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Hi Andi! Can you give us a brief introduction to yourself? Age,
Size and origin. What are the most important bikes in the stable?
I am Andi. In the workshop, I'm Dr. Knubb. 35 years young, Meenzer boy. I've trained as a locksmith, an electrician and have a Master of Science in Engineering.
It's difficult to name the most important vehicles. I change from time to time. But the hard core is my BMW R80 G/S from '81 in a patinated condition and my white custom SR500. I ride it almost every day. Otherwise there are XT500, BMW R100RS, K100, Honda, Herkules, Suzuki and co. standing around, but they are rarely ridden. A motley crew in the garage.
On YouTube you can browse through an impressive collection of different
Click on conversions. How long has your workshop been running? How are you
and what has been your favorite project so far?
Basically, the "workshop" has been around since I was a child. Starting with Lego and soapboxes. Then on to mopeds and bigger mopeds. I was lucky enough to be a 2-stroke kid with the old Puch, Herkules and Kreidler. So I had a "classic" career. Back then, the workshop was a small room in my parents' house that was used for all sorts of nonsense. How often my mother was happy when the exhaust fumes drifted up into the kitchen.
My first company, KA-Winch, was founded in this "workshop", which allowed me to expand my premises independently. In the end, I found my way back to motorcycles and started to refine them to my taste. As I sometimes couldn't find the right information or help, I decided to document and film everything myself so that I could help other people. That's how the Insta and YouTube content came about. Of course, every project has its ups and downs.
I don't have a favorite project yet. Every project is completely new and each time I try to make it exciting with new challenges. For example, I've long had the idea of learning how to cast aluminum in sand molds as part of a project. We'll see when that happens.
"Technology has always fascinated me from the very first second, and while other children played with their Gameboy, I borrowed my older brother's Lego technology and built or rebuilt the models.
After graduating from high school, I trained as a mechatronics engineer and then completed an MSc in mechanical engineering at a technical college. When I'm not in the workshop, I spend my free time kitesurfing or in the mountains hiking or skiing."
I also ride flat track, but I'm a complete newbie. I'm more of a screwdriver and don't ride many motorcycles myself. The next projects that are already waiting in the garage are two older BMWs. One is a K100 four-cylinder and the other an R100RS Boxer from 1976. When these two are finished, I would like to convert an XS650 to my taste. The list in my head is much longer, but these are the next "planned" projects for now. However, I usually find interesting motorcycles by chance that come along and get converted. So it never gets boring. There are always too many project ideas in the pipeline.
In season 3, Andi shows you on YouTube how he is building up a flat track bike for the 2024 season. He also discusses the costs.
There were actually hardly any challenges on the Flat Track SR500. I hadn't planned much. But what was very exciting for me was changing the steering head angle. I had never done this before and had to make a frame gauge for it in advance.
For road projects, the final step is ALWAYS the technical acceptance with all
entries. It's a huge effort every time and very tedious. But as I am legally
If I want to ride, I just have to go through with it. As my first racing bike doesn't need to be approved, it was a relief for me.
What project are you tackling after the flat track conversion?
The R100RS. How exactly is not yet clear. But if you're interested, it's best to go to my channel. The project will start soon. The R100RS will then replace my R80G/S so that I can then convert it into a kind of HPN replica. One dream is then to take it on traveling to other countries.
Are there any parts of KEDO that you particularly like or have helped you?
Basically, it's great that almost everything for the XT and SR500 is available in your store.
You hardly need to worry about the condition of an SR or XT when you buy it, because you can get spare parts from you without end. As you can see from my Flat Track project, I only had a frame, a swingarm and the engine to start with.
We've seen that you also ride your bike on vacation.
are. Where are you going next? And what has been your favorite trip so far?
The first race I attended on a flat track bike was the Flatland360 near Bockhorn. The days there were like a vacation. The weather was perfect and the local people were super welcoming and made me feel right at home. I like to go on short trips with my Defender as a camper and load the bike onto the back of the carrier. My favorite trip so far was the trip to Sardinia with my BMW R80 G/S. Sardinia offers unique, empty roads and landscapes with pleasant temperatures. I will definitely do it again. Perhaps you at KEDO should organize or raffle off a trip to Sardinia with the stews as an event?
I don't know exactly what it is, but the old bikes somehow have more soul. Maybe it's also because everything is a bit rougher and you can feel and smell the bike more. Most people probably know what I mean. Just thinking about the nice carburetor-generated and unfiltered 2- and 4-stroke smell. Basically, it's also more fun if you can easily repair everything on the bike yourself. When you're standing somewhere on your own cleaning the ignition contacts so that the spark is in the right place again. Or if the bike has flooded while you were riding through a river and you quickly dismantle the engine...
They are simply not modern plastic motorcycles without sound, which immediately display error codes for minor problems and then you have to go to the workshop.
Thank you very much, Andi.
We wish you every success with your upcoming projects! There will certainly be a lot to report.
