ICONIC BMW BIKE: A COORG FAMILY’S PRICELESS POSSESSION

This BMW R25/3 owned by a family of bikers from Coorg is one of the most iconic BMWs in India.

 myz bike

It was ridden by Codanda Nanjappa Jairam, all the way from Germany in the 1960′s on his trip home after college.

 After his graduation, he was backpacking through Europe on his way home, when he decided to buy a motorcycle and travel back to India.

Dad 1965 copy

 

And so he bought a second hand BMW R/25 and rode back via Turkey, Iran, Pakistan to India – back to his home at Boikeri, Madikeri, Kodagu District.

 To commemorate the 60th birthday of the bike, Jairam’s daughter Sangeetha, a biker herself, decided to celebrate by giving it a complete restoration. Jairam who passed away in 1998 would have been proud of her daughter had he been alive to see his bike in the mint condition it is in now.

 Sangeetha told www.www.coorgnews.in news portal: “I got the bike completely restored, in memory of my father, mother and my family, who all grew up on this motorcycle – as it was an integral part of our family. Till the last days of his life, he always used his motorcycle as his daily commute vehicle, come rain or shine. Since 2014 saw the 60th birth anniversary for his motorcycle, I wrote to BMW in Germany and ordered all the parts for this bike – (as this model is a classic bike) and got a friend in Mumbai to do the restoration. So all parts used on the bike are original BMW parts, the whole process took about one and half years to complete. The bike still bears the original registration of MYZ 984.”

 Jairam  married Pandanda Koily Nanjappa in 1966 and moved to Sakleshpur and set up their own little coffee plantation. In 1978 they moved back to Kodagu for good.

Jairam was an avid HAM radio operator and a motor and electronics enthusiast even though he never had any formal education in engineering. He built a go-kart in the early 70s, using a 100cc Lambretta engine and he dabbled with remote control planes and the like. He also participated in the K1000 rally in the year 1978 and 1979.

Sangeetha too has followed in the footsteps of her father. Once a year she travels to the Himalayas for a trek for 10 days.

sangeetha1

 

In 2007, with 3 friends, she went on her first long adventure trip – a motorcycle ride through Bhutan (Bajaj Pulsar180cc). It was a 17-day ride from Siliguri in to Bhutan, and exited from Samdrup Jhonkar into Guwahati, Assam.

She said: “After that I did a motorcycle ride through Cambodia (dirt biking – Honda Degree 250cc), Sri Lanka (Yamaha Serow 250cc), The Himalayas (Royal Enfield 500cc and Duke 200cc), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan (Suzuki 650cc) and Kenya, Africa (Kawasaki KLR650cc). 

 Sangeetha lives in Bangalore and teaches Yoga.

 

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23 Responses

  1. varun uthappa says:

    Hats off to d wonderful daughter to c a BMW bearing MYZ reg….restored!!! u realli did made coorg vintage/ classic enthusiasts proud!!! cheers

  2. nanaiah says:

    Truly a great bike.Had an opportunity to meet Jairam during his last days at Mysore with his son Shiv my close friend.

  3. Chinnappa Kuppanda says:

    awesome

  4. Madhu says:

    Would you share some pictures of your myz BMW would love to see

  5. Rajesh says:

    Congrats Sangeetha. Really proud of what you’ve done for your dad remembrance.. Heard a lot about you through common friends ..

  6. AMRITH POOVANNA says:

    I did not even dream of a BMW in Coorg that too with MYZ. Number. It’s a happy news for all Coorg classic bikers. I am really proud of ur dad. Hats off to the great biker and u have really done a great job getting it restored and the passion towards bikes.

  7. jeevan says:

    Thanx a ton for this information. Kudos to the daughter.

  8. Dilan Thimmaiah C says:

    WoW !! This is amazing. Codanda Nanjappa Jairam is one bike enthusiast, Coorgs must be proud of. Keep up the good work, Sangeeta !!

  9. Kumbera says:

    Mighty proud of you Sangeeta, may your biking spirit soar.

  10. Chitra says:

    Congratulations Sangeetha, really proud of you. Your Father sure must have been an amazing gentleman. God bless you always.

  11. veena poonacha says:

    wonderful to hear about your achievements Sangeetha. Jerry uncle would have been proud of you. Veena Acca

  12. Santhosh says:

    Very beautiful…
    Happy to see a MYZ registration…

  13. Very inspiring story of the father-daughter duo!
    Sangeetha, you’re not only making bikers of Coorg proud but also upholding your father’s legacy.

    Would like to have you in our club Bulletizers (www.bulletizers.in) and ride along 🙂

    Thanks for the article
    Madan M Devaiah

  14. Krishna Murthy says:

    First of all wishes to great KODAVAS.
    Really happy with restoration of bike. Can we have some awesome pictures of the antique piece?

  15. Madhu Bopanna says:

    Hats off to you

  16. Dr Anil Chengappa says:

    Really great to see your dads pride possession and you Sangeeta carrying on dads hobby God bless you and take care lots of love Dr Anil uncle

  17. Jairam uncle and his son shivu they use to visit my house in Nakur,jairam uncle use to stay in nakur suntikoppa. I have seen him riding this great BMW .I really felt very happy to know his daughter sangeetha Restored her father’s pride ,keep it up sangeetha.

  18. Gita Chengappa says:

    Hearty congratulations Sangu. You’ve made your Dad and all of us so proud of you. Wish you all the very best always, in all your adventures. Hope we bump into each other like we did in Melbourne. Take care & God Bless!
    Ajit & Gita Chengappa

  19. Rupa A. Somiah says:

    Amazing….
    Seems have met you at a wedding…..
    Congratulations

  20. Divya says:

    💪🏼.✊🏼.🤗.❤️.

  21. Ray says:

    Excellent your love for your father and your passion for bikes and the rides you made is truly inspiring. Well done. Best wishes and safe trips always.

  22. I used to watch this bike in sunticoppa on early 90s. It is a diffrent bike with no chain drive and a axil shaft on its place to back wheel differential hub.

  23. Shobha Nanjappa says:

    Awesome Sangi ..So proud of you and ur such an inspiration.Stay blessed ❤️😍🥰🙌

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