Art – Design – History – Journalism
Woodbury Moto Media
Labitzke BMW R75/5 Sport
In the most basic of terms, BMW’s new-for-1970 75/5 couldn’t stay with Honda’s nano-san through the gears, which pissed off many faithful owners. Remembering both factory and period press painted the R69S as the ultimate gentleman’s express; this earned status elevated BMW’s shafie past trivial matters like timed sprints and top speed. So while the press carried this narrative into the new decade, the factory’s left turn to market the 750/5 as the world’s best superbike thrilled fans…until its output exposed it. Entering the scene to solve this issue, BMW racer Otto Labitzke carefully blueprinted the new boxer from axle to axle to create for riders what the factory didn’t. Like so many of his European counterparts building Guzzi, Laverda and Ducati specials, Labitzke’s main focus was developing competitive hardware for the IOM, Bol d’Or and other endurance racing events, but sadly passed away testing one such racer in 1972. Covering this short production and all the history behind it, Holland’s Han van Kammen has collected, compiled and arranged the Labitzke Registry for owners and fans (like me) of performance BMW twins. Thrilling road testers with its ability to rocket past the Honda or any number of period Asian speed merchants, Labitzke’s modifications took nothing away from the machine’s ability to eat miles in comfort, or cross country reliably.
Promos
It’s all Guzzi, all the time around here, at least in the workshop. Purchased in 2016, this resprayed 1980 CX100 served as NW’s main ride and Woodbury Moto Media’s press bike, but certain, long term plans had been made for it. Enter Mandello Meteor SCTA record holder Billy Ross, who took the wheezy 949cc twin down to the basement and back up, fitting his own performance cam, ported heads, special pushrods and tons more we’ll soon cover in depth. Back at NW’s shop, modified body parts and new paint/graphics will make its way to the chassis. Git sum !! Ride a classic? Read RealClassic!
Links
Were all Le Mans 850 PR bikes but from the kit? No says Sean Hawker, who penned an article of a factory-built PR published in Classic Bike, 12-94. Presumed a factory-prepped PR imported by Bryants of Biggleswade, it was clocked with rider Charlie Sanby (#30) at 155-mph in the 1978 TT. Purchased by Roger Hamilton in 1979 after unsuccessfully trying to buy one the year before, he explained; “each were ‘made to order, half up front, and a six-month wait.” There’s nothing in writing I’ve found, but with enough sources saying the same thing we’re looking for fire under that PR smoke. My contacts say it was possible to buy direct in Mandello, but both the kit and accessories are geared for dealership profit. There’s no doubt the majority of PRs were kits, but how many secrets can one motorcycle keep? – Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans Production Racer – Nolan Woodbury/WMM