Deb's 1973 BMW R60/5 - A restored classic

From Minibikes to Airheads: Deb's 50-Year Journey with Her Beloved BMW R60/5

After 30 years gathering dust in a garage, Deb's 1973 BMW R60/5 is back on the road where it belongs. I caught up with this passionate rider to hear about her incredible motorcycling journey, from childhood minibikes to becoming the sole female regular in her local riding club.

Ross: Deb, you've been riding for a while, how did it all start?

Deb: Well, I had minibikes as a kid, which then progressed to postie bikes. Living on the edge of town, there was a park across the road, vacant block next door, down near the river. We would just, you know, after school and weekends, do hundreds of miles around and around the backyard and around the park.

Ross: When did you make the jump to road bikes?

Deb: Mid-80s, I decided I wanted to get back into it. A friend of mine was riding an XS1100 and said to me, "Look, if you want to ride a road bike, that's what you've got to learn on." Back in those days there were no restrictions - if you had your car license, you could ride anything on L plates. So initially, I had my L plates on an XS1100.

Ross: That's quite a bike to learn on! How did that go?

Deb: Laughs Well, I had this bloke behind me one day, pulled up at an intersection where the road was slanted down. I couldn't put my foot down, and I'm thinking, "Okay, he's got this." But no, he's staring around at the sky. So I jumped off because the bike's going over, and he sort of went down with the bike. The next day, I went out and bought a CB250 Honda to do my L plates on properly!

Ross: From there you moved up to bigger bikes?

Deb: Yeah, I went to a 750 Kawasaki. But it had its issues, you'd get it up to about 130km/h and it would just start weaving down the road. Being a lady rider, you know, I was always behind the fellas on rides. I'd say, "Look, the bike does this," and they'd go, "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

One day we were going to a rally out at Mudgee, and there was an older rider behind us. When the bike started weaving on me, we got to the rally and he said, "Why is she riding that bike? It's really dangerous."

Ross: That must have been the catalyst for finding the BMW?

Deb: Exactly! Luckily, the next weekend in the paper - I'd always liked the old BMWs, classic old bikes - this one was listed at a garage sale. A 1973 R60/5. I bought it around 1986 or '87.

Ross: What was it like riding the BMW compared to the Kawasaki?

Deb: I got on this bike and it was just like having training wheels with the low centre of gravity. It handles perfectly. It's only 600cc, but she hunts along, keeps up with the big bikes. Some people are surprised that it goes so well, but the handling is just superb and she starts every time.

Ross: You rode it as your main transport for several years?

Deb: I rode the bike until late 1990s. It was my main form of transport - I'd have the bike on the road rather than the car. I stopped riding because I was pregnant with my first child. So then the bike got parked in my garage for 30 years.

Ross: Thirty years! What made you decide to get it back on the road?

Deb: About a year and a half ago, local mechanic Nathan Taylor, his father has a similar bike, came and looked at it. His father made me an offer and I said, "No, I'm sorry, I can't sell it." At that point I thought, I've either got to sell this bike or get it back on the road.

Ross: How extensive was the restoration?

Deb: Laughs It started as what we thought would be an easy, quick little job, change the oil, check the spark plugs. But it went from that to a top-end rebuild! Nathan organised having the tacho and speedo reconditioned. It became a bit of a project, but I learned a lot about the bike and did a lot of the parts ordering myself.

Ross: That must have been quite a learning experience.

Deb: It was brilliant! Sitting on the lounge at night, sourcing parts on the internet. Nathan would say it needs this, and I'd think, "I know it actually needs that as well" - new gaiters and stuff like that. I spent a bit of money, but it's one of the best things I've ever done.

Ross: You've joined a local motorcycle club now?

Deb: I just showed up one day and I was the only woman there. I'm basically the only woman that rides with them regularly at the moment, and they treat me like they treat anyone else. I'm just another rider on the ride. They're a wonderful group of people.

Ross: What are some of your favourite rides?

Deb: We recently went from O'Connell to Mayfield and across to Black Springs, then into O'Connell, out to Trunkey, Newbridge, back into town. Some of the roads out past Mayfield on the way to Black Springs are just beautiful. We did that on Boxing Day, which was probably good timing because there's usually logging traffic out there.

A couple of weeks ago we went to Rylstone, which was a really good ride. There are fabulous roads around here, plenty of little villages, some lovely rides around Bathurst.

Ross: What's next for you and the BMW?

Deb: My aim at the moment is to start doing their overnighters - just do that little bit longer ride. I do the afternoon and morning rides with the club now. One day I might end up doing their three-day rides.

Ross: What is it about riding that keeps drawing you back?

Deb: It's my happy place, you know, being out on the open road, being able to open the bike up a bit, get into a few corners. There's that feeling of freedom, bit of power under you. I just have an emotional connection to this bike - I've had it for a long time, and once I bought it, after having so many issues with that 750, the BMW was just perfect.

Ross: Any advice for other riders considering restoring a classic?

Deb: Do it! Don't let it sit there for 30 years like I did. The learning experience alone is worth it, and there's nothing quite like the bond you develop with a bike you've brought back to life. These old airheads, they're just magic when they're running right.

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Deb's story is a testament to the enduring appeal of classic BMW motorcycles. Her 1973 R60/5 isn't just transportation - it's a rolling piece of history that connects her to decades of motorcycling passion.

Have your own classic bike restoration story? We'd love to hear from you at Biker Torque.