Category: Spain

‘Svelte’ is not a word that sits comfortably in the BMW design language. These days, the machines that roll out of BMW Motorradwerk in Berlin are best described as imposing—or in the case of the sportbikes, angular.

It wasn’t always that way, though. The R65 of the early 1980s had a compact frame, and it’s that slender underpinning that defines this elegant new custom from Spain.

It’s the work of Karles Vives of Barcelona-based Fuel Motorcycles. He’s the man responsible for Scram Africa, an epic ride across the North African desert, and best known for his neo-retro trail bikes and scramblers (like this R100 RT).

This BMW R65 is a spectacular departure from the usual Fuel style. The client—a young guy who also lives and works in Barcelona—was happy to give Karles and his team carte blanche on the project.

“From the beginning we had a very clear idea,” says Karles. “To create a bike that would have a racing feel, but could still be ridden every day by a gentleman in a suit and tie.”

The donor bike—a 1986-model R65 Monolever—was in good nick, negating the need for any engine work. Fuel merely removed the airbox and fitted a pair of velocity stacks. With the airbox gone, the choke had to be relocated: it now sits on top of the right carb.

New headers were then made up to re-route the mufflers to the same side. Karl says the twin reverse cone mufflers not only have a racing look to them, but make the right noise as well. A small Odyssey battery has been installed too, and the wiring edited.

The front forks were upgraded with progressive springs, while the rear shock was swapped out for a burlier unit from Ikon. The tires are Heidenau K65s—chosen for their vintage look and on-road performance. Braking improvements include a new master cylinder and hoses.

For the bodywork, Fuel sourced and fitted a Laverda 750 SFC fuel tank. A petite tail unit and subframe were custom-made to complement it. The new perch was been covered in leather, with a vintage race-bike stitching pattern.

The unusual nose fairing up front is actually made from a Biltwell Inc. bubble visor. It’s mounted to a hand-made bracket that also houses the stock BMW tacho; the speedo has been discarded, to drive home the racing theme. Just underneath the tacho is a Motogadget push button that acts as the starter, and the ignition has been relocated to under the seat.

Behind the bubble-fairing is a small but powerful headlight. The rear light is tucked away under the tail unit, along with a discreet license plate bracket, and tiny LED turn signals are mounted at both ends.

Matching the R65’s stretched-out ergonomics are rear sets and modified Ace-style bars. Fuel also made up a small front fender and an inner rear fender.

That beautiful grey paint? It’s the same shade as the famous Gone in 60 Seconds Mustang, Eleanor. Everything else has been cleaned up or coated black.

Fuel Motorcycles’ R65 has a lithe, graceful look that’s seldom seen on BMWs—but works beautifully. It might not be their usual bag, but it’s on par with the quality we’ve come to expect from them.

Perhaps it’s time for Karles to start planning vintage track days in between those Scram trips.

Fuel Motorcycles website | Facebook | Instagram

Café Racer Dreams don’t exclusively build BMWs, but you could call them specialists. With several elegant examples under their belts—including these two stunning R100s—they’ve learnt a thing or two about turning wrenches on Bavaria’s finest.

Most of CRD’s classic BMWs share similar technical upgrades and under-the-hood mods. Yet each new ‘airhead’ that rolls out of the Madrid-based workshop is unique—and still manages to capture our attention.

That’s because proprietors Pedro García and Efraon Triana have something that can’t be taught: impeccable taste, with an eye for lines, proportions and details.

CRD #59—a 1983 R80ST—is one such bike. It’s the first time that CRD have given a BMW a more traditional café treatment, and they’ve done a stellar job.

Pedro explains that “classic” and “very low” were keywords when #59 was conceived. Essentially a road-going R80G/S, the stock R80ST benefits from a classy single-sided swingarm and monoshock setup—but it’s anything but low. CRD sorted out the stance by slamming the forks and kicking up the rear with a longer shock. The front brake was upgraded with a Galfer disc and a braided hose.

As with all of their BMWs, CRD un-bolted the stock subframe, removed its mounting tabs and welded on a shorter and slimmer unit. In the process they removed the unsightly “ears” that usually hold the muffler and passenger pegs. New passenger peg supports were added, and equipped with a set of Tarozzi pegs.

A R75/5 ‘toaster’ tank was sourced and fitted. Out of love for the original toaster design, CRD opted not to repaint it—installing it with a little patina intact. They then created a café-style seat to complete the lines. The bike’s finished off at either end with custom steel fenders. They’ve been polished to match the tank’s side panels.

And yes, those tires are Firestone Deluxe Champions. Pedro explains the choice: “This is a bike for enjoying, not for racing—and the Firestones look better than anything else.”

The R80 engine was still mechanically sound, so CRD merely swapped its covers out for more vintage looking ‘peanut’ items. The airbox was removed, and the battery relocated to its space—housed in a hand-made leather box.

CRD built the R80’s peculiar exhaust in-house. It’s designed to leave the left side of the bike clear, to help show off the bike’s single-sided swingarm. We dig it, and would love to hear it.

Another habit that CRD have formed is rewiring each of their BMWs with a full complement of Motogadget bits. At the heart of the new electrical system is the Motogadget m-Unit: a pricey yet effective digital control unit.

Other bits include m-Switches at the handlebars (with the wires running inside the bars), and a Motoscope Tiny speedo mounted in the headlight.

For an ultra-low front end, CRD inverted a set of Renthal bars. The grips are from Biltwell Inc., and the headlight, taillight and turn signals are all available from CRD’s own online store.

CRD #59’s finishes are delightfully subtle: everything’s either been powder coated black, cleaned up and left raw, or polished.

We’ll chalk it up as another win for Café Racer Dreams—and another classic BMW that we want for ourselves.

Photos by Enrique Pacheco | Cafe Racer Dreams website | Facebook | Instagram

See also: Top Five BMW R-Series Customs Part One | Part Two

Ever since he established Kiddo Motors in 2010, Sergio Armet has held our attention with a steady stream of keen-looking builds. Customers have noticed too—so Sergio’s had to grow his team.

Last year, 24-year-old Christoffer Mårtensson—a product designer from Malmö, Sweden—hopped over to Barcelona to join the workshop. He’s now cut his teeth on this stripped down BMW R100 RS.

The BMW’s owner was after something “in a classic café style”—with a budget geared towards reliability rather than outright performance. “The idea was to keep the patina,” says Sergio, “but with a clean and minimalistic look.”

Sergio immediately set Christoffer to work on the frame. Rather than rebuilding just the rear, the team decided to redesign the entire frame from front to back. “We wanted a straight line from the engine through to the subframe,” says Sergio, “and wanted to eliminate the BMW’s characteristic engine incline.”

Once the frame was done, Kiddo modified the drive shaft to work with the revised geometry and reinforced the top yoke. They then added a hand-made leather seat and front fender to complete the bodywork.

To make sure the BMW runs for years to come, the engine was completely overhauled. Sergio also decided to bring the electrical system up to date: he’s installed a 14V alternator, a 14V voltage controller, power coils and a new CDI.

All of that’s hooked up to a brand new, simpler wiring harness, running off a Motogadget m-Unit and a Lithium-ion battery. (The battery’s mounted behind the gearbox in a custom-made casing.) Motogadget also supplied the Motoscope Tiny speedo (sunk into the headlight) and handlebar switches, and Kiddo have installed a keyless m-Lock system too.

The rearsets are from Tarozzi—fixed to a set of one-off brackets—and there are mounting points for passenger pegs. Up front are a pair of Tommaselli clip-ons. The headlight is from Kymco and the taillight is a LED Bates-style unit.

Other neat little touches include a Monza gas cap, Goodridge brake lines and blacked-out Norton style silencers. Avon Roadrider tires round off the package.

We can’t tear our eyes away from the BMW’s tank though—finished in bare metal with a dash of turquoise.

Note how the color of the fuel lines matches the tank—it’s just one of many thoughtful details that make this build simply magnifico.

Kiddo Motors website | Facebook | Instagram | Photos by Roger Casas | See more Kiddo builds in the Archives

Custom motorcycles often get accused of looking good, but not riding worth a damn. So it’s great when a builder devotes as much attention to a bike’s performance as its looks.

Take this BMW R 100 from Madrid-based Café Racer Dreams. It has the subtlety and elegance we’ve come to expect from Pedro García and Efraon Triana—plus a big dose of upgrades.

It’s easy to get caught up in details like the deliberately rusty fuel tank—and miss the BMW’s significantly improved suspension. Up front, CRD’s grafted on the forks and brakes from a Yamaha R1. And the rear’s equally well sprung, thanks to a new set of Öhlins shocks.

The engine’s been rebuilt, and now breathes through a pair of Italian-made Dell’Orto carbs. A further boost in performance (and sound) is provided by dual SuperTrapp silencers.

Anyone who’s ever owned (or worked on) an old Airhead knows that the stock electrical system is a mess. So CRD have ripped everything out and rewired it around a Motogadget m-Unit.

The speedo and handlebar controls are Motogadget parts too, and there’s a Harley-Davidson Sportster battery hiding under the swingarm.

The R 100 should also weigh a little less now. While CRD retained the BMW’s bulky fuel tank, they binned the subframe and welded on a smaller, custom-designed one. Sitting on top of it is a svelte new two-up seat.

All the lighting’s been replaced with items from CRD’s own online store, along with a new set of grips and Renthal handlebars. Check out the grill installed over the headlight, and the small auxiliary light mounted on the right crash-bar.

Some might question the use of Firestone Deluxe Champion rubber on a build with so many performance upgrades. But they should provide ample grip for the bike’s intended use. (And at least they’ll be slinging road muck into a set of custom-made fenders.)

As finishes go, the R 100 is delightfully industrial. Using “water and the Madrid sun,” CRD rusted the fuel tank and then applied an anti-rust coating inside—and a clear lacquer outside. The engine’s been blasted clean, the frame powder-coated grey and the wheels finished in black.

It’s a satisfying fusion of good design and technical expertise, as you’d expect from a workshop on its 54th build.

Aspiring bike builders: take note.

Photos by Enrique Pacheco | Cafe Racer Dreams website | Facebook | Instagram