Derick Lategan has, over the years, amassed an eye-popping BMW motorcycle collection. The smiling business man takes us through the collection and explains the background to his love of riding and for the iconic brand.
Words: Wilhelm Lutjeharms
Derick Lategan is one of those gentlemen who always has a smile on his face. It's a characteristic that quickly becomes apparent as he walks us through his neat, impressive and super-clean BMW motorcycle collection.
My interview opens a floodgate of exciting stories, whether from a trip, or a specific motorcycle or what he plans for the following trip – there is lots to talk about and share.
His motorcycles are pristine, almost without exception, but if they are not and significant work is required or a restoration need to be done, Donovan Muller from Cytech Motorcycles is on hand for any type of service he needs. Over the years Donovan has done a lot of restorations for Derick and the results are world-class.
The variety in the collection is partly the reason why this collection is so impressive. However, these bikes are not permanently parked in the facility to be exhibited. Each of them can be taken out and ridden at the drop of a penny. Derick’s sons as well as his wife also share in these adventures, and in any given year they will ride tens of thousands of kilometres.
Where it all started
“It started by collecting the motorcycles from my father’s era. Next was to collect the BMW from the Seventies such as the R90/6 and R60/6 to name two. I also have a couple that are currently being restored in the workshop.”
The only non-standard BMW in the collection is a black and white R50/5 which Donovan built and won the American (but open to international entries) bike builders competition in 2016.
“The side-car model I got for my granddaughter so she can ride with me. She is crazy about motorcycles and I’m crazy about her! The modern 650 GS is my wife’s bike. On this motorcycle she rode with me around South Africa to all 50 lighthouses in 19 days during which we covered 7 200 km.” What a special trip that must have been!
Derick’s love for all things motorcycle-related started at a young age though. “The first motorcycle I learned to ride was a Yamaha Chappy. My father loved BMWs, both their cars and their motorcycles. From a young age I rode on the farm and did some enduro and motocross riding as well.”
His favourite bike in the collection is not one of the classic models, but an F 800 GS he calls “Pumba”, which has been completely customized for adventure riding (including a range of up to 900 km) and on which Derick has done numerous trips.
Derick has a very soft spot for BMW’s adventure bikes. “That Series 1 2004 BMW 1200 GS was my father’s bike.”
Along the wall the entire history of the BMW GS (or G/S, an abbreviation for the German Gelände/Straße, meaning terrain/street) adventure bikes is exhibited, from the earliest to the latest model. “I collect the top model from each respective model range, complete with their boxes and side panniers.”
One of the prettiest bikes in the collection is an R50/2. It is perfectly restored and he also decided to neatly do a chroming on a selection of the parts – it looks immaculate, especially with all the accessories that have been tastefully added to it.
It is a passion
“One of the most important things with a collection such as this is the passion, time and persistence. The passion to find them, collect them and then to finally be able to follow the process until they are in this condition. You need to source from across the world to be able to have the motorcycles in this condition. When I travel overseas, I make a point of it to search for selective parts which we will need to finish a bike.”
Two of Derick’s technical employees assist him with the collection and will often machine parts for him on the CNC machines or help with the general maintenance of these motorcycles.
“I always say, I’ve never needed to go and see a psychologist in my life, because when you own a motorcycle you won’t need one. I’ve also never seen a motorcycle in front of a psychologist’s office!”
Taking my time to walk through the collection, the magnitude of keeping such a collection of motorcycles in this condition starts to sink in. It is on the same level as a museum, but the only difference is that these bikes are running and still enjoyed on the road... and off! Even if you are not a two-wheel enthusiast, you can’t help but suddenly have a yearning to look through the classifieds and dream!