Airhead Revival

Josh Withers is no stranger to BMW airheads. After building his own 1973 BMW Cafe, Josh was commissioned to build one in a similar vein for someone he never met, except through countless phone calls and emails. After two years of obsessing over every detail of this 1972 BMW R75/5, Josh completed the project and finally met what he considers his modern-day "pen pal". Josh, a photographer by day, spent many hours through nights and weekends breathing life back into this airhead that was considered dead. Like many who currently have or had a project of their own, Josh gives us insight into what keeps him obsessing, creating, and building. Ride tastefully.
Drive Tastefully®
Petrolicious.com
/ petrolicious

[@IronMuppet]

This video when it was released 6 years ago had a very deep impact on me. I was 18 at the time. And now i’m happy to say that I have my very own ‘71 R75/5 that I will be building. The bike is stripped and engine is out. It’s rebuild time.

[@josephfish3353]

Same here. I've been more of a car guy and used to seeing Harley's and sportbikes but when I seen a BMW airhead I fell in love. Working on an r90/6.

[@jeroen6069]

Awesome, that's my dream too!

[@elk1b]

How did that work out

[@justinbeech2681]

I owned a 71 R 75/5 and it was such a great Bike to ride, I had it for 16 years and I put about 25 k on it, I regret selling it but if I had to do it over I would get another one with out a doubt! Hope you enjoy your experience!

[@Intelcroa]

@@justinbeech2681why did you sell it?

[@cspark9186]

Very nicely done. Thanks for the video. My 1970 BMW R60/5 that I've had for 50 years is still just like brand new.

[@Paul_Wright]

This video encapsulates why I bought my airhead and my friendship with the guy who built her for me. Great video great story and a beautiful bike well done.

[@seanmcneill8899]

people like this man do not get the credit they deserve.. top build, keep it up.☺

[@marcogram1216]

Good on you brother. There's something magical about creating something with your own hands for someone else that shares your enthusiasm. I watched my brother pick up a bike he had built for a friend of ours that came into a significant amount of money. Our friend was letting the completely hand built bike rust underneath a tree. My brother said, "this bike is like my child, it deserves better than this. He can have his money back."

[@StatementPlus]

Oh thank you Petrolicious for doing a segment on a motorbike. Please continue to do features on motorcycles as there are many rare beautiful classic ones the world needs to know about. And my god this is a gorgeous R75 build. White silver and chrome colour scheme screams finesse and class like no other. Bravo Mr. Withers.

[@TheSandeteranians]

I understand this is a car channel. More motorcycle videos, Thanks.

[@leonardomaldonado1649]

Dont get mistake man..., is a motorart channel

[@stephenhobbs1052]

What a stupid comment.

[@obfuscator]

This channel is about capturing man&machine kind of passion. Cars or motorcycles does not matter. Great bit.

[@seayak]

And with power and handling to match the incredible looks. This is the classiest motorcycle I have ever seen!

[@jjwithers1]

Thanks. I wish it lived closer to me. It is by far m favorite build.

[@pranaytony]

I just love him individually when he said it's like a children raised for some time & should give it to someone!!💐

[@thomasmatta7188]

outstanding rolling work of art 💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎🧰🧰🧰🧰🧰⛽⛽⛽⛽⛽🛵🛵🛵🛵

[@0616ko]

Almost 5 years after and I'm still watching this video. Awesome!

[@jjwithers1]

:)

[@Thekrpntr]

I watched this bike come together bit by bit while I was struggling to get two airheads with sitting disease on the road. Reading the latest post every day or two was great and inspiring. I appreciate all the extra time it took to post the progress, and all the feedback from other owners and experts and even the occasional hater. I'm glad to see it on the road. I hope Shane rides the piss out of it. Mine will never look as good though. That is, not in my lifetime.

[@QualityClassics]

WOW! Josh that is a work of art, and I wouldn't change a single thing... except I'd make it mine!

[@jjwithers1]

MyRod.com Thanks! That bike came out so good that I want to build another for myself. -Josh

[@frazerbond3413]

wow. attention to detail is spot on

[@therollingwheelz]

this is a masterpiece from skillful mechanic and designer....

[@vizio32]

the amount of detail on the bike is amazing, great job.

[@_cannedheat_]

This road is amazing.

[@djangor4969]

Fantastic custom bike! I think BMW should get together with Josh Withers and put this design into production - I'd love one please. Well done Josh!

[@billchessell8213]

Love the clunk of the perfectly placed downshift at 5:00 or so. Damn I miss mine!

[@swissrod]

This is the best toaster I have ever seen. I cried while watching this video. Perfect!

[@mashsyed9808]

wow. amazing hobby. makes me want to do something like this!

[@jjwithers1]

Eric Scher I'll include tissues on my next build... thanks for the compliments!

[@infernalcontraptions]

Utterly gorgeous.

[@gordonjames8811]

Talent always comes out unfolding beauty, thankyou.

[@andreat8440]

Beautiful build...and that road looks like a BLAST to ride!

[@ip0neu7]

This channel is about the relationship and passion between man and machine. Motorcycle or car, it doesn't matter.

[@wboeren1]

Stunning bike, very cool.

[@abiseid]

Mr. Withers... that´s a beautiful motorcycle and lovely story. Thank you. My time was not wasted at all watching your story.

[@jjwithers1]

Thanks Robert!

[@its_generik]

HELL YES. Old bikes are such romantic machines

[@paulamundson3714]

Outstanding BMW Cafe. Beautiful sound and artistic design. Simple by design. I am a true airhead.

[@MARKTOOBY]

Absolutely beautiful BMW ._.._you have done a fantastic job with this bike josh, iso enjoyed watching this, thanks for sharing .

[@HDridr2000]

Kudos.. job well done. Any airhead guy would be honored to have that in his garage.

[@jamesmatheson5115]

Truly a beautiful bike, well done, it has a old school favour but in a modern way, very nice, I have always wanted to do a BMW café racer, though I wanted my exhaust pipes to go over the cylinder heads, wrapped with a very small guard to stop the burn.

[@thomaswebb9705]

THAT is the sharpest toaster-tank I have ever seen. What great work. And I agree, The garage is The place.

[@rd2246]

Beautiful art

[@rietveld840]

Amazing machine. Cheers from Barcelona master

[@jjwithers1]

Cheers!

[@FirstnameLastname-xq4rp]

This is what hard work paying off looks like. Absolutely stunning build!

[@h.e.pennypacker2037]

Beautiful bike

[@KodenameKrusty]

That is a beautiful machine.

[@gejornes]

Gracias Petrolicius... por tanta belleza

[@homerfj1100]

What dedication and virtuosity. Super.

[@maprow]

Beautiful bike. Congratulations to both the builder and the new owner.

[@kevanromero]

Santa Monica Mts and Malibu! I like seeing places I live nearby.

[@riopermadi1966]

Amazing - clean and neat motorbike! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm! 😍😍😍😍😍

[@loop1479]

Love your art by the way Josh. prächtig.

[@SJCB27]

Fabulous looking bike... Great story. Good job, Josh Withers!

[@flytwin1772]

Listen the sound in the curves when it makes poppop a few times and next curve again, fantastic that´s real and no fake at all, pretty nice!

[@PenttiDanbom]

Great looking beemer and very nice videoa, thanks to share it. Our summer is just over and I miss it , please come soon.

[@ADayToRmmber]

every Petrolicious video fills me up with an immense, fiery love for all things automotive, it's fantastic

[@poehaaa4642]

I'm not into bikes at all, but after watching this bike ... pure perfection!

[@twinturbo3470]

this channel speaks to me...........and explains how gear heads think and feel

[@ocantor_bc]

What an outstanding and gorgeous caferacer, just beautiful! more please :)

[@veteq101]

An absolutely gorgeous bike, love this channel.

[@MyWillypilly]

It looks like it could have been born that way. A cut above for sure!

[@WillyPark]

Man, Petrolicious, no one even comes close! Another excellent video!

[@gerardkevorkian5950]

This bike is just a piece of art ...and the builder is an artist

[@TheRealUnconnected]

Awesome, finally an episode with bikes, this is what ive been waiting for, as good as crazy vintage supercars/sportscars are often their owners are not willing to share their stories or even bloody drive their cars, but with bikes you find the owners are often way more talkative and willing to share their story and the bikes story. Great to see you guys doing bikes, keen to see more!

[@shanehnorman]

Love the simple but effective details on this machine, especially those wires. Borrani alloy-rims, maybe?

[@jjwithers1]

Akront Rims

[@Lenoch_]

Beautiful is the only word to describe this.

[@ChileVuela]

Best part of my week. Coming home on a tuesday, loading up KZbin and catching the latest video from Petrolicious.

[@94jrose]

Never cared to own a bike but I respect the people that do. The romance of driving be it a bike or a car is a special connection between man and machine that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

[@avigurfinkel9926]

My dad and I both have a love for motorcycles... I hope that never changes :)

[@alwinbenjamin]

King. 🙌🏻

[@lourens4711]

You did a good job. Bike looks great.

[@KuryakinIllya]

Beautiful bike. Great job!

[@onefastcyclist]

a true labor of love

[@HangarFour]

I honestly shed a tear... Best one yet!!

[@olleolofsson12]

Amazing episode. Thanks!

[@AndreiCocisOne]

Great video, great guy! Love these kind of people who dedicate a good amount of time to create something wonderful by theyr own. You can't put a price on that!

[@renatodumaresq]

Oh my God! This is the most beautiful bike I've ever seen!!!!!!!!

[@4gunner]

Something about piano, a great story, and a motorcycle being ridden just makes for a beautiful video. (sigh)

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

I just discovered this site, this was the first video I watched. Beautiful bike, I love the sound of a smooth running twin, I'm not a Harley hater but that split fork rod design just isn't for me. Never had much money growing up so I rode what I could afford to fix, BMW's seemed to be always just a little fatter than my wallet. For years I rode a 1980 Kawasaki KZ 750 Twin I bought brand new (an upgrade from the Honda 400 I had), I really liked this bike, torquey and reliable, it was one of the last twins made, the 750 4 cylinders had already been introduced and they had stopped making the twins. To this day I regret having sold it.

[@smith4010]

Lovely work

[@jackj.l0084]

What a great bike absolutely perfect it's beautiful i want it to keep for the rest of my life

[@TwoHawksHunting]

When the custom rebuilt bike looks substantially better than the original bike, then you know it's a winner.

[@danwalker77]

Another fantastic video!

[@bertkamp16]

Can I thumbs up this video ten times?

[@ChauncetonBird]

Tuesdays are my favorite day of the week because of these short films. Thank you Petrolicious. If you're ever in Utah let me know. Drinks on me.

[@SuperPocoloco14]

Brilliant ,every single one ,best KZbin Chanel .

[@rickpellegrin3192]

Just saw your work for the first time and you do amazing work!

[@NN-wd2vi]

Every time! You guys nail it every time!

[@rossstevenson4103]

Nice paint design

[@ml2799]

Perfect, absolutely perfect.

[@BreakAndRestore]

Great story and video.

[@rocky93ization]

Watching the bike episodes of petrolicious is the best feeling .. Iam restoring mine too.. Enfield 200 or ei200 aka mini bulllet

[@1diese]

Another job well done in both video and craftsmanship.

[@flyingfishdesign62]

Gorgeous++ and a great little movie

[@nickwilson1476]

beautiful job!

[@mikeyerke3920]

Passion, well spoken.

[@patrickrohr9314]

great stuff precision work !!

[@PaddyMcQueen]

his wife is not happy.... but I'm SOOOOO happy right now ! Thks Petrolicious

[@mazdaman1980]

That's a stunning bike!

[@ezecapo90]

New role model.

[@eLMushi_NYC]

Awesome inspirational story.

[@RickRR22]

Gotta love that beautiful early BMW 02 he has in the garage! The boxer sound from that bike is just awesome...

[@21Rodge]

Nice job Buddy

[@ranazeshan5125]

Really outstanding ❤❤❤

[@guru2027]

love this guys passion!

[@katznri]

I am a fan since his blue R75 on Motorcycle classic magazine introduced. I want to imitate his R75 because his blue R75 was so beutiful and attracted me. Thanks Josh!

[@jjwithers1]

Katsunori Ito Thanks!!

[@dvieitez]

Absolutely perfect!

[@JasonWaterfalls13]

Motorcycles on Petrolicious!?!? Dream do come true! These videos are so well done it is mind-boggling. More motorcycles pretty please.