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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R65 cafe racer Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs

The Keeper: Gasoline builds a BMW R series for Cam Elkins

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
You may not know the name Cam Elkins, but there’s a good chance you’re familiar with his work. He’s the man behind the brilliant short films called Stories of Bike, which explore the relationships between custom motorcycles and their owners.

After several years filming other people’s bikes, Cam decided it was time to get a custom of his own. He selected a 1986 BMW R65.

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
“I’ve always loved boxer engines,” he tells us. “I think they’re reminiscent of old WW2 airplanes, which had such a sleek but utilitarian look to them.”

“And when I first got into the cafe racer scene, it was the custom R80s and R65s that tended to catch my eye. So in short, it’s been a dream for a long time.”

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
The R65 is a wise choice for a custom from the R series. It’s light, the handling is quick, and steering stability is good—thanks to a beefy upper triple clamp. So it’s the perfect airhead for twisty roads, especially if it’s a post-‘85 model with the monoshock configuration.

Cam got to know Jason Leppa and technician Sean Taylor at Gasoline while filming a promo video for their custom Harley Sportster, the A-15. So when he’d saved up enough to buy the R65 and put some money toward customizing, he knew whom to call.

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
“I knew Gasoline would do a great job, having seen their custom work up close.” So Cam delivered the BMW to Gasoline’s workshop in south Sydney, Australia. And as a style guide, he pointed them towards a super-clean R80 from the Spanish shop ROA.

“The brief was to build a forever bike,” says Gasoline’s Jason Leppa. “One with timeless style and clean lines, with modern controls and handling.”

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
Gasoline have absolutely nailed that brief, and delivered one of the cleanest looking R-series BMWs we’ve seen. There’s not a line out of place, or a sliver of pipewrap—and even the 18-inch cast alloy wheels look good.

To counter the age of the R65, Gasoline started by dismantling the original engine and gearbox. They vapor blasted and rebuilt the drivetrain with all new bearings, seals and gaskets, and then restored and powder coated the final drive unit.

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
The carbs were overhauled too, and new jets installed to match the improved breathing: there’s a DNA filter upstream, and a custom-made 2-into-2 stainless exhaust system, with a balance pipe between the cylinders.

The get the stance right, the front suspension has been lowered 40mm and the rear raised 50mm, with the help of a new shock.

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
There’s a new top clamp from Retrofit Collective, which fits neatly with a headlight bowl mount and fork brace from TinWorks.

Purpose Built Moto supplied the small profile headlight (and control unit) to complete the modern retro aesthetic.

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
Gasoline added clip-on bars, with Beringer hand controls and switch blocks (and brake calipers). Motogadget supplied the speedometer, grips and m.view mirrors—which have a polished aluminum rather than glass surface.

And there’s more German engineering in the shape of discreet Kellermann brake and signal lights.

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
It’s all hooked up to a new wiring loom and, at Cam’s request, an electromagnetic cruise control device connected to a custom throttle tube.

It’s one of those almost impossibly clean builds, with paint to match—a deep royal blue and a subtle matte grey, colors with a clear link to BMW’s history.

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
But as we all know, simplicity can be deceptive. “The style looks easy to achieve, but the build process wasn’t!” Jason admits. “Nearly all the modern components had to be modified to fit, and took longer than expected to source.”

The effort was worth it, and reflected in the name of the bike: The Keeper. “It preserves its 1980s history, but will be ridden well into the future,” says Jason.

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline
Cam Elkins now has a bike that can hold its own against all the beautiful machines that pass in front of his camera. And if you’re lucky enough to be going to the fabulous Machine Show in Braidwood, Australia this weekend, you can see it in the metal.

The rest of us will have to drool over this (very fine) photoset instead.

Gasoline | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Rob Hamilton

BMW R series cafe racer by Gasoline

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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R nineT Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Vagabund Moto

Vagabund’s R nine T custom comes with official approval

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
Most of us take it for granted that we can modify our bikes. As long as the VIN number is correct and the modifications are not visibly unsafe, there’s rarely a problem.

But in some countries, the regulations are real tough. Several territories in Southeast Asia make it virtually impossible to register a custom bike. And in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, there’s the notorious TÜV system.

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
TÜV requires official approval for almost every modified part fitted to a bike. The frame cannot be welded or drilled or deformed in any way. Even a new muffler must have an approval sticker—and be designed for the model of bike you’re riding.

This makes life extremely difficult for custom builders in the Germanic countries. But Paul Brauchart and Philipp Rabl of Austria’s Vagabund Moto have managed to circumvent the system without compromising on style.

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
Vagabund have been wowing us with their precision bike building skills for four years now. But this BMW has been their toughest challenge yet.

The R nineT we’re looking at here is the first in a new series of ‘V nineT’ bikes, and despite the extensive work, it comes with that critical TÜV Certificate. (Which must have made the decision easier for BMW’s Austrian distributor, which has already commissioned a V nineT to take to moto shows.)

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
The V nineT also takes just eight weeks to build, which is a short time frame for a custom that doesn’t use exclusively off-the-shelf parts.

The Graz-based workshop have designed and manufactured a whole bundle of new body parts, including a bolt-on rear end with an integrated LED taillight. They’ve also designed a new leather seat, headlight housing and front fender, to give the bike the futuristic style that’s now a Vagabund signature.

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
“First of all, we did 2D sketching to get a feel for the proportions,” Paul tells us. “We also 3D-scanned the whole R nineT, so the Vagabund parts would perfectly replace the stock parts.”

The new parts are produced using a laser sintering 3D printer at an Austrian prototyping specialist. “The material is flexible, petrol resistant and UV resistant,” says Paul. “It’s also used in automotive manufacturing.”

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
The level of finish is up there with the BMW factory, and probably even better. But it wasn’t an easy process, and Vagabund found themselves with a steep learning curve.

“With this build, we were treading a new path. There’s a huge difference between cutting things off and redoing them, and working within the existing structure of the donor motorcycle.”

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
Vagabund will not be selling the parts individually, but there are different levels of customization available. The ‘basic’ V nineT retains the gold finish on the forks; upgraded specs include anodized fork tubes and a powder coated axle mount, plus ceramic coating for the exhaust system.

A smattering of aftermarket accessories completes the build, supplied by top-shelf brands. Remus, for example, has produced a variant of its Hypercone exhaust muffler exclusively for the V nineT.

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
Other parts adding to the upscale spec come from Rizoma, which supplies the valve covers, rearsets, indicators and control levers.

There’s a Motogadget Motoscope Pro speedo just ahead of the bars, and a Koso Thuderbolt LED headlight right below it in a custom housing. It pumps out over a thousand lumens of light on low beam. (“The bike includes all the gadgets modern motorcyclists love and need,” says Paul.)

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
Custom paint is included in the package, to the customer’s spec, along with new aluminum badging and extensive powdercoating of stock hard parts.

The V nineT is a numbered series and will not be sold as a DIY body kit. But Vagabund can procure a new R nineT and work their magic on it for a turnkey €28,990 (US$32,000). And then ship the bike worldwide.

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto
But if you’re in Europe, you can drop your own R nineT off at the workshop and get the same work done at a considerably reduced price.

Quality doesn’t come cheap, but the V nineT concept gets a big tick from us. Not only because we love the style, but also because it reminds us of the golden era of coachbuilding and mid-20th century carrozzeria specials.

And as painful as the TÜV system can be, it’s also a guarantee of mechanical quality. Which has to be a good thing, ja?

Vagabund Moto | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Stefan Leitner | Rider clothing by John Doe

BMW R nineT custom with TÜV approval, by Vagabund Moto

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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles Bolt Motor Company Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs

It’s A Keeper: A K series built for a footballing legend

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
When one of Spain’s most legendary goalkeepers wanted a hot steed based on a BMW K series ‘brick,’ he knew just the team to call: Bolt Motor Co. of Valencia.

Andrés Palop, known for his penalty-stopping prowess at Sevilla FC, approached Bolt boss Adrián Campos with a simple brief for a custom build; clean lines, a bit of a dark feeling, and some red touches.

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
Adrián and his team are known for their ability to produce clinically clean customs from unlikely platforms. This time they chose a 1991 BMW K75S ‘flying brick’ for their starting point—the sporty one in the K range, with high compression pistons for the DOHC inline triple and 17-inch rear wheel.

“It looks like we’ve learned how to make bricks look great, so we decided to do it again”, says Adrián.

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
The donor arrived in top shape, needing only a dash of paint on the chassis, wheels and the unmistakably rectangular engine block.

Everything else was kicked into touch and replaced with new or fabricated components, including the electronics—which were swapped out for Motogadget components.

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
New Showa front suspension, sourced from a Ducati Monster, leads the way and carries the stock 18” wheel wrapped with Pirelli MT60 rubber.

The upgraded Brembo monobloc brakes provide the type of stopping power a legendary goalkeeper can appreciate. A petite fender, formed on an English wheel, caps the front tire.

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
Keeping things tidy atop the forks meant a full Motogadget treatment for the Renthal Ultra Low bars. “We used Motogadget grips, push-buttons, turn signals, and the classic speedo,” Adrián says. Clearly, a tasteful treatment for this clean custom.

To ensure pitch-perfect parity with Adrián’s vision for clean lines, the shop wrapped a classic 5¾-inch headlamp in a 3D-printed encasement.

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
Moving back from the cockpit reveals a modified K100 tank—with carbon fiber panels for aggressive, sporty lines—and a tailor-made seat.

Covered in waterproof suede, the seat continues the complementary lines, atop a modified subframe and without sacrificing rider comfort.

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
Below the seat are custom perforated metal side panels, dressed in black—a perfect canvas for the military-style stencil font announcing, in red, the model name of this semi-obscure Beemer.

Finishing out the tail is a Highsider taillight resting above the rear wheel, plus a rear suspension upgrade with a custom Hagon suspension setup.

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
And, what about that rear wheel?

“That carbon fiber wheel cover was the biggest challenge on this BMW.” Adrián explains. “The rear brake is very close to the rim, and we had to create a flat cover with no screws”.

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.
As with everything Bolt puts their hand to, there’s no sign of a struggle.

Transforming the K series into a lean, clean streetfighting machine is no small task. With a series of smart choices, the team at Bolt have given Señor Palop’s K75 a dark and aggressive look that’ll stop anyone with a pulse.

Score, Bolt.

Bolt Motor Co. | Facebook | Instagram

BMW K series custom built for Andrés Palop by Bolt Motor Co.

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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R nineT cafe racer Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs VTR Customs

Shitanes 61: VTR Customs’ outrageous BMW R nineT

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
There’s a lot to be said for elegance and subtlety. And there’s also a time and place for going completely over the top.

Dani Weidmann and his crew at the Swiss shop VTR Customs can play it both ways. This time, they’ve turned the volume up to 11 and built a BMW R nineT that’s about as subtle as an AC/DC riff.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
It’s got 136 hp, a stonking 145 Nm of torque, and it’s called ‘Shitanes 61’—a reference to the famous Gitanes motor racing livery from the 1980s.

The story starts at the last Swiss Custom Moto Show, where VTR displayed their R nineT Pure ‘Street Tracker33’ bike. It was snapped up on the second day of the show, much to the chagrin of one of VTR’s regular clients.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
“Talking on our stand, our client came up with an idea,” says Dani. “He wanted a bike that was even more radical than ST33, and faster.”

The concept was agreed on the spot: an R nineT with USD forks, engine tuning, a quickshifter, top shelf high performance parts, and a dash of 80s style. “That’s doable for us, because we grew up around that decade, and have done 80s theme bikes in the past,” says Dani.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
While kicking ideas around during a coffee break, talk turned towards Formula 1 cars. “We came to the Gitanes design [used on the French Equipe Ligier cars] and voilà—Shitanes was born.” The #61 comes from the owner’s year of birth.

For the donor bike, VTR chose an R nineT with the Option 719 accessory pack—which includes goodies like milled cylinder heads, upgraded foot pegs and adjustable brake and clutch levers. But to get the 80s look, VTR decided to have the Spezial parts ‘shrink coated,’ as Ferrari cylinder head covers are.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
It’s the engine that’s really the centerpiece of this build, though. It’s been bored out to 1320 cc (80ci) using new high compression pistons, cylinder liners and connecting rods from Wössner.

VTR have also reworked the cylinder heads for better airflow, and installed a Power Commander to get the mapping right for the modified engine.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
The dyno sheet now shows 136 horsepower, a 23% increase over the standard 110. “It’s a beast,” says Dani, and we bet it sounds like one too: gases now exit via a straight-through Akrapovič titanium race exhaust system.

There’s a racing quickshifter from Translogic for banging through the gears even faster than usual, and Dani mentions that the traction control has to be turned off before full power can be used. “We stayed away from a NOS system though,” he says wryly, “because our client also wants to ride on the street.”

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
Grip will be plentiful thanks to Michelin’s race-bred Power RS slicks, which are wrapped around 17-inch Kineo spoked wheels—a hefty 6 inches wide at the back, and 3.5 at the front.

Bobbed fenders keep the crud away, and VTR also fabricated the alloy front and side alloy number plates. The tank is stock but the fuel cap assembly has been modified to accept a Monza-style cap.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
The cockpit has been given an upgrade too, with the standard bars swapped out for a lightweight Magura SX bend. Magura also supplied the high-end HC3 radial master cylinders and VTR have added tinted green glass to the stock twin instruments.

Sitting atop the shortened rear subframe is a new seat pad, stitched in classic 80s style and made with the help of Carrosseriesattler Yves Knobel. Tiny multi-function taillights from Kellermann are only just visible—if you know where to look.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
The Gitanes-style paint was applied by VTR’s regular spray guys, Freuler of Benken. And there are a few logos from the 80s scattered around too—some of them discreetly subverted.

The owner of Shitanes 61 usually trades in his bikes after a while, and then commissions another one. But this time, he asked for all the wordmarks and logos to be placed under the final clear coat: “I will keep this beast for ever!”

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
That’s bad news for anyone hoping to buy this BMW in the months to come—which includes some of VTR’s own staff, apparently. “None of the parts are available in our shop or as a kit either,” Dani adds. “One of the promises we make to our clients is that we build unique bikes, and no copies.”

So it looks like Shitanes 61 will forever be a one-off. But the good news is that VTR’s order book is open. If you want something a little different, and a guaranteed one-of-a-kind too, you know who to call.

VTR Customs | Facebook | Instagram | Images by PHOTOCAB / Andri Margadant

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs

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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R100 cafe racer Custom Motorcycle Shop Other Motorcycle Blogs

Setting the bar: UFO Garage’s BMW R100R cafe racer

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
We’re always on the hunt for custom motorcycles that push boundaries. So if you’re going to tread familiar territory, you better do an exceptional job of it.

This right here is a classic BMW cafe racer—a genre that’s quite frankly been done to death. But unlike ninety percent of the airhead cafés we see, this R100R from Spain is perfectly balanced, amazingly well finished, and devoid of clichés.

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
It’s the work of Efraón Triana at UFO Garage, a builder with exceptional taste. He turned a modern Harley Sportster into a 1950s homage a while back, landing himself in our 2018 Top 10.

The goal here, he tells us, was to build a “real luxury café racer,” with an emphasis on elegance. “With a low and fluid line from front to back,” he adds. “I like the ‘monochromatic’ aesthetic. Thin, long and narrow—with a ‘fast motorcycle’ look.”

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
Efraón started out with a 1990 BMW R 100 R—complete with BMW’s newer ‘Monolever’ swing arm and spoked wheels. He left the motor and drivetrain mostly stock, but treated the engine to a new coat of a textured black paint typically used on Harleys.

The engine now breathes in via a pair of pod filters, and the airbox has been replaced by a custom-made cover. The new twin exhaust system is from GR Exhausts—built according to Efraón’s design.

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
Moving to the chassis, Efraón swapped out the BMW’s forks for a set of upside-downs from a Suzuki GSX-R.

To fit them, he took all the necessary measurements, then sent them off to have a new set of triples machined up. He also modded the GSX-R’s front brakes to run on the R 100 R wheel, and created a new front fender.

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
Out back is a new custom-made Hagon shock. It’s a little shorter than stock, but the upper shock mount is in a different place now—so it’s actually lifted the rear slightly, for a sharper stance.

That shock mount forms part of a new steel subframe, made from scratch. Old boxers have bolt-on subframes, but Efraón decided to graft his new design directly to the main frame. And he didn’t just weld it—instead, he used a brazing technique he picked up on a trip to the States.

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
It’s a neat effect, and we love the drilled gussets—and the passenger peg mounts. It’s topped off with a new seat, covered in Alcantara, with a hidden document pouch underneath. The bottom’s closed off with a metal panel, keeping things orderly.

The taillight sits lower down, in the form of a pair of dual-purpose LED turn signals, mounted to a custom-built license plate bracket.

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
Efraón’s kept the entire wiring package extremely neat—rewiring everything off a Motogadget control box, and relocating the OEM battery further down.

A ton of consideration went into the cockpit too. Efraón wanted to retain some of the airhead’s DNA, so he fitted the headlight from an R80. Then he installed twin Daytona gauges, creating new bezels for them, joined by a plate that also holds the idiot lights. (The whole layout is a nod to the original BMW dash).

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
Also present are new clip-ons, Biltwell Inc. grips and bar-end mirrors. The master cylinder’s a Brembo part, and the switches and front turn signals are by Motogadget. We’re even spotting new foot pegs and controls, and an upgraded side stand.

There’s hardly a hair out of place, but what really caught us by surprise was just how much thought went into the paint. At a glance, it looks like a run of the mill monochrome job—but there’s a lot going on.

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage
Efraón mixed gloss and matte textures, and used both grey and black to create the desired effect. The wheels were stripped and refinished too, and the frame and rear shock spring were even treated to a new coat.

More importantly, this BMW wears sensible tires—and there’s not an inch of pipe wrap in sight. Should this be how all modern cafe racers are built?

UFO Garage | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Rafa Dieguez Fotografía

BMW R100R custom motorcycle by UFO Garage

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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Unique Custom Cycles

‘Goes Like Corn Through a Goose’: UCC’s BMW R1200R

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
The custom scene event calendar has boomed over the last few years. For fans like us, it means more opportunities to bask in the glow of custom moto culture. But for builders, it means extra deadlines, as they scramble to release new work at key shows.

For Ronna Norén of the legendary Swedish shop Unique Custom Cycles, Glemseck 101 is the show. He uses it each year as the perfect excuse to kick out a new custom build.

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
Although UCC made their name building choppers, Ronna is also skilled at producing exquisite ‘metric’ machines. As the date for this year’s Glemseck 101 approached, he cast his eye over his bike stash and picked out a rather unusual donor: a 2015-spec BMW R1200R.

“I thought building a water-cooled boxer would be a nice challenge,” Ronna tells us.

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
“We’ve done a bunch of air- and oil-cooled boxers, but this is the first water-cooled one. Plus I have seen these bikes in action: they run like corn through a goose!” Which is not surprising: the R1200R is packing 125 stout German horses and 92 ft.lbs of torque.

I’ve spent time on the R1200R myself, and can confirm that it’s a phenomenal motorcycle to ride. Aesthetically, it’s decent-looking from some angles—but feels disjointed overall.

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
So Ronna started by stripping off anything that didn’t make it stop or go.

Then he set about building a new tail unit. “I wanted to do a super clean tail,” he says, “with all the necessary functions integrated, but well hidden. All the electronics as well as taillight and blinkers should be virtually invisible.”

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
Ronna welded up a chromoly subframe, and then hammered out an impossibly clean aluminum tailpiece to sit on top. And he embedded a pair of taillight LEDs into the ends of the frame rails. All of the BMW’s electronic bits are hidden away under the seat now.

Ronna’s work to the front end was a lot more subtle. “The front bodywork is actually quite nice and tightly packaged,” he said, “so I decided to leave it alone.”

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
‘Leave it alone’ isn’t entirely accurate though. Ronna wanted move the battery (and a lot of modern hardware) from the visible space under the tank, so he built a new fuel cell to sit under the stock tank cover panels, and repackaged everything.

All that was left was to fill in the space connecting the tank to the new tail section. So Ronna fabricated two more aluminum parts to complete the bodywork.

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
Ronna’s brother Benna—who runs Tolle Engineering—is an equally talented fabricator. He machined a new set of aluminum triple trees, designed to grip a set of Öhlins FGRT227 cartridge forks—a model intended for the R nineT.

“Over the years, we’ve developed a good relationship with the guys at Öhlins,” Ronna tells us. “They set up the fork with the right springs and everything else: their products are second to none.”

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
Benna’s custom triples also made it possible to tweak the OEM instrument and headlight positioning, tucking everything in tighter.

Ronna also fitted a set of adjustable risers from Rizoma, and a set of S1000XR handlebars. New master cylinders from Magura round out the control package.

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
Öhlins supplied a new TTX GP rear monoshock, set up specifically for this project, and a steering damper. “I lowered the bike in the front and raised it slightly at the rear,” Ronna explains. “The chassis setup is more aggressive now.”

In an unusual change of pace, Ronna didn’t fabricate his own exhaust system this time. Instead, he matched up a set of Akrapovič pipes to a Spark silencer.

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
“It’s loud,” he jokes. “I mean it’s really deafening…it sets car alarms off. I think I have to pack in some more wool, or make a new decibel killer to get it into a somewhat digestible range!”

When the time came for paint, Ronna handed the bike over to frequent UCC collaborator Håkan Lindberg. The request was for a clean battleship grey as a primary tone, with bright orange candy on the frame and wheels. Håkan nailed it.

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
With everything back in the shop, Ronna spent a couple of days reassembling the R1200R. But he didn’t leave it to the last minute: when photographer Jenny Jurnelius got the call to catalog the bike, Glemseck was still two weeks away. That’s what you call planning.

The R1200R itself is a masterstroke. All the ugly bits are gone, the new bits look stunning, and all the right tech upgrades are in place.

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden
“The bike runs really strong, and I’m looking forward to getting it properly out on the road for the next riding season,” Ronna tells us, from the depths of a Stockholm County winter. “Unless I sell it, of course!”

We’re officially calling dibs.

Unique Custom Cycles | Facebook | Instagram | Photos by Jenny Jurnelius

BMW R1200R by Unique Custom Cycles of Sweden

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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R100 Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Vagabund Moto

A fresh spin on the airhead BMW custom from Vagabund

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto
Vagabund Moto have built some of the sharpest BMW airheads we’ve seen. They’ve developed a signature style too: custom boxers with stark, futuristic lines, and amazing attention to the tiniest of design details.

But the Austrian builders Paul Brauchart and Philipp Rabl don’t want to be pigeonholed into one style. They’ve decided to change it up, since they often find themselves working with very similar donor bikes.

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto
“We try to not stand still in our designs,” says Paul. “If you mostly do BMWs—which was never our intention—then you need to keep it interesting by trying new things.”

This latest boxer (‘V11’) is just as slick as their previous work, but with a slightly more classic bent. According to the brief, this 1991-model BMW R 100 R needed to have “a more vintage touch, with brown leather, and a place for a first aid kit.” (Kits are a legal requirement in Austria, and the client lives in a region with strict policing.)

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto
The most obvious change is the fuel tank. Vagabund ditched the bulky OEM unit, then fitted a heavily modified tank from the Ukrainian-made Dnepr MT.

They also built a new subframe out back, finishing it off with an aggressive kick. Up top is a custom-made brown leather saddle, with a leather bag from Brooks hiding underneath, to house that first aid kit.

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto
Clearing out the space under the seat meant rewiring the old airhead. So Vagabund swapped the airbox for a pair of pod filters, filling in the space with a new cover to house the electronics. The ignition’s been relocated to the engine block too.

This BMW’s sporting a few stance tweaks too. There’s hefty reworking to the forks—they shaved 70 mm off, dropped in new internals and threaded in the fork caps from a Honda Transalp.

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto
The fork sleeves were modded to fit the new headlight, then powder-coated black. There’s a modified BMW R nineT front fender doing duty lower down, along with a CNC-machined fork brace and upgraded brake discs.

This ‘R’ model originally came with stylish 18F/17R spoked wheels, so Vagabund left those on, and wrapped them in new Dunlop Trailmax rubber.

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto
The cockpit features shortened LSL handlebars, a Domino clutch lever and a Grimeca brake master cylinder. The switches are Vagabund’s own 3D-printed housings, and the speedo is a tiny digital number from Motogadget, mounted off the bars.

Being Austrian, Vagabund have kept the BMW fully street legal. There’s a pair of Motogadget bar-end turn signals up front, and a license plate bracket, with LED turn signals that double as tail lights, out back. (The rear arrangement wasn’t fitted for these photos.)

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto
Naturally, the boxer’s motor was given a solid service and clean up, with fresh paint on the valve covers. There are even ‘VGBND’ logos on the sides of the engine. Finishing things off is a SuperTrapp muffler, mounted to the modified (and ceramic coated) R 100 R headers.

V11 might be more vintage-looking than its stablemates, but it’s as crisp as anything else we’ve seen from Vagabund. The steely blue-grey paint is simple and low key—perfect for the minimalist style of this build.

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto
Kudos to Paul and Philipp for stepping outside the lines, while still sticking to their guns.

Vagabund Moto | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Stefan Leitner

Airhead BMW: An R100R custom from Vagabund Moto

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46Works BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R100 cafe racer Custom Motorcycles Moto Guzzi Le Mans Moto Guzzi motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs

Two new vintage style motorcycles from 46Works


Two new vintage style motorcycles from 46Works
It’s around this time of year that all the top Japanese builders release their latest customs. Many workshops have spent weeks burning the midnight oil to get a bike ready for display at the Yokohama show, but Shiro Nakajima of 46Works has been even busier than most—he’s just revealed two amazing new builds.

We’ve been following Nakajima-san’s work very closely over the years, going back to his days as CEO of Ritmo Sereno, Japan’s premier BMW and Moto Guzzi restomod outfit. So when he told us he had not one but two motorcycles to show, we were almost as excited as Japanese game show hosts.

Custom BMW R100RS by 46Works
Nakajima has played to his strengths here, with a BMW R100RS and a Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000—two platforms that he’s very familiar with. And he’s given both machines with an elegant vintage style that’s light years away from the slightly stodgy factory bikes.

Both bikes were commissions, but Nakajima was given completely free rein to do as he wished. Let’s look at the BMW first

Custom BMW R100RS by 46Works
It’s a 1991 R100 RS, which means it’s a 980cc boxer. This one’s a rare monolever model; only around 180 were sold in the USA, and a few more were sold in Japan.

Nakajima is focused on performance, so he’s upgraded the forks to a Yamaha/Öhlins and installed them using modified Ducati triple trees. Brembo calipers clamp down on Sunstar discs, aided by a Brembo Radial master cylinder.

Custom BMW R100RS by 46Works
The rear suspension is completely reconfigured, and carefully tuned: Nakajima is a racer as well as a builder. The monoshock setup remains, but he’s hooked the Öhlins damper up to a beautifully engineered cantilevered swingarm, with extra metal reinforcement between the tubes.

The rims are Excel’s finest, laced up to a Yamaha hub at the front and an R80G/S hub at the back. The tires are Bridgestone Battlax BT45, a sport/touring compound with good grip and a reasonably classic tread.

Custom BMW R100RS by 46Works
To bring the R100RS frame into the 21st century, Nakajima has reinforced it for extra strength. He’s reshaped the back end too, with new aluminum tubing concealed by a pert tail unit fashioned out of fiberglass and topped off with a classy black leather seat from RazzleDazzle.

Custom BMW R100RS by 46Works
The tank looks familiar, but it’s a transplant—from a US-spec R75/6. And it’s a perfect match to the custom fiberglass fairing, fronted by a classic Bates headlight.

The rebuilt motor now breathes easy via state-of-the-art Keihin FCR carbs, capped with K&N filters. For the exhaust end, Nakajima has crafted titanium pipework—no easy task, given the expense of the material and the thin walls.

Custom BMW R100RS by 46Works
The paint is a classic Spanish blue shade, shot by Stupid Crown, with a traditional BMW white pinstripe. (It’s based on a color Nakajima mixed up for one of his racing helmets.) He describes the effect as “simple beauty, without making a show of eccentricity. A stylish and high-potential cafe racer.”

We reckon he’s nailed it.

Custom Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 by 46Works
The BMW has quite a few parallels with the Moto Guzzi that Nakajima unveiled at the same time. It has the same timeless elegance, and it’s also sporting the Keihin FCR/K&N combo.

But there’s a more laidback vibe to the Le Mans. “The original styling was not simple, and it’s a heavy bike,” he tells us. “So I wanted to make a beautiful motorcycle with a 1970s atmosphere. A lighter weight bike with a comfortable seating position, and suspension and the brakes that work well.”

Custom Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 by 46Works
Nakajima’s installed 41mm Showa forks, using modified Honda triples to get them to fit, with classic twin shocks at the back made by Öhlins.

Everything else is a real mash-up, but it works: a Yamaha hub and brake rotors at the front, a Guzzi hub and Kawasaki rotor at the back, Excel rims, and Brembo calipers all round.

Custom Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 by 46Works
The Le Mans showcases Nakajima’s metal shaping chops, with a hand-made aluminum tank, a sharp upkick to the new subframe, and a stubby, scrambler-style rear fender.

The seat extends the curve of the tank, aligns with the frame ‘triangle,’ and looks exceptionally comfy too—proof that not every custom needs an ironing board perch to look stylish.

Custom Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 by 46Works
Adding to the 70s vibe are a stainless steel exhaust system with reverse cone mufflers, and Dunlop TT100GP tires, which are popular with classic racers.

Our favorite aspect is the paint, though—a most unusual shade of green. “It’s inspired by Porsche and Aston Martin,” says Nakajima, “called ‘olive green’ or ‘California Sage. A very refined and beautiful color that I like it very much.”

Custom Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 by 46Works
We like it very much too. Would it be too much to wish for both these bikes in one’s garage?

46Works | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Hiroshi Kikui

Two new vintage style motorcycles from 46Works

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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R75 Custom Motorcycles Heiwa Motorcycle Other Motorcycle Blogs

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6
Yesterday it felt like the entire custom world was in Yokohama, Japan, for the famous Mooneyes show. Officially called the ‘Hot Rod Custom Show,’ it’s a one-day, nine-hour spectacle that draws the best customizers from all corners of the Land of the Rising Sun—and many from other continents, too.

Most of the top builders reveal a new bike at Mooneyes, including Kengo Kimura of the acclaimed Hiroshima workshop Heiwa. This year, he unveiled this sparkling BMW R75/6, stripped to the bare bones and transformed into pure mechanical art.

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6
The bike picked up two awards—one from guest judge Bryan Thompson, and the Art Of Malaysia award too. Wes, our man on the ground, pored over the BMW in the metal and says it’s ‘drop dead gorgeous.’

Heiwa is one of the harder Japanese builders to pigeonhole: Kimura-san does not have a distinct visual signature in the way that Brat Style does, for example.

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6
When we asked him what style he was aiming for, he simply said: “A style that has never existed—a Heiwa original.”

The R75 boxer engine is the centerpiece of this build, polished and slung low in the heavily modified frame. Even after all these years, it’s still a striking looking motor, and Kimura’s design gives it plenty of space to breathe.

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6
After stripping down and overhauling the 42-year-old engine and carburetors, Kimura made new trumpet air intakes and straight-shot exhaust pipes fashioned out of stainless steel.

The original airbox, now redundant, has been recreated as a battery holder. It hides a tiny lithium ion battery, with the ignition coil now living in another custom-made box underneath the seat.

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6
Kimura then ditched the R75/6 forks and installed a vintage Kawasaki/KYB front end, complete with drum brake and a stunning re-machined hub. The triple trees are Kawasaki items too, topped with one-off machined risers and bars.

Kimura is coy about his sources and the engineering involved—and the language barrier doesn’t help either—but the effect is beautiful.

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6
The rear shocks are adjustable IKON 7614 series aluminium-bodied units, which are basically Dutch Koni shocks manufactured under licence. (Speaking from direct experience, they’re good.)

There are many contrived concoctions at the Mooneyes show, but Kimura has kept the bodywork on his BMW simple and elegant. He’s built the new tank out of steel, and the tail unit out of aluminum.

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6
There are one-off parts everywhere, from the bars to the seat to the lathe-machined pegs. There’s even a tiny little cowl atop the headlight, which is a vintage foglight imported from the US.

The R75/6 now rolls on equal size 18-inch wheels with classic H-pattern rims, shod with Firestone Deluxe tires—still the enduring choice of most Japanese custom builders, simply because nothing else comes close to that fine sawtooth tread pattern.

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6
The purple candy flake paint was shot by Heiwa’s regular spray gun collaborator, Six Shooter. It’s some of the thickest flake we’ve seen; there’s so much glitter, you’d expect it to be rough to the touch.

But of course it’s as smooth as silk. And proof, perhaps, that all that glitters is sometimes gold.

Heiwa MC | Facebook | Instagram

Mooneyes Highlight: Heiwa’s award-winning BMW R75/6

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BikeExif BMW cafe racer BMW motorcycles BMW R nineT cafe racer Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs

Billet Sting: DNA’s honeycomb monocoque BMW

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
In the world of custom building, the frame is the bit you leave alone—unless you really know what you are doing.

Anyone can chop and loop a subframe, but creating a stress-bearing main frame from scratch takes patience, guts and familiarity with concepts like torsional stiffness and tensile strength.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters

That’s one reason the custom scene tends to develop slowly. But occasionally someone comes along and chucks the rulebook in the bin. Which is exactly what a father-and-son team from Greece have just done, with this incredible monocoque built around a BMW R nineT engine.

Dino and his son Marios Nikolaidis run DNA Filters, the company that makes some of the best aftermarket intake systems money can buy. They stunned us with their KTM RC8 a year ago, but they’ve really outdone themselves this time.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
Marios grew up buzzing around on a little monocoque 80cc racer, and then studied Motorsport Engineering at London’s Brunel University.

That’s where the inspiration and the skills came from, and DNA’s in-house engineering team helped out too.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
The honeycomb monocoque on ‘DCR-018 Billet Sting’ is CNC-milled from ten billets of 6082-T651 aluminum—a high-strength grade that’s easily machined and commonly found in everything from cranes to beer barrels.

After the honeycomb pieces were welded together, the geometry of the bike was fine-tuned with further machining. DNA have left the machine tool paths visible on the honeycomb, but clear anodized the frame to protect against oxidation

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
On the steering head and suspension side, Dino and Marios have opted for sportier settings more akin to the racetrack than the road.

They’ve installed a custom 43mm Hyperpro fork, with ‘right way up’ construction to reflect the heritage of the Boxer engine. The specs are ultra-modern, though: coated tubes, 110mm of travel, adjustable high- and low-speed compression damping, adjustable rebound damping, and a progressive springs.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
Hyperpro also supplied the multi-adjustable shock for the rear end, but the real action there is in the swingarm.

It’s CNC machined into a Z shape, connected to the lower part of the frame via two giant 40 mm bearings, and with the exposed cardan shaft running through it. The swingarm was also designed to accommodate a 200 mm wide Michelin Power Slick Evo tire—a racing-derived compound popular with trackday riders.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
DNA is in the business of performance improvement, and they’ve managed to give the R nineT motor a solid boost without messing with the internals. It now measures 122 hp at the back wheel.

The power jolt comes from an extraordinary intake system: two 600 mm (23 inch) hexagonal tubes that channel the air to a pair of 66 mm DNA filters in transparent Lexan airboxes. The aluminum tubes also support the fairing and LED headlights.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
CNC machined from huge blocks of 6082 alloy, the tubes provide increased pressure at speeds above 160 kph (100 mph), and zero flow restriction at lower speeds.

They’re matched to a titanium exhaust system, custom designed by Akrapovič. The mufflers are packed with Honeycomb mesh to match the monocoque, and follow the contour of the seat.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
A new ECU takes advantage of the intake and exhaust upgrades, and delivers that extra 10 hp to the back wheel.

DNA have even hooked it up to a sensor on the gear lever: as soon as the rider applies force to change gear, the ECU momentarily cuts ignition for a few milliseconds to allow the next gear to slip in position without the use of the clutch.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
This is one of those bikes where you could run to 2,000 words going over all the details, and still inadvertently leave something out.

Everything is absolutely top-shelf, right down to the ISR brake system, with 4 piston CNC machined billet calipers front and rear—plus race-ready master cylinders.


Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
The tiny reservoirs sit on ahead of a massive top triple clamp, which has a honeycomb finish to match the monocoque. The clip-ons house switches from Purpose Built Moto, and there’s a Hyperpro steering damper to control any twitchiness.

On top of the ‘tank’ is a custom instrument display/telemetry controller from Plex Tuning. It’s an extraordinary 4.3” TFT display that can be configured to show virtually any data coming from the ECU, above and beyond the usual speed and rpm readouts.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
Pore over the images in detail, and the clever little tricks keep popping out. We especially love the oil cooler, machined out of billet aluminum and resembling the vertebral column of a fish. The cooler fits snugly against the front of the engine, leaving just the air-cooling ‘bones’ exposed.

Billet Sting is one of the most creative customs we’ve seen in a long time. And even better, it’s creative because it’s more than just an exercise in aesthetics: it pushes technology and modern manufacturing techniques to the limit.

Billet Sting: A wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT from DNA Filters
Kudos to Dino and Marios for not just thinking outside the box, but blowing it to smithereens.

DCR-018 minisite | DNA Filters | Instagram | Facebook

Dino and Marios Nikolaidis with Billet Sting, a wild monocoque-framed BMW R nineT