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Steib Storage

Brian R

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
598
Location
Chestertown, MD
I hesitate to use storage in this title but I am being realistic here. We moved from the outskirts of Philadelphia to the suburbs of Dallas in 2005. Our new to us house includes a 3 car garage (one two car with a separate single car). I thought this would be adequate because we had built and then left a three car garage in PA. But that garage was a ‘two’ car in the front that was 24x27 with a 12x22 space in the back, purpose built as my garage shop (total square footage=912). Both sections had attic storage also. In addition that house, build around 1910, had a fantastic English basement with additional storage space.

Our new place has a single car that my wife uses that is 10x20 and the two-car 20x20 that houses our VW Thing and three motorcycles including a side rig (total square footage-600). Basically 67% of the garage space I left. However, we chose this house because of the neighborhood and proximity to other families (the old house was on an acre of land but on a busy road with no neighbors with kids for mine to play with). So I figured this will do.

Unfortunately I started on the wrong foot with this place because I herniated a disk in the move and never got organized. Since then I have made half-hearted attempts to build some storage and place things on the ceiling but always get sidetracked (work, coaching little league baseball, work, family time, work, and keeping up a very modest summer home on the Chesapeake Bay that we have kept and I try and spend what little vacation time I have there (wife and kids spend 2 ½ months there each summer – more on this later).

I like old motorcycles. I currently have a 1968 BMW R50/2 with a Steib S501 sidecar. The bike was a wedding present from my wife in 1990 and I restored in the basement of our first house (garage was built later). I also have a 1948 Vincent Rapide for which I am finishing up rolling restoration. Then I have a grey market Yamarha RD350 from 1983 that will be put together soon and a 1975 Honda CB500T. In addition we have a 1973 VW Thing with 15,000 original miles.

My goal is to build a nice workbench and cabinets to just have a workable space and have a spot for all this junk. Long range plan is an outdoor shed to remove garden tools and bicycles but for this weekend I am building workbench and shelves to organize right half of garage.
 

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Brian R

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
598
Location
Chestertown, MD
More detail of the garage title.
Motorcycle - 1968 BMW R50/2 - last year of BMWs to include Earles Fork and mounting hardware for sidecar use. Purchased in 1990 by my wife to be as wedding present. Restored between 1990-92.
Looked for sidecar for approximately 7 years and ended up trading a 1969 BMW R50 for this Steib S501 - circa 1951. Has shocks and gives great ride. The bike is a little underpowered for this big rig but they look great together and mostly used to shuttle kids back and forth to school. I farmed the restoration of this sidecar out (much bodywork needed).
 

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Red Leader

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Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,689
Location
Denver, CO
Nice bikes:thumbup:

Let us know how we can help...help with the garage addiction, that is:D


Good start - just take it easy on the back.
 
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Brian R

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
598
Location
Chestertown, MD
Rl - back was bad but was able to recover without surgery so very lucky and only reminder is some dead nerves that leaves some lack of feeling in left foot. Strange but my back problems enabled me to sleep and sit but could not walk more than 10-15 feet without having to lie on ground and rest (made getting around for 6 months a tedious affair).

I love your garage and what you are doing with it and congrats on new addition to your family!

As for help - I cleaned half of garage last night and will be building bench and storage this weekend. Will post pictures and know that helpful hints will be forthcoming.

Thanks.
Brian
 
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psikora

New member
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
1
Yeah, the 501 is a nice car. I had an S350, S350 Indian replica, and Hollandia TR500 replica. Just sold the latter a few months ago that I had on my VW-powered /2 conversion rig.:beer: They're all great in parades.
 
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Brian R

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
598
Location
Chestertown, MD
psikora,
Multiple sidecars (post pictures) - awesome! I love mine and everyone is like a kid when I take them for a ride. Just finishing up a Vincent Rapide and the S501 would look great next to it and the extra cc would really make it run but not certain if I am going to go that route.

Was able to do some bench building and added some shelves - must post updated garage pictures but here is one of the Vincent.

Exhaust system taken off and it has a bit of extra chrome. Non-matching numbers. It was built in the '60s when they were cheap and the PO had it for over 40 years.
 

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flybefree

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Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
1,111
Location
Ohio/Kentucky
Brian,

Amazing sidecars and bikes...looks like something Howard Hughes would have driven or something. Keep the pictures coming.

Shaun
 
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Brian R

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
598
Location
Chestertown, MD
Shaun,
I think H. Hughes in his destitute days of living as recluse, maybe. Absolutely stunning build you have going on there and written in sublime style. I am orginally from Columbus, Ohio and so appreciate your Buckeye sensibility and humor.

Dragged out most of junk from 2 car and placed in single car to build storage shelves and bench. Pictures to follow.

Here is the third bike that occupies the garage. 1983 Yamahad RD350LC - Canadian grey market bike imported by my wife's uncle.

Still deciding on course of action - maybe a cafe racer rebuild.

Just like Ford - any color you want as long it is black.
 

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