Category: BMW motorcycles

A fresh spin on the airhead BMW custom from Vagabund

Post author By Wesley Reyneke
Post date December 11, 2018

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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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 9 December, 2018

Post author By Wesley Reyneke
Post date December 9, 2018

The best cafe racers, trackers and concept motorcycles of the week
A pair of BMW R NineT customs channeling the past and the future, a glorious Rickman Metisse, and an all-time classic Honda race bike. It’s a mixed bag this week.

Rickman Metisse by Chelsea Borchert The Rickman Metisse is the quintessential desert sled, and one of the most iconic motorcycles ever. It was developed by the Rickman brothers in England in the early 60s, as a kit that could be ordered to fit the owner’s motor of choice (which, more often than not, was a 650 cc Triumph twin).

But did you know that you can still build a MKIII Metisse today? That’s exactly what Chelsea Borchert did. Her dad had a 1962 Rickman Metisse, so when she sold her last bike and started figuring out a replacement, the nostalgia hit hard. To compound things, she realized that she lived near the original Rickman factory—and that her parents were close to Wasp Motorcycles, who still manufacture Rickman frames. Bingo.

Chelsea ordered a kit from Wasp, and sourced a 1966 Triumph Thunderbird as an engine donor. Everything was hauled over to her dad’s workshop, where father and daughter began piecing it together.

The Metisse kit comes with the frame, all the bodywork (including a fiberglass tank), the swing arm, foot pegs, stand and coin chain adjusters. Chelsea added the forks and hubs from a 1974 Triumph Adventurer, polishing them up to a better-than-new finish. The idea was to build a street legal Metisse, so this one has lights at both ends, turn signals, mirrors, and switches from a Kawasaki. [More]

BMW R nineT R7 by Roland Sands Design If this R nineT custom looks familiar, you’re probably thinking of the NMoto Studio nineT kit we featured recently. At a quick glance, they could be siblings. But in reality, they only look similar because they’re emulating the same bike: the 1934 BMW R7.

Roland Sands Design took a very different approach with their homage to the one-off art deco boxer. The team started with a motor and transmission—then built the frame and replica bodywork from scratch. I was lucky enough to see the bike in the flesh at the Mooneyes show last weekend, and there’s a ton of trick stuff going on.

Those side panels—which were hand made from aluminum—not only look great, but hide away wiring too. The fenders are actually two Indian front fenders that were lying around in the RSD workshop, and the headlight bucket is from a Ural, and accepted the stock R nineT gauge with minimal fuss. Then there’s that color: a deep midnight blue that could almost pass for black.

A few modern touches from the RSD catalogue help keep this vintage-style machine unique. Those include the engine’s breastplate and valve covers, the floorboards, and a set of 19” Traction flat track wheels.

On the right, the brake’s been converted to a linked system with a heel shifter. There’s a heel pedal on the left too, but that’s actually the clutch; gearshifts happen on top of the tank, with a small shifter that harks back to the original R7. Everything is highly neat and tidy, and even the handlebar cabling has all be run internally.

There’s too much goodness to cram into this page, so we’ll sum it up with a score instead: ten out of ten. [More]

Honda CX500 by Seb Hipperson The Honda CX500 is a fickle donor. We’ve seen many that miss the mark horribly—but when a builder manages to make it work, the results are astounding. And Seb Hipperson’s certainly made it work with this sharp CX café racer.

His CX doesn’t come across as extreme on the first pass, but it’s well sorted. He’s added Honda CBR600RR forks, Tec Parts shocks that have been re-sprung to match his weight, and a new front brake setup. There’s a lot of fresh work inside the motor too, along with a pair of upgraded Mikuni VM34 carbs.

Seb’s done some subtle tweaking too. He lopped the top section off the fuel tank, then welded in the top of a Yamaha XJ tank. Then he added some fiberglass work to the bottom edge, to give it a smoother finish. The subframe’s custom, complete with little parallelogram-shaped areas that are now filled in with fiberglass side panels (where the air box used to be). Even the wheels are a mash-up, with bits from the GL1100 and CB900 grafted in.

A metallic grey paint job—capped with graphics in the Valvoline colors—finishes it off. Seb says he’s currently using it as a London runabout, but reports that it held its own at a classic track day at Caldwell Park. And we believe him. [More]

The Honda RS750 It seems like hooligan flat track events happen every other weekend, and that means builders are building bikes to enter them with. But this Honda isn’t some haphazard hooli-racer—it’s a bona fide race bike from the 80s. So although it doesn’t meet the ‘custom’ or ‘bikes of the week’ criteria, when it popped up in our feed this week, we knew we had to share it.

The story goes that, by the mid-1980s, Honda was dominating most styles of racing—except flat track. So they started developing a new flat track race bike, using the liquid-cooled 52-degree, SOHC 742cc V-twin from the XLV750R (also known as the Africa Twin). The RS750 was then developed around the motor.

The RS750 started taking names straight out the gate. It won its first race out, at the 1983 De Quoin Mile. Then Bubba Shobert and the late Ricky Graham won six races each in the next season, with Graham narrowly beating Shobert in the overall. Shobert hit back the following year, and took the overall title three years in row. [More]

Aurora by Mehmet Doruk Erdem Social media is full of renders of custom motorcycles—but we have a chronic aversion to them. That’s because nine times out of ten, they’re vaporware; concepts that never see the light of day.

But Mehmet Doruk Erdem gets a free pass. His designs are evocative and extreme—and he’s got a solid track record. His Alpha concept, for example, was masterfully translated into metal by builder Mark Atkinson.

This is his latest design: ‘Aurora,’ based on a BMW R nineT. It’s a commission, and Istanbul-based GB Motobike are booked to build it. Mehmet’s kept some of the nineT’s core bits—like the fuel tank and tail bump—but he’s reworked it with extra bodywork and an extremely aggressive stance.

Some of the details are bound to cause headaches, like the exhaust that appear to exit through the tail unit. Still, it’s a killer concept, and we’re looking forward to seeing it come to life.

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Two new vintage style motorcycles from 46Works

Post author By Chris Hunter
Post date December 7, 2018

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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

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On the ground at Mooneyes: BMW unveils a 1800 cc custom

Post author By Wesley Reyneke
Post date December 6, 2018

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes
We’re in constant awe of the Japanese custom motorcycle scene. Our compadres in the Land of the Rising Sun have an approach to customization that’s as unique as their culture—hallmarked by unrivalled levels of creativity and craftsmanship. But thanks to geographic and linguistic limitations, it’s a world we mostly admire from afar.

The Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show is the best of Japan’s custom moto (and hot rod) scene, distilled down to a potent one-day hit. And last Sunday, I was there to take it all in.

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes
Also known simply as the Mooneyes show—after the company that’s been organizing it for 27 years—it’s a must-attend event. Roughly 300 motorcycles, and twice as many cars, cram into the Pacifico Yokohama convention center. And an estimated 15,000 spectators pour through the doors.

It attracts the biggest names too, both domestically, and from across the water. Kengo Kimura of Heiwa showed off his BMW R75/6. Kaichiroh Kurosu of Cherry’s Company brought along a chopper that floored me. And Shiro Nakajima of 46Works revealed two knockout builds that we’ll showcase soon.

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes
Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts (above) popped over from Taiwan. Go Takamine of Brat Style, Shinya Kimura (below left) and Roland Sands (below right) all made the trip from California.

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes
Countless bikes from smaller builders were strewn between the big names, making it impossible to take every detail in. And there was a lot of detail: from exquisite paint jobs and pin striping to intricate engraving and next level engineering.

I even strolled past a monstrosity that’s powered by two (yes, two) Shovelhead motors; the work of Hot Chop Speed Shop.

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes
But I was there for one bike in particular: a ground-up custom from Custom Works Zon, dubbed ‘Departed.’ BMW Motorrad commissioned the project, so they flew a select group of journalists out to see it in person, soak up the show and experience Tokyo for a weekend.

The bike’s powered by a prototype engine, that BMW tell us may or may not make it into a future model. It’s a boxer—but it’s far heftier than any boxer currently in the Bavarian marque’s lineup.

BMW cafe racer: the CW Zon concept R18
The biggest clue’s in the name; BMW are calling it the ‘R18,’ so we’re guessing a whopping capacity of 1,800 cc. The pushrods hark back to classic boxers, and it’s very clearly not liquid cooled. (We hung with friendly BMW staffers Antonia Cecchetti and Matthias Runde, who both did an expert job of shutting down any further discussion.)

Zon’s Yuichi Yoshizawa and Yoshikazu Ueda were given only the motor to work with, but even that wasn’t left alone. The ‘breast plate,’ valve head covers and air box are all custom, and the guys added in a pair of Dell’Orto carbs on one-off intakes.

BMW cafe racer: the CW Zon concept R18
The rest of the bike is almost completely hand made. Zon built a steel trellis frame, then capped it off with hand-shaped sheet metal bodywork. The BMW rolls on custom alloy wheels, measuring 21” up front and 26” out back. It’s held up by girder fork up front, and a custom-built swing arm with a mono-shock out back.

I quizzed Yoshizawa-san about his inspiration, and he cited land speed racers as a reference. He also walked me around to the back of the bike, and pointed out how the entire machine is sleek and streamlined, to emphasize the sheer mass of the motor.

BMW cafe racer: the CW Zon concept R18
In typical Zon fashion, the craftsmanship is outstanding, and the build is littered with stunning details. There’s the inventive gas cap, the subtle striping and gold work, the gorgeous hint of leather on the barely-there seat, and the tasteful Zon/BMW mash-up logo up top. (We learned this weekend that ‘Zon’ means ‘sun’).

Custom Works Zon took home the coveted ‘Best in Show’ award, along with two additional judge’s picks. I wasn’t the least bit surprised—it’s an astounding machine, and easily my favorite bike at the show.

BMW cafe racer: the CW Zon concept R18
The Hot Rod Custom Show is more than just pretty cycles and hot rods though: it’s a colorful, whacky celebration of all that Kustom Kulture embodies. I wandered around the venue with old and new friends for hours, navigating through the flea market-like sections between vehicle displays.

We saw everything from patches to hand-made key rings; Japanese denim to unique Hot Wheels collectables. We witnessed lengthy queues as devout fans lined up for exclusive Mooneyes merchandise—including one-off Vans that are only sold at the event. There were artists, tattoo artists and pin stripers all hard at work—and even hairdressers.

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes
The show is a true melting pot, a blend of Mooneyes’ SoCal style and Japanese tradition. It’s amazing how polite and orderly the rough-hewn world of motorcycles and hot rods can be: passersby will even pause for you to take photos of the machines on display, to avoid walking through your frame.

It’s also hard to believe that a show of this magnitude occupies just one day. I spent the rest of the weekend exploring as much of Tokyo as I could, along with Hermann Kopf (below center) of the Brummm Chronicles, Chris Nelson of Iron & Air, and Morgan Gales of Hot Bike (below left)—who are all an absolute riot to kick it with.

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes
We wandered around the Shibuya and Harajuku area, dipping in and out of quirky fashion stores and thrift shops. We visited Japan’s largest BMW dealership, ate tacos, drank Japanese whisky, and wrapped up the weekend up with a traditional shabu shabu meal.

Then—just as I found my groove—I hopped on a plane home, roughly 48 hours after I’d first touched down.

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes
Japan left a mark on me: her peculiar customs, her heated toilet seats, Tokyo’s relentless buzz, and the extravaganza that is the Hot Rod Custom Show. I left exhausted, but inspired…and itching to go back.

Images by Hermann Kopf (HK) and Wes Reyneke (WR), with special thanks to BMW Motorrad and Tadashi Kono.

Report: the 2018 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show sponsored by Mooneyes

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

Post author By Chris Hunter
Post date December 3, 2018

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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Billet Sting: DNA’s honeycomb monocoque BMW

Post author By Chris Hunter
Post date November 7, 2018

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

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Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia

Post author By Chris Hunter
Post date November 2, 2018

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
There are a few bikes out there, a tiny handful, that have slipped under the custom radar. BMW’s mighty R1100 RS sport tourer is one of them: despite over 26,000 leaving the factory in the 90s, it seems to have been mostly ignored by builders.

Maybe that’s because the Telelever/Paralever suspension is hard to modify. Or maybe the huge plastic shroud of bodywork is off-putting.

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
That hasn’t deterred Beautiful Machines of Malaysia, though: they’ve just delivered one of the most extreme BMWs we’ve seen for years. Well, since El Solitario’s infamous ‘Impostor’ R nineT of five years ago, at least …

Based in the densely urban district of Petaling, Beautiful Machines is a collective of enthusiasts from a range of different backgrounds.

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
In the group is a commercials director, a moto gear salesman, a tattoo artist, and a head mechanic and fabricator. Everyone chips in and plays a role in the building process.

We spoke with one of the group, Jeremy, to find out more about this bizarre yet beautiful machine.

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
“The R1100 RS has a lot of body parts and fairings, so we stripped it down to see what treasures were hidden,” he tells us. “With a huge tank and a high front end, we went with a Dakar Rally-esque look for the build.”

Called Tebuan Biru (‘Blue Tumble’), the 1996 R1100 is a personal build belonging to one of Beautiful Machines’ founders, Rajay Singh.

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
It was in good running condition, with no mechanical maladies to fix. “It rode fine, but then the itch started,” says Jeremy. “We thought we’d try something different.”

And different it certainly is. The customizing is mostly in the bodywork, and Jeremy’s crew have managed to radically change the look of the R1100 without firing up the grinder or spinning the English wheel.

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
“We kept the whole geometry pretty much original, with the stock engine and suspension—this bike is going to be a daily ride,” says Jeremy. “We slimmed the BMW down by removing all the fairings, and then removed the pillion section from the seat to create space for multi-function cargo racks behind.”

The rear rack has been fabricated so that it can easily carry a hard cell fuel tank and plenty of luggage for a long journey.

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
The most obvious change is at the front, with a very peculiar profile created by a tubular frame. This houses huge dual Hella Comet 500 lamps, the instrument cluster, and another multipurpose rack on top.

“With most builds, we usually like to create a low profile at the front—but in this case, doing the opposite gave this bike a really cool and unique look,” says Jeremy.

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
The R259 ‘oilhead’ engine punches out 90 hp and a solid 70 pounds feet of torque, and tops out at over 130 mph. So Beautiful Machines have left the internals of the boxer motor alone, and fabricated a new stainless exhaust system, terminating it with an extremely beefy muffler.

After removing the R1100 RS’ slab-sided bodywork, Beautiful Machines were left with a gap under the tank—so they’ve created a side panel that echoes the industrial look of the bike.

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia
Finished off with a slick lick of deep French blue paint and new leather for the seat, the big BMW is now ready for long-distance action. And despite the huge presence and apocalyptic looks, it’s surprisingly practical.

It’ll be a helluva sight coming up in your rear view mirror too…

Beautiful Machines Facebook | Instagram

Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia

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Maxx Headroom: Gunn Design’s BMW flat tracker

Post author By Wesley Reyneke
Post date October 31, 2018

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
The world of custom motorcycles is full of beautiful machines, but many of them see little mileage. While that doesn’t stop us from admiring them, we’re suckers for bikes that are designed to be ridden in anger.

Right now, we’re hooked on this BMW R nineT flat track weapon, built by Dan Riley. Based in Burnsville, Minnesota, Dan’s a freelance graphic and product designer who operates as Gunn Design.

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
The project kicked off in April last year, when Ola Stenegärd himself (then BMW Motorrad’s Head of Vehicle Design, now at Indian) reached out to Dan about customizing an R nineT Pure. Dan’s been riding since age four, so building a show pony was never an option.

Since then, this hooligan racer-slash-street tracker—dubbed ‘Maxx Headroom’—has gone through multiple rounds of changes, and spent as much time on display as it has on the race track.

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
It’s been shown at Sturgis, Wheels & Waves California, The One Show, The Handbuilt Show and Glemseck 101, and raced at almost all of them.

Most of Dan’s changes have been focused on shedding weight, adding performance, and improving ergonomics: all critical elements of flat track racing. He’s done most of the work himself, all from an area in his design studio where he can “build bikes and get messy.”

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
The R nineT’s stock bodywork has been replaced, and the new fuel tank is from a 1990 Honda CB400. It was a tricky job: Dan had to cut the bottom section off the OEM tank, and weld it to the Honda tank to get it to fit.

He also fitted a Vortex fuel cap, and modded the fuel pump slightly.

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
Out back, there’s a carbon fiber flat track tail, modeled on a Ron Wood design, but altered to suit Dan’s taste.

It’s clear coated for a gloss finish and topped off with a custom leather seat pad from Saddlemen, complete with an embroidered Gunn logo. Dan tells us he didn’t need to tweak the subframe much, apart from some tab edits.

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
Lower down, the R nineT now rolls on a set of typical 19” flat track wheels. Woody’s Wheel Works built the set for Dan, using custom orange anodized hubs laced to custom-drilled Sun rims, and shod with Dunlop rubber.

At first, Dan couldn’t get the rear wheel to fit the space available—but then he switched to a 3.5” wide rim, which flattened the tire out just enough to make it work.

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
The front suspension is stock, but there’s a custom Race Tech G3-S shock doing duty at the rear. Dan’s upgraded the front brake rotor, and added Magura HC3 master cylinders for both the brake and clutch.

Rocket Exhaust helped Dan out on the custom pipework, which consists of twin stainless steel headers running up into MX-style, carbon-tipped mufflers. Dan also removed the airbox and installed a pair of K&N filters—and then realized the BMW didn’t run as great.

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
So he installed a RapidBike Tuner, in a bid to squeeze more (and smoother) power from the boxer. “I haven’t had it on a dyno with the new setup,” he tells us, but seat-of-the-pants feel from the tune is noticeable.”

“I had to do something, given the totally changed-up intake and exhaust system. BMW people told me at Glemseck that the stock air box makes the most power…and that’s what Nate Kern was running when he beat me.”

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
Dan’s new cockpit setup is all about maximum control. He’s fitted ProTaper handlebars on adjustable Rox risers, and removed all the switches he doesn’t need. He’s also deleted the stock bike’s ABS system, and uninstalled the heated grips.

The overall wiring changes are minimal though. The speedo’s still in play, and Dan’s fitted a small LED taillight at the back. He’s also got an LED headlight that he can plug in quickly if he wants to take to the streets.

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design
Maxx Headroom is a stellar case study for form following function. There’s nothing precious or fussy about it—it’s a raw machine, built to be thrashed.

Plus we’re pretty sure that if we give Dan enough time, he’ll find more ways to make his R nineT lighter, faster and better.

Gunn Design | Facebook | Instagram | With thanks to Marc Holstein for the static images

BMW R nineT flat track motorcycle by Gunn Design

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Plug and Play: A scrambler kit for the BMW R nine T

Post author By Wesley Reyneke
Post date October 27, 2018

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
One of the BMW R nineT’s biggest strengths is its modular construction. You can unbolt the rear part of the frame, and unplug sections of the wiring harness without bricking the electronics. It’s good news for pro builders, and even better news for weekend warriors who want to change things up without too much sweat.

The German custom shop Hookie Co. has now exploited this feature with a sharp new scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT. And the bike you see here can be built in an afternoon by anyone with basic spanner skills.

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
Shop boss and lead designer Nico Müller explains how the project came about: “In the last three years, we’ve built a lot of motorcycles. But over this period we lost sight of Hookie’s roots: design, not the service or restoration of old motorcycles.”

“Now we’re re-organizing Hookie, and focusing more on design solutions based on modern motorcycles. This BMW R nineT Moto-Kit is the first step.”

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
Nico first fell for the R nineT when his team built the ‘Falcon.’ So he bought his own: a 2017-model R nineT Scrambler.

“I rode it for three months like it was, and than I started developing my personal favorite custom bike. A mix between tracker and scrambler: a look which is clean and straight, and with the option to quickly change the style.”

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
But this time round, Hookie weren’t interested in building a one-off, so they had to change their process. It wasn’t entirely new ground for the German crew, because they already produce a few bolt-on bits for the Honda CB750. But creating a full kit did have its challenges.

Nico had to create technical drawings and CAD renderings for each part, so that everything could be easily reproduced. And he experimented with new materials too, switching to carbon fiber for the fuel tank cover and seat pan.

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
The challenge was to develop bolt-on parts that wouldn’t require expert skill levels to fit, or any cutting, grinding or welding. So every part in the kit comes ready-painted or powder coated, and attaches to existing mounting points on the R nineT’s frame.

To install it, you’ll need to strip off the stock bike’s fuel tank, seat, full subframe, rear fender and rear light cluster. You’ll also need to ditch the OEM battery, a plastic cover that hides some wiring, and the air box.

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
The rebuild starts with a new full-length subframe that runs all the way up to the fuel tank’s original mounting points in front. Then you’ll need to transfer the fuel pump to a new fuel cell, which attaches to the new subframe via vibration-dampened fasteners.

A carbon fiber tank cover then goes over the fuel cell, held by three quarter-turn fasteners. The idea here, say Hookie, is to give customers a way to change up their R nineT’s color scheme in a heartbeat.

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
The kit ships with a matte black and gloss carbon finished cover, but the ‘Tricolor’ cover on Nico’s bike is available as an optional extra.

The rear half of the BMW is reworked with an electronics tray that doubles as a rear luggage plate. Up top is an Alcantara seat, sitting on a carbon fiber base. And just behind it, Hookie have added a handy little cargo strap from Snake. (In the shot below, it’s looped into a tail pack from Alms NYC.)

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
All the R nineT’s stock wiring and electrical bits are plug and play—but you’ll need to swap the stock battery for an Antigravity Lithium-ion unit, which you’ll need to source yourself. And since there’s no more air box, Hookie include a full set of K&N air filters and breathers.

Some of the finer details are left to the customer—like the rear light and turn signals. Nico’s opted for discreet LED units from Kellermann, and he’s added an LED Bates-style headlight up front. His bike’s customized further with bar-end mirrors and an off-the-shelf Arrow exhaust.

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
He’s also lowered it 30mm, using a lowering kit from Hyperpro—“I’m only 171 cm (5’7″) tall,” he reveals. His Scrambler is also wearing a few from-the-factory upgrades: tubeless spoked wheels, Metzeler Karoo 3 tires, and finned valve covers.

The R nineT Moto-Kit is designed to fit the R nineT Scrambler and Pure models, but Hookie tell us it’ll work on other R nineTs too. And at €6,900 (US$7,900) it’s fine value too.

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
Since everything’s designed to fit together, Hookie are only selling it as a complete package. But they’re planning to add more tank cover liveries and seat options to their catalog in the coming months—plus a café racer-style seat.

It’s one of the coolest BMW R nineT conversions out there, and also one of the raddest DIY kits we’ve ever come across. If we had an R nineT in the garage now, this would be high on the want list.

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.
If you’re tempted, place your order via the Hookie website before the end of November—you can get a handy 10% off the price using the code ‘playhookie’.

Hookie Co. website | Facebook | Instagram

Scrambler kit for the BMW R nineT by Hookie Co.

The BMW R NineT Moto-Kit includes

Subframe (25mm steel tube)
Fuel tank with approx. 11 liters fuel capacity
2 x K&N Air filters SN-2530
1 x K&N Engine breather filter 62-1040
2 x K&N Air filter mesh covers SN-2530PK
Carbon fiber tank cover ‘Stealth’
Electronics tray (aluminum)
Alcantara seat on carbon fiber pan
Snake Cargo Strap with AustriAlpin Cobra quick release buckle
All hardware parts
Manual

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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 30 September, 2018

Post author By Matt Neundorf
Post date September 30, 2018

The best cafe racers, scramblers and bobbers of the week
A wild BMW R nineT from Onehandmade, the CROIG Instagrammers get their mitts on a Street Cup, and the Bultaco Pursang from Easy Riders goes up for auction.

Triumph Street Cup cafe racer by CROIG
Triumph Street Cup by Croig If you are one of the millions of two-wheeled enthusiasts addicted to the ’Gram, you’re probably following @caferacersofinstagram. Run by David Chang and Andy Blashko, the feed has been a hotbed for custom cafes since its inception. But the ‘Motosota’ duo don’t just create content for social media—they get their hands dirty building bikes, too.

The latest creation to roll out of their shop is a fully-faired take on the Triumph Street Cup. Working with Triumph’s American mothership, the duo was limited on time—but was given keys to the accessories castle. A wish list was quickly submitted.

Triumph Street Cup cafe racer by CROIG
New Fox shocks have been fitted, a Vance & Hines high-pipe exhaust was secured, and the tail has been tidied, too. But the prettiest bits here aren’t the factory bolt-ons.

Working with a replica fairing for a CB350, team Croig needed to shave bits here and there to have everything line up just right. (The work around the lower engine looks absolutely spot on.) The brackets holding that fabulous glass in place also had to be fabbed up, but the mounting was kept nice and tight. [More]

BMW R nineT cafe racer by Onehandmade
BMW R nineT by Onehandmade In the custom world, not even a masterpiece is safe from revision. Tastes and trends change, and sometimes a build just needs that extra ten percent to take it from great to godly.

Three years ago, Wes called Onehandmade’s Beemer ‘one of the sharpest we’ve seen.’ It recently got a redux and man, it may now be the best. Period.

The lucky client who bought this bike has an even luckier son, who’d expressed interest in riding the beast. (No kidding?) But that meant revisions, to make it a touch easier to get on with.

BMW R nineT cafe racer by Onehandmade
The clip-ons up front were swapped for a set of bars mounted to a newly bolted up triple clamp, to neutralize ergonomics, and the old twin-pod filters have been binned in favor of a custom made singular intake that doesn’t interfere with knees in the breeze. An all-new exhaust, made of titanium, has also been welded up for a more raucous bark. And the girder look was adopted up front via a set of aluminum fork covers.

Aside from the front end, the biggest (and best) change aesthetically is the move to the M Power paint scheme. I dug the previous raw look, but the new white, blue and red livery classes this thing up incredibly well. [Onehandmade Facebook]

Zoe David’s BSA Thunderbolt We’re all familiar with the addictions of moto-life around here. For most of us, all it took was that first hit: maybe a blast through a farmer’s field or maybe, like Normandy’s Zoe David, breathing life back into a dead machine.

Since resuscitating a 1954 Peugeot 155, the Frenchwoman has gone on to cement her moto-junkie status with this 1969 BSA Thunderbolt. It now sees equal time running around city streets and getting sideways on the flat tracks of Europe.

Part bitsa-restoration and part unencumbered beauty, Zoe built the BSA into the bike she wanted. Which is why it rides on matched 19-inch wheels for the dirt oval, but also has an impeccably lacquered Spitfire tank. Forme et fonction are of equal import. Following that same theme, the original subframe has been replaced by new one modeled on a Trackmaster design.

Zoe also opted to rebuild the Thunderbolt’s original forks, while shaving near three inches off their height. Braking is now handled by a 1967 Triumph drums, and the muffler was once clamped to a Norton P11. Those changes helped her qualify for her first race at Wheels and Waves and notch a win at Dirtquake in UK. [More]

Custom Indian Scout Sixty by Motoshed
Indian Scout Sixty by Motoshed Like us, you’re probably waiting for news of Indian’s productionized FTR 1200, due to be revealed tomorrow. Meanwhile, feast your eyes on this long ‘n’ low custom Scout Sixty from MotoShed of Swansea, Wales.

The concept for ‘Roadrunner’ came from the desire to see what an under-seat exhaust would look like on the Scout. And those two new seat-warmers were by far the most complex part of this project.

Custom Indian Scout Sixty by Motoshed
Most of the wiring spaghetti, plus the battery and ECU, typically reside where the new cannons sit. So everything had to be redone, and re-routed. Peek a few inches south of the new Rizoma foot controls and you’ll see where most of that stuff now hides, highlighted by the blue hue of a Dynojet Power Vision CX performance tuner and data monitor module.

Custom Indian Scout Sixty by Motoshed
For the Scout’s new (and handmade) bodywork, MotoShed tapped CW Engineering. The nacelle, front fender and rear hugger (acting as a heat shield for the pipes) were all rolled from new sheet metal.

Custom Indian Scout Sixty by Motoshed
Suspension has been upgraded and ground clearance has increased too. This gives Roadrunner a lean angle befitting its more aggressive vibe, while still appearing factory fresh. It’s a tasteful build on a capable bike. I only wonder what stops a rider first: blown eardrums or roasted rump? [More]

The Easy Rider 1968 Bultaco Pursang When you think of Peter Fonda and Easy Rider, the bike that undoubtedly occupies your grey matter is Captain America, the iconic chopper crafted by Cliff ‘Soney’ Vaughs. But before Wyatt and Billy hopped on their hogs and headed east, they met at La Contenta Bar in Taos, New Mexico. And Wyatt was riding this 1968 Bultaco Pursang.

This is the very bike that was used during the shoot. When filming wrapped, it was hustled back to its owner, and it stayed there.

The Easy Rider 1968 Bultaco Pursang
Recently the bike was restored and is now offered in ‘film used condition,’ which is fancy speak for saying it’s been refreshed—but not too much. Now it’s headed to auction, along with some other rare celebrity bikes, at this year’s Barber Fest next week.

Expectations are that this 250 MKII will find a new home for around US$60,000 to US$70,000. That’s a hefty sum, for sure—but it pales in comparison to the seven figures that ol’ Cap’n would fetch. And this one won’t shudder at a corner, either. [More]

The Easy Rider 1968 Bultaco Pursang