Boxerworks.com

Gidday,

About 4 years ago I listed for sale my lovely 1981 "grey ghost" R100RS, it sold rather quickly and for a good $$$$ so I could not complain and the people that brought it were a city BMW car/motorcycle Dealer in Melbourne Oz.
"We are building a new showroom and we want to have a timeline of BMW bikes showcased on display" was what they said, the deal was done and off it went down the road.

Yesterday SteveD and myself went to have a look, as I was heading to his place anyways and the BMW dealer is only another 30 minutes down the road.
We strolled into the flash showroom looking at all the new bikes and goodies etc. but I was also scanning the surroundings for the "timeline of bikes" but nothing was spotted so far, then happy, chirpy, Mr Salesman came over and dropped his normal lines onto us about the current display of whizzbang go-fast bikes we were looking at, then SteveD asking about my old bike and where was it located... "Oh that's up in our vehicle historic display section, upstairs over near the windows", I then told him that they had brought it off me and we wanted to have a look at it again "it's not for sale he replied".... the sales pitch ended right there and then as he dropped us like a hot potato once the sniff of no sale was in the air and he bee-lined right for the next victim with the offer and coffee and cake, unfortunately we must not have looked like the coffee and cake and sort

Upstairs we both meandered to the "historic vehicle section", and here my old "grey ghost sat in the corner and sadly the historic vehicle section was made up of one bike and that was my old one..
The importance of selling new cars and cash flow had obviously taken a front seat to other important projects as all that was up there were the new cars in all the colours and shapes that were soon to be picked by there new owners, some had big red ribbons across their hoods and some did not, my old RS just sat there looking out at the road below, I actually felt a little sad for him, his rear tyre partial deflated etc.. he did look good though but very much unloved in my eye, pushed aside and sitting there day in, day out, surrounded by the constant comings and goings of self centered, self obsessed folk collecting their new cars to keep up with the jones!! and I doubt any of them would notice the old grey ghost sitting in the corner of the "Historic Vehicle Section" ....



Happier Times



My son on pillon with me, plus SteveD on our way up to Jeff's place in NSW for a Boxerworks gathering a few years back!!



On a lighter note

I collected my gold 78 fairing from Steve's place yesterday after we returned from the dealership, we stumbled upon this listed on Germany Ebay one night, it had just come on and displayed a very low buy now price, almost a little to ridiculously low to be honest, so it was snapped up.. Steve's son was in Germany on a student exchange program and the seller delivered it right to his door step where it was then boxed up and sent to OZ...
I have always loved the gold colour of the early RS so one day I will swap it all over as I now have to find a front fender and two side covers, but these can most likely be painted up.
Many thanks once again Steve for all your help in getting this out here to Oz, Its very much appreciated!!



Right, now I have some new rings to bed in so I'm off on the bike this morning if all goes to plan, Cheers!!

grant81rs wrote: Upstairs we both meandered to the "historic vehicle section", and here my old "grey ghost sat in the corner and sadly the historic vehicle section was made up of one bike and that was my old one..
The importance of selling new cars and cash flow had obviously taken a front seat to other important projects as all that was up there were the new cars in all the colours and shapes that were soon to be picked by there new owners, some had big red ribbons across their hoods and some did not, my old RS just sat there looking out at the road below, I actually felt a little sad for him, his rear tyre partial deflated etc.. he did look good though but very much unloved in my eye, pushed aside and sitting there day in, day out, surrounded by the constant comings and goings of self centered, self obsessed folk collecting their new cars to keep up with the jones!! and I doubt any of them would notice the old grey ghost sitting in the corner of the "Historic Vehicle Section" ....

This sad story is bound to eventually have a happy ending, I think. The good news is that the bike is being stored out of the weather, and it is not being ridden. Where I'm heading is that there will come a time when that bike will be bought by someone who really wants it. And it will be loved. (sorry to be so soppy) The bike may become enshrined or it may be ridden instead by someone who really wanted it. Both of those 'endings' are happier than the current situation and one of them is most likely to happen.

Ken, heading out to the shop now to hug my '82 RS

Stored with the pistons about 1/2 way down and it will collect rust above the crown. It will require a bore job. So easy to prevent.

I had the experience of going to a motorcycle museum and finding my '74 R90 on display. I was shocked to see it. When BMW lied announced that it would not be producing the big twin after '84, I bought my R100S and had to sell the R90. The wife of the program manager at the Canada Safety Council in Vancouver bought the bike secretly for her husband, as a surprise. He was a great fellow BTW. I was a senior instructor at the time. When I saw my bike at the Trev Dealy museum, I inquired about it's history. The family that bought the bike had been in a terrible automobile accident, and all but one young boy was killed. The brother of the Program manager gained possession of the bike and gave it to the museum. It was there for a long time. I would visit it periodically, it had nearly the same mileage on the odometer as when I had sold it. When the young boy grew up, his uncle gave it to him, and he still has it. I hope it is being well tended. That bike back in 1974, was a revelation, and the most rewarding purchase of my life. I got in touch with the uncle of the now grown up boy who owns the bike. He's not selling, and that is the way it should be.

What a nice story, except for the auto accident part. As I look back at it, we are only the caretakers of these bikes.

Duane Ausherman wrote:What a nice story, except for the auto accident part. As I look back at it, we are only the caretakers of these bikes.

I've been the care taker of this one for 30 years. Had a very nice ride on it today.