As classic BMWs go, the “slash-5s” are pretty sought after. They’re packed with little styling details that eventually fell away on later models—like the rounded air box, ‘peanut’ engine covers and the ‘toaster’ tank.
Add those details to a luscious old-school paint job, and you’ve got a winner. This is ‘Recall,’ an R75 from Portugal’s Ton-Up Garage, and it absolutely drips with vintage style.
There’s a sentimental story behind this particular R75/5 too. Its current owner effectively grew up with the machine, because it originally belonged to his stepfather. When it left the family, it stood neglected for many years before the owner got his hands on it again.
“He then saw our BMW R80 ‘Dark Law‘,” says Ton-Up’s Pedro Oliveria, “so he was comfortable with our experience customizing R-series BMWs. He asked us for a bike with refined lines and glamour.”
Reviving the old boxer involved a complete nuts-and-bolts rebuild. The entire engine was overhauled, as well as the carbs—which were re-jetted and equipped with cone filters. Ton-Up redid the wiring too, installing a new ignition and a Lithium-ion battery—the latter stashed in the now-disused air box.
The wheels were rebuilt with a new pair of 18” rims and stainless steel spokes, and are now shod with Pirelli MT43 trials tires. The rims and hubs have been powder coated black, and the brakes have been refurbished.
The bike sits lower thanks to a new, shorter set of rear shocks and modifications to the front suspension. Ton-Up also built a new subframe and seat—shorter than stock, but long enough to accommodate a pillion. The fenders and exhaust system are also custom-made items.
One of the R75/5’s nicest features is its headlight, which houses the ignition, speedo and rev counter. Ton-Up kept it mostly original, but designed and fabricated a new speedo outer ring and fitted new dial hands. They also replaced the turn signals and tail light with neater items.
Further upgrades to the cockpit include a set of low-rise bars, Brooks leather grips, and new levers and switches. The wiring now runs inside the bars for a cleaner finish.
With so much work going into resuscitating the R75/5, the paint scheme had to be on point. “It was very important for us to keep the BMW identity,” says Pedro. “We wanted to combine colors that gave it a mature, glamorous look—and a vintage touch that would allow our client to travel through his memories and ‘recall’ them.”
The combination of dark grey, red and pearl white hits the mark perfectly. Ton-Up haven’t just put the old boxer back on the road—they’ve also managed to make it even more charming than it originally was.
Belo!
Ton-Up Garage website | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Aloisio Brito.
