slowing.

[@01AceAlpha]

Leno would like to see this.”!

[@rickrack78]

There was a VW based motorcycle built in Brazil a while back. It actually used the motor and transmission from the VW. The drive chain came off one stub shaft of the trans and I think the rear brake was mounted on the other stub shaft. Very ingenious manufacturer

[@onixbonilla4420]

rickrack78 They are the Amazonas Motorcycles

[@johna1160]

This looks more proportional and ergonomically comfortable, and way better looking than the grotesquely oversized 2020 Big Boy Bimmer.

[@giannirocco9099]

Props to the man(I'm assuming) who figured it out!Also impressed you found it,pretty sure it's not very common

[@kapzkya6381]

Wow! I will Love to built something like your BM-VW!

[@Jupp9T]

Nice bike! Greetings from germany!

[@joaquiminacio1212]

thanks brothers love it

[@halimhadjameur3585]

Cool video. Lots of luck

[@marcswanson7066]

Very cool! Thanks for the video.

[@taekoocho3456]

U have a brilliant mind! Just want to let u know!

[@alangilman6711]

I have a '72 BMW R/75/5 and a '70 Rokon Trailbreaker!!!! loving this!!!

Great taste👍🏻👍🏻

[@z_actual]

I remember these sorts of experiments. Somewhat earlier to this were inline 500cc 2 strokes made from 2x 250cc twins tied together to make an inline engine, some more sophisticated than others. Japans tinkerers had a litany of multi cylinder engines and some quite ingenious solutions in the hunt for multi cylinder motorcycles with an amount of capacity. Likewise the euro-set were installing VW engines into BMW's which were more likely to be 1200, 1300 or 1500cc horizontally opposed fours. All this predated the Honda CB 750 which appeared in June of 1969. This first of the superbikes came with significant doubts as it was seen as very big and heavy, but of course everyone soon got over it and other brands made their place in the 70's with some notable monsters like Kawasaki's 750 triple. This era of BMW still had memorable links to the Wehrmacht versions of the same machines, and so came with seemingly strange accessories such as the pump. The Russians took much of the plant that made them back to Russia in 1945/46 and they were still being offered in the 70's as the Vostok. These bikes came complete with WW2 era military equipment which described a full tool kit including the workshop manual and the pump , but of the upright vehicle type. Useful in the wilds of eastern Russia which can be quite remote, so much so that obtaining a drivers license in Russia included a test were you had to demonstrate you could change a wheel.

[@richhardchoppers7869]

Love those bike. 👍

[@odl21]

Really nice bike.

[@decadantdog4444]

Those carbs are CV off a Honda CB/CL 450. I used to have a BMW R60 back in 1976. Sold it after a few months. I was young and stupid. Wish still had it.

[@barryismygod]

I’ve said for years that the VW Flat four is essentially a motorcycle engine

[@pks41805]

A Steve McQueen photo, Persol sunglasses, and a vintage bike..........cool.

[@jerrynorton1080]

Saw steve up on the wall the first time the camera panned...

[@BunnyR13]

I'm pretty sure Von Dutch did some of these. Unique piece.

[@jerrynorton1080]

Kenny "Von Dutch" Howard did one on a harley xa (u s army spec bmw copy for the afrikan desert war) and most prominent was the vw badge on the 450 honda tank. He reduced the c/r to keep it from overheating in l a traffic. Seems american pickers came across it for one episode

[@richardh1072]

I have a 1968 bmw R60 with a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle1600cc engine in it

[@jamesmongeau7472]

Hello sir, I've never seen a VMW conversion before...very cool!! I've recently discovered you and have enjoyed watching this video and several others of yours as well. I'm very impressed by the work that you do, that #28 car is truly a work of art. If I may, the Bates seat on the converted r60 /2: Is the seat mounted on it's own arm(with spring??) set up that attaches to the frame? I noticed that the seat sets farther back from the gas tank then the Denfield. I'm interested in trying to get one. Any information would be great. Thanks James Zi

[@jameskatz5956]

The original /2 engine didn't have a real oil filter. The only thing to filter the oil was slingers on the ends of the crankshaft. These would trap the crud in the oil until they filled with sludge and then the party was over. It was mandatory to do a total engine tear down every 50-60 thousand miles. Ask me how I know.

[@donalfredisaac]

James I rode a 1955 r69 for 31 years and put on it about 500 000 kms, the slingers were cleaned just once when the engine was overhauled at about 350 000 kms, never had a problem.

[@lznicu]

Can you tell how the engine is assembled on frame? And by that I mean the mounts of the engine... I am thinking to a similar project for quit a while and of the questions I have is the mounting sistem of the engine on the frame.

[@creepingjesus5106]

Castle forks, and a plunger back end...😊 Just as well it's a torquey cruiser, but I bet it is comfortable. Just enough snarl from the exhaust too! Lovely. 😍

[@sandmangti7040]

Hope my shirt arrives soon.

Shoot me an email with your order info: [e-mail]

[@sandmangti7040]

Sent email to Chris. Thanks.

[@zorktxandnand3774]

Nice conversion, but I guess it is geared a bit low, if 65 mph is about as much as you want to do. Though I understand that changing that would be difficult, as you would need to change the ratio on the final drive, witch would need custom gears. Not something a company that uses an off the shelf engine could easily do, without becoming to expensive.

[@pbgd3]

they make nice sidecar rigs. That torque and low rpm are nice for carrying that side car load. And with the earl style fork. You can handle then. Somewhere I have a picture of a BMW with a 4 cam carrera engine.

[@georgeR3Roadster]

ooohhh man ... ooohhh man .... what a nice one this is !!! super !!! thanks for the video !! I had a R60 and my german friend from Berlin had a R69 in the years ...... 1974 !!! yeah ... !!! man, they were the biggest bikes in those years, so beautiful and so nice to ride !!! memories forever !!! we had Leonard Cohen, we had Klaus Schultze, we had Tangerine Dream and much more ..... and we were so happy in a happy world ... so many miles (km) on the bikes and so much laughing in the helmets .... now everything is fu..cked up by uSSa and their financial fraud and crashes ... neoliberal system you know ... no longer human, no more joy, just $$$$$ max PROFIT everywhere every time in all societal human directions ... pitty pitty ! shame on those uSSa for their bully behaviour everywhere !!

[@decadantdog4444]

That would be great on the Autobahn.

[@SC8terRiderMotoVlogger]

🤗 👍 ☝️ 😎 🇵🇭 🤩 More power 💪

[@nicherkuang]

can ural750 gearbox use with this vw engine? thanks a lot.

[@nealefrazer4247]

would you trust something russian made with a VW powerplant in front?...not a snowballs chance in hell

[@garypeatling7927]

Could just put huge rear wheel to raise gearing , love it

[@johnkilo3]

Cool motorcycle! You sold it recently, didn't you?

[@gunayyesilyurt8276]

harika

[@uwekoelblin4606]

BMW GOLDWING

[@adianqureshi9058]

What are these worth? Please let me know

[@harrytazzia4133]

The volks clutch plate and the /2 BMW clutch plate have the same dimensions. The only difference is the spline in the center of the clutch plate.

[@anthonynicodemo6388]

Keihin, pronounced "kay hin" in Japanese. Awesome bike and showroom.

[@benfidar]

R160/2?

[@arthurdeygers2106]

how much and where can i get one LOL

[@naberville3305]

Its probably actually a 1500cc engine. The 1600cc motors came with dual intake ports.

VW made a 1600 in both single and dual port.

[@jerrynorton1080]

And heads are tradeable, to a point

[@nick4506]

still alive?

[@ironmonkey1512]

It's a "Gold Flügel"

[@tazanteflight8670]

Popular youtuber buys motorcycle,.. then channel goes mysteriously dark.....

[@VAMIRACING]

who would want to do this to an original bike?

[@jerrynorton1080]

These were done like 50 years ago, when broke-motor beemers (bimmers is cars, dad said) werent chaseable collectorbikes

[@SirKks1]

"spun a rod"? these things have needle bearing rods

[@k.k.hickey4624]

And he was never heard from again... ☹️

[@umaxen0048]

No need to ever rev above 2500rpm...

[@jayjackson597]

so you have a bike with an engine from a car and you can't go over 60, my trail 90 will cruise all day at 55. you must be saying because of the age of the thing you don't want to push it beyond that?

[@1nvisible1]

*Prolly cause of RPMs*

[@jayjackson597]

@@1nvisible1 maybe have enough torque to change something in the final drive to up it some on the top end, if it's shaft drive i can see how that might be hard to do

[@seleldjdfmn221]

Good content. what's the best time Of day to upload videos?? Also, Let's build each other up x3

[@simonmaton]

Would have loved to show this to my son, but you'r riding around without a helmet! :-(

[@rkay9071]

I totally agree that you should not show your son this video because raised by a person like you, he obviously should be wrapped in bubble-pack so that he can't make decisions for himself.

[@simonmaton]

@@rkay9071 That makes absolutely no sense but whatever!