THIRTY years ago, Ian Blackley restored a BMW R90S — and then promptly sold it. He’s been kicking himself ever since, and his motorcycling friends have never let him forget letting go of the classic German sports tourer.

But the veteran Perth radio announcer, widely known as Blackers, has recently set the world right again.

“I had been watching Bruce MacRitchie at Munich Motorcycles in Perth (Western Australia) restoring this 1974 model for about ten years,” Ian told us this week “and I was telling him all the way that when the restoration was complete, I wanted to buy it.”

And that’s exactly how it played out.

Ian took possession of the bike just three months ago. It presents like a brand new machine, and it will be one of the many classic bikes on show at The Bike Shed Times Capel River Classic Show and Shine on Saturday June 25 at Capel River, two-and-a-half hours south of Perth.

The event will bring together some of Western Australia’s best pre-1993 bikes, on-road and off-road, and is being run in conjunction with the 45th running of the Capel 200 Trail Bike Rally. Spectator entry is free, and there will be food and drinks on sale (no alcohol). (Learn more about the Capel 200 here, and take a look at some more of the bikes that will be on show here.).

Although Ian is best known for his career in radio, he is a long-time motorcycle enthusiast and spent many years in the bike business, including being sales manager at Motts Motorcycles, a one-time BMW dealership in the Perth suburb of Victoria Park.

He has owned many bikes (“about 60, I reckon,” he said) including more than a few BMWs. His like-new R90S is mostly stock, but boasts an electronic ignition, over-sized generator, and has been bored out beyond original spec.

“It’s great to ride,” Ian said.

We believe him.

It’s also great to just look at. You can check out the pics below, but we recommend making the trip down to Capel River on June 25 for a closer look!

(The event is still open for entries, but you’ll need to bring your own pit shade or shelter — the two 30m x 10m marquees are full. Enter your bike here.)