Original column

A little while ago, in the middle of the horror winter of 2023, there was a mixed nest of motorcyclists at Theo Terwel enjoying the third Helmut Dähne replica that Theo had in the works. The first copy that Theo had built for himself was almost the reason for a new German / Dutch war. Herr Dähne was very angry and suspected Theo of the worst intentions. After a good and long conversation, what always happens happened: No one can stay angry with Theo. Because he's good. And he is an excellent craftsman.

But all in all: with such a project you get into dangerous waters for many BMW drivers. Because in that select group something is only good if it is 100% factory original. Well, that was not the R90S with which Helmut Dähne did such fast things anyway. With the accumulated years of engine kilometers and a pot of beer, we mused away about the BMW boxer two-valves and their originality. We concluded on our own that the four-valve boxers were not for us. That the K75 is the best BMW ever and that the blue and white brand is no longer the brand for motorcyclists by motorcyclists. Thanks to the frenzied technical capabilities, managers and marketers. That's old man talk. And we were and are proud that we are now old men.

But that originality thinking is something that was born long after our first motorcycle kilometers. Something from the time when old motorcycles became classics and bikers got money to fulfill their childhood dreams.

Because Richard was once completely De Man in Maarssen village with his BMW R60. He was richly married, ran a bookshop and stationery store and so he had that BMW. The Earles front fork was replaced by a Ceriani. Tank, fenders and seat were British Racing Green polyester copies of the once famous E-Glass and the boxer exhaled through two double Hoske dampers, making it look exactly like a four-cylinder from behind. Richard was a free-thinking BMW driver with money. He was then ten or fifteen years older than us. We had no money to convert a ZGAN BMW to our own taste. But that did not mean that a BMW could not be driven. Because that was still a statement. And at that time old boxers were just old and not yet collectable. By the way: at the moment you can also score a very neat BMW for a euro or 1.500-2.000. That is about a 650 cc single cylinder. Yet. Who knows what will be asked for such a thing in forty years' time and how original it will have to be.

Yet it is still possible to drive an old boxer for a manageable amount. Just like when you were twenty. Just as old. Just so imperfect. Just as nice... That's more than a little because barn finds are now often exposed to the light of day. Then you talk about the finiteness of things. And people. Because they are machines from legacies. If the heirs have looked on the Internet, they often translate dusty, rusty and beaten very cleverly with 'patina'. But sometimes if it comes from somewhere in the circle of acquaintances you can get lucky. This is how Ben van Helden found – www.bensbikes.nl – his R69S and the red R60/5 were on the corner here. The great thing about that is that those two-valve boxers were of such a high quality that even a very sad cake with just a few weekends of cleaning and a manageable investment can simply get neat and good enough again. And how nice is that? So cherish your circle of acquaintances and keep paying attention. Because you don't have to be a CEO to drive a BMW.