“BMW Cafe Racer”

[j.v.]

ΦΩΤΙΕΣ ΜΑΣ ΑΝΑΒΕΙΣ ΤΕΤΟΙΑ ΕΠΟΧΗ!ΥΠΕΡΟΧΕΣ ΟΛΕΣ...

[xurxes]

BMW Cafe Racer | 1971 BMW R75 / 5 Cafe Racer "The Challenge"





By Cafe Racer Dreams Motorcycles,
A BMW R75/5 1971, transformed into a charismatic cafe racer with loads of retro charm
BMW R 75/5 - Cafe Racer "The Challenge" SPECS
Base model - BMW R 75/5
Year - 1971
Builder - Cafe Racer Dreams
BMW R 75/5 Engine, Twin cylinder boxer, Displacement 749 cc

[xurxes]

BMW Cafe Racer

[xurxes]

BMW R75/6 by Clutch Custom

In the 12th arrondissement of Paris, home to the Bastille opera house, is a small workshop called Clutch Custom. It’s one of those places where you can buy old components, get a custom part machined up, and occasionally buy a complete motorcycle.

This is the latest bike to roll out of the shop, a mid-70s BMW R75/6. It’s a raw but elegant machine, designed for the rough-and-tumble streets of the French capital, where bikes collect scratches and parking tickets in equal measure.

The modifications on this BMW are extensive, despite the burnished, mechanical look. The frame, swingarm and forks have all been reworked, and the bike has been lowered at the front to improve its stance.

The engine and 32mm Bing carburetors have been rebuilt, and K&N filters and a custom exhaust free up the breathing.

Although the R75/6 is around 40 years old, it’s unfettered by emissions controls: straight-line performance is similar to modern retro roadsters such as the Triumph Bonneville and Moto Guzzi V7, and ample for the twisty streets of the French capital.

The seat is hand-made but the tank is original—and judging by the kneepads, it’s the optional 5.8 gallon (22 liter) item. The wiring is new, hooked up to an LED Bates-style taillight and a Bates headlight. The levers are Tommaselli.

There are more images on the Clutch Custom website, which is in English. Prices are reasonable, we’re told, and the BMW is for sale.

Via 4h10, which has some great shots of the Clutch Custom workshop. Merci à Nico et John.

[xurxes]

Blitz BMW R75/6 ‘GSky’

It was only three years ago that Fred Jourden and Hugo Jezegabel started Blitz Motorcycles. But the Paris-based workshop is now one of the biggest names on the European new wave custom scene, thanks to a string of unconventional ‘old timer’ customs.

This is Blitz’ latest build, christened ‘GSky.’ It’s an offroader based on a 1976 BMW R75/6, a bike that offered 745cc and 50hp in stock form. Which might not sound like much, but at 462 lbs. with a full tank, an R75/6 weighs 90 lbs. less than a current model Harley Sportster 883.

Blitz’ client wanted an ISDT enduro influence, so Fred and Hugo added a neat twist to the Beemer: a vintage Husqvarna 250 tank. After all, until a few weeks ago, BMW Motorrad owned Husqvarna … “So we thought it’d be fun to do something the two brands would never be able to do,” says Jourden. “Combine them in one project.”

The finish of GSky, predominately blue, looks raw at first glance but serious thought has gone into this machine. After a thorough overhaul—including the suspension—the R75/6 frame was shortened and 4-centimeter taller shocks fitted. The frame has also been powdercoated and the bike rewired with updated electrics. A dual ignition coil is now hidden under the custom seat unit.

The Bing carburetors now breathe through pancake-style K&N motocross filters; the upswept exhaust system is custom fabricated, and fitted with grilles for heat protection. (“It works,” says Jourden.) Tires are Pirelli motocross rubber.

The bars and throttle are Tomaselli, and a rebuilt Japanese vintage brake cylinder was fitted, hooked up to new hoses. The head- and taillights are also vintage, and the choke knob is stolen from an old Bang & Olufsen hifi system.

It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. And it looks like a lot of fun to ride.

Head over to the Blitz website to see more of Fred and Hugo’s builds. And follow the news from Paris via the Blitz Facebook page. Images courtesy of Denis Boussard.

[xurxes]

BMW R100/7 by Cafe Racer Dreams

The BMW R-series has joined the Honda CB750 and Triumph Bonneville in the pantheon of custom motorcycle platforms. With a remarkably distinctive-looking engine and a bulky, high-capacity tank, it’s not a conventionally ‘pretty’ bike. But love it or loathe it, the big BMW sure looks the business.

This is the 27th build from the Spanish workshop Cafe Racer Dreams. A 1978 R100/7, it amplifies the strengths of the vintage BMW aesthetic. The back end is completely new, sporting a hand-made leather seat and supported by Harley-Davidson XR1200 shocks rebranded with the BMW logo.

The tank has been stripped back to metal, partially repainted in Marine Blue, and clear-coated. The fenders are custom-fabricated and the frame has been refinished in satin black.

CRD’s signature Renthal Ultra Low bars are fitted with new enduro-style controls, a compact speedometer and classy brown Ariete grips. And in a welcome departure from the ubiquitous Firestone Champion Deluxe tires, the BMW is shod with Pirelli’s highly-rated MT 43 Pro trial bike rubber: A modern DOT-legal tire that works well on the road, as well as on looser surfaces. The MT 43 is only available in 18” and 21” sizes, so the BMW’s front wheel has been dropped down a size to 18”—the same as the rear.

The result is practical and stylish in equal measure: A dash of Latin flair added to Teutonic efficiency.

More, please,

Images by Cesar Serrano of Love For Iron. Head over to the Cafe Racer Dreams Facebook page to keep up with the latest news from Madrid.

[xurxes]

Wrenchmonkees BMW R100RT

Most custom motorcycles live relatively sedate lives, secured in warm garages and released at weekends. But not this one: it’s been built by the Wrenchmonkees to handle the rough roads of the Maghreb. “It started with a request from a Frenchman living in Mauritania,” says Wrenchmonkee Andreas. “Thierry wanted a simple, reliable, easy-to-maintain bike … there are very few
 motorcycle workshops in West Africa.” 
The solution was an old two-valve BMW: they’re robust and reliable, and you can fix most problems yourself if you have simple mechanical skills.

“We found a R100RT here in Denmark. It needed a complete restoration anyway, so it was an obvious choice for the project.” Fortunately, Thierry’s brief for the bike was relatively open: it just had to be a two-seater, 
fairly light,
 and suitable for occasional off-roading. “And, of course, built in our style!” Andreas adds.

The burgundy red fairing was removed and the big R100RT was taken apart. The rear subframe was removed, and a new one welded on. The stock alloy wheels were replaced with wire wheels, 18” both front and back.
 The front fork was also rebuilt, and extra long Bitubo shocks were installed to give 
extra clearance for African dirt roads and sand dunes. The engine and carburetors were overhauled, and a K&N air filter and larger oil cooler were fitted.

The R100RT was then treated to a complete rewire and fitted with a heavy duty Odyssey battery, plus new lights front and back. The standard R100 tank was replaced with one from an older BMW /6 model, “to give the bike 
a slimmer, more old school look.”

New Tarozzi rearsets were mounted, further back in the frame than stock. “This required a few custom made linkages,” says Andreas, “for the brake and gear shift.” All perishable parts were replaced, including hoses, bearings and seals.

The big BMW, fresh from its diet and makeover, is now ready for the worst that West African roads can throw at it. Who said custom motorcycles can’t be practical?

Check out more Wrenchmonkees motorcycles on their website, and keep tabs on their latest builds via the Wrenchmonkees blog.

[xurxes]

BMW R45: ‘The Gonzo’

One of the more original builders working today is David Borras, a Spanish vintage motorcycle racer who runs El Solitario (“the loner”) MC. He’s got an idiosyncratic style, and his disregard for contemporary fashions has won him a lot of attention. This is Borras’ latest bike: it’s unlikely to be as controversial as his Triumph T120, but it’s just as eye-catching. Called ‘The Gonzo’, it’s a heavily customized 1976 R45 that Borras describes as “terribly underpowered, but indestructible”.

It was a fast build: “We were not looking for a posh finish, or complicated technical solutions.” The first premise was to remove anything unnecessary for safe on- and off-roading. The second was to do everything in-house, keeping time and expenses low.

Borras started by rebuilding the cylinder heads, transmission, carbs, ignition, forks and brakes. He completely rewired the bike and fitted new bearings, super-rare Redwing shocks, and steel brake lines. Up front, an Akront 21” wheel is fitted with Michelin rubber. The straight pipes have internal baffles to keep noise under control, and the engine breathes in through velocity stacks from the Spanish classic BMW specialist Max Boxer.

The tank is a stock unit, but it’s been channeled two inches for a slimmer contour, and re-welded with unpainted stainless steel for a raw, brushed look. The subframe has also been narrowed, and shortened too.

The seat is a vintage Bates Desert Sled and the lights are PIAA dual driving lights, sitting in front of Montesa ’bars. The original battery has been swapped out for a lightweight lithium unit.

And the ‘Gonzo’ name? Borras declares himself “a profound admirer of Hunter S. Thompson”, but that’s not where the name comes from. “It’s because the bike resembles the great Gonzo from The Muppets,” says Borras.

A German motorcycle customized by a Spanish builder and named after an American television character? I like it. Head over to the ESMC website for build pictures, custom show reports, videos and more.

[xurxes]

1977 BMW R100/7

Frank McGoldrick is one of those people who seem to have a talent for everything they turn their hand to. An accomplished welder and fabricator, he graduated to designing and building bars, shops and restaurants throughout the UK. After selling his business five years ago, Frank moved to the French Alps and was finally able to return to his childhood passion—motorcycles. Finally getting some time on his hands, he decided to build his own motorcycle, “with a style and individuality that most major manufacturers seem to neglect,” he says.

After scouring eBay Frank found a 1977 BMW R 100/7 in the UK. It was low mileage, but had been stored outside on a busy London street with no cover. “It was a rusty dirt ball of a bike,” he says. “But with a new battery and a quick service it seemed to run ok. It was simply a case of getting it back to France, an 800-mile journey.” Two days later the BMW was in Frank’s mountain workshop. As the first snow of the winter settled outside, he readied his grinder for some serious work.

He wanted to build a light, functional, everyday motorcycle that “worked”. And also to create a blueprint for his MAKE brand—a stylish object with an ethos that could be transferred to furniture, clothing, art, interiors and cycles. The first job was to strip down every nut and bolt, remove the engine and wiring, and return the BMW to its component parts. Frank cut the sub frame from the main frame, de-tagging and de-lugging as he went along, and reworking the rear suspension geometry for more aggressive handling. The finished frame was was bead blasted, powdercoated and painted.

Meanwhile in the workshop a new competition clutch was fitted, heads were polished and ported, and the carbs were overhauled and rejetted. The casings and wheels were meticulously polished by hand. Frank rewired the bike and fitted a small red starter switch and single speedo into the headlight assembly. A solo leather seat was fabricated, and the exhaust system was shortened, with race mufflers fitted. A custom battery box and lightweight gel battery were installed, along with new levers, throttle, and stainless steel brake and fuel lines. The original bike had a dry weight of 210kg but the MAKE BMW weighs in at 178kg. Frank estimates a 10 bhp increase of over stock, boosting performance still further.

Sketches are underway for a new project and there are two possible options at the moment: a 1970 Triumph T120/650R or an early 70s Harley. It’ll be interesting to see what Frank makes of those.

[xurxes]

BMW R100 RS custom

One of the most interesting new European custom builders is Karles Vives of Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles. He’s based in Barcelona, Spain, and is entirely self-taught. He’s also got an excellent eye for aesthetics.

This is the second BMW R100-based build from Fuel. (Here’s the first.) And this time, Vives has taken elements of flat track bikes as his inspiration: “Light, thin and powerful motorcycles with wide handlebars and big air filters,” he says.

He’s changed the entire back end of the bike, and worked with VonZeti to create a new seat and tail unit—shortening the subframe to fit. The tank was replaced by one from a BMW R90/6, which is narrower than the R100 RS original. “That gave the bike the look I wanted,” says Vives. “I also modified the slope of the seat and tank unit to get a more aggressive line to the bike.” The bars are from Tommaselli and the original headlight has been replaced with a smaller one, to give the bike a more balanced look.

K&N air filters sit upstream of the engine, while the exhaust pipes are handmade. Vives has taken the original BMW exhaust and shortened it, terminating the system with upswept reverse cone mufflers. The suspension has been overhauled all round.

Dunlop K70 Vintage tires and perforated sideplates add to the retro look. The electrics have been condensed inside the battery box, using the space freed up from installing a small gel battery.

The bike is now for sale: if you’re interested, contact Vives via the Fuel website.