First Restoration

Reader Contribution by Alison Green
Published on August 6, 2008
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Alison Green in her shop bringing a BMW GS80 back to life

There never was any concrete plan to restore or resurrect abandoned and abused air-heads, but somehow for the past six years, my garage has become a winter workshop. Let me hastily add that I make no claims to being a mechanic. I just can’t stand the sight of an otherwise lovely old boxer resting derelict under a pile of accumulated debris. It must be rescued!

My mechanical experience, limited as it is, has accumulated along with a substantial assortment of bits and pieces over the course of a 33 year acquaintance with my now venerable R60/6.BMW. The /6 has served me faithfully in spite of my meddling with its works.

This has led to a somewhat inflated estimation of my own abilities in the workshop, the fact that the R60 has been all but bulletproof notwithstanding.

Four years ago, with the confidence of the uninitiated, I purchased a lovely 1973 R60/5 that had languished unloved in the back of a shed since 1985. On first examination it appeared complete if more than a bit tired, especially the rubber bits. Now, general motorcycle grunge is quite familiar, but this was grotty to a new degree! Apparently it had been driven for some miles with no rocker-cover gaskets installed and the resultant oil spray had done of fine job of rust proofing the back two-thirds of the machine. Parked with its coat of oil, the family cats had proceeded to use various bits as scratching posts and sleeping quarters. There was a large and hairy blanket thrown casually over the whole lot when first exposed from behind the usual assortment of garage collectables. Now this would not normally be a problem, but I am more than a little bit allergic to cats.  Consequently, the removal of the exterior layer of oil/grease/cat hair/grime caused an inordinate amount of sneezing and wheezing on my part. This was not at all an agreeable process. That accomplished, I set out to see if this could be resurrected into a useable machine.

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