weird old headlight shell

Restoration forum Bmwbike.com
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Paul Evans

weird old headlight shell

Post by Paul Evans »

I recently bought a rolling basket case 1959 R60 whose headlight was
smashed. In a box of parts that came with the bike I found another
headlight shell, which is in great shape.

It matches the original shell in every detail, including the key slide,
idiot lights, cicuit board, etc., but there is no opening for a
speedometer. Where the speedometer would be, just forward of the idiot
lights, there is a small, round, blue light. There is also no hole on
the bottom for a speedometer cable.

Does anyone out there regognize this shell? Is it worth something to
someone? Many thanks in advance.

- Paul Evans in Chicago with most of a 1959 R60
Gerry Douglas-Sherwood

Re: weird old headlight shell

Post by Gerry Douglas-Sherwood »

It sounds very much as if the headlight you have came from a Moto Guzzi Falcone of the 1970s.

The manufacturer of the BMW headlight shells so familiar to all of us BMW headcases made shells for a number of other companies in the German and Italian markets.

Luckily BMW shells are readily available so you should have no problem replacing the Guzzi item. One warning though, if you come across a shell with a large recess underneath it will be for a BMW single-cylinder machine, not a twin. The recess was to accommodate the horn.
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