Dave Percival's collection

[Mainerider]

So I've been hearing for years about a guy up north of here that has a big collection of old BMWs. Just a private collection, not a museum. Once a year he opens it up to the public. Today was the day. Mary and I rode up to Andover this morning to have a look.

There were lots of riders stopping by as the local European bike club was having its annual rally in Bethel, just a half hour away. We parked our bikes and were greeted with this view:




A little closer:



Inside the first room there were lots of bikes, not all BMWs:





Lots of cool stuff on the walls, too:







More about Dave Percival and the collection on this site: http://www.bfbrawnphotography.com/DPmotorsports/DPmotorsports.html

[Mainerider]

In the next room there was a very cool BMW Isetta, Mary is included for scale:




There was one R65,  an LS, and a very rare for North America R45. I think I heard there were only a dozen or so brought into Canada. None to the US:



A Moto Guzzi:



And a very cool Douglas:

[Mainerider]

The old ones were in the last room. It would be fitting to start with this one:


Check out the front suspension:


They just don't make them like this anymore:



The rest of the room looked like this:

[dav]

WOW just WOW, thats alot of BMW'S. He even has not just one but TWO!! R32'S. What a great collection.

[wilcom]

Amazing, the things that lurk in every corner of our world

Thanks for sharing

[nhmaf]

Yes indeedy, Mr. Percival's collection is the highlight of the rally and the main reason I go up there every few years.   I had my sister's family and my mom here this weekend - otherwise I'd have been up there this year too!  He had loaned a number of his BMWs to the Gugenheim museum in NYC when they did a big motorcycle history display a few years back.   He is also a pleasant guy to chat with

[Mainerider]

So I just found out that tomorrow is the day that this collection will be open to the public this year. I'll be riding up in the morning with my brother. He'll be on the R60 I posted about last month.

[Oconner]

that would be me if I won the lotto! Have fun!

[skippyc]

Thanks, that's incredible.

[Mainerider]

So the ride up was great, the collection was great, We got to meet Dave Percival and had a great talk with him, he even showed us some of his workshops. But. Halfway home I lost my clutch cable. No worries I think. I'll just call AAA.  That we got to cover us with our old motorcycles. Only they say our plan doesn't cover motorcycles. The plan that they sold us when we went in and said we need coverage for our motorcycles. Damn. So now I'm waiting on the side of the road in Fryeburg waiting for my wife to come get me and the rig with a uhaul trailer. Pics to come.

[skippyc]

I can see my Bike there as well, "Douglas". That is an amazing collection, pity it's a bit far to visit.

[mrbuck]

Only they say our plan doesn't cover motorcycles.

If you have mc insurance with AAA or THINK you do, double check now!  The same happened to us in northern CA (we are from NC) when Ms. Buck had a flat tire and we were in the middle of nowhere...no phone service. We doubled on my R100 to an Indian reservation headquarters to phone AAA for a pickup. We were also told "no coverage" even though we bought the policy especially for motorcycles.  We were told motorcycles had been moved to an RV Plus and motorcycle plan but if we waited 7 days they would transfer us....7 days before we got coverage that had been paid for annually for years!  Long story short, a letter to AAA got results and a $127 refund (which we paid out of pocket for the pickup)  and a years free subscription.  They even admitted that the change and the notification of the change were discussed and dismissed.  So beware...double check. You may be surprised...just saying.

[Mainerider]

Here are a few pics from yesterday:



























Oh the shame!

[Mainerider]

Only they say our plan doesn't cover motorcycles.

If you have mc insurance with AAA or THINK you do, double check now!  The same happened to us in northern CA (we are from NC) when Ms. Buck had a flat tire and we were in the middle of nowhere...no phone service. We doubled on my R100 to an Indian reservation headquarters to phone AAA for a pickup. We were also told "no coverage" even though we bought the policy especially for motorcycles.  We were told motorcycles had been moved to an RV Plus and motorcycle plan but if we waited 7 days they would transfer us....7 days before we got coverage that had been paid for annually for years!  Long story short, a letter to AAA got results and a $127 refund (which we paid out of pocket for the pickup)  and a years free subscription.  They even admitted that the change and the notification of the change were discussed and dismissed.  So beware...double check. You may be surprised...just saying.

This is exactly what happened to us. I doubt they will reimburse us for renting the trailer but a free years worth of towing would make us less mad.

[nhmaf]

Shoot - what aggravation - you even had to unbolt the chair to fit it in the u-haul!   Grrrrrrr !!