KIWI RIDER 04 2020 VOL2 | Page 94

O U R This bike has been owned and ridden by KR publisher Vege for three decades, who affectionately calls it “The Baron”. In recent years the bike has been sat in his garage more often than not, only getting out for the odd adventure ride. I’ve ridden it more than anyone in the last six years, so this Bavarian beauty has found its way into my garage as a long termer of sorts. Having ridden the bike for thousands of kilometres already and taken part in a few adventure rides, I’d already got a feel for some of the things which needed work. Six years with no oil changes put engine/gearbox oils and filters at the front of the queue. Nobody could remember when the valve clearances were last done either, so that was added to the list. With something of an erratic idle and an elevated idle speed once the engine was warm, a carb balance also appeared on the list. The rear shock eyelet bearings were 94 KIWI RIDER B I K E S also knackered with a lot of play in them. There’s other things too, but that was more than enough to be going on with. The purpose of this isn’t to restore the bike in any way, I love the wear and tear the bike has – and so do a lot of other people apparently. There’s something about the bike’s patina which draws the eye, as it gets attention wherever it goes. It tells a story of what it’s done and show’s it’s a classic bike which is used. I’ve got absolutely nothing against restored classics, it’s just this isn’t going to be one of them. My goal is to keep the weathered look and give it some much needed maintenance to have it working as sweetly as it can. Talking with Vege about where this remedial work should be done, he said there was only one place to go for getting a classic BMW fettled. Mick Dobson at Two Cats Garage in Raumati