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