Building thedream

ANDREW BILLAU, owner of Billau Motorcycles in Darlington, has seen the change in biking and its return to traditional values, and is organising part of his business to suit. “Part of it is driven by what people come in the shop and ask for,” he says. “But part of it is also driven by what I’m interested in. “This R80RT (above) came about when we saw it on eBay. We took the fairing off, left the headlight, added clip-ons, chopped down a stainless front hugger, fitted indicators, painted the tank, added the seat unit and seat, the crash bars, Tarozzi rearsets, polished the heads and painted the engine, fitted bell mouths for the carbs so I could junk the airbox, and then added a Proflex rear shock. It sounds a lot but the thing is to take your time; there’s no rush.” Andrew’s BMW R80 is currently for sale at £6995.