He stood back and admired the bike, pretending for a moment that it hadn’t nearly bucked itself off a truck weeks earlier. Moving motorcycles always carried a bit of drama, but this one had to survive not just the freeway, but the streets of London. That meant real keys, clever tricks, and a lot of thought about how to keep it from vanishing overnight.
What looked simple on the surface had eaten up six weeks of late nights, mismatched parts, and a few close calls with pipes that didn’t fit. Every detail, from the headlight to the exhaust, had been reworked until it felt right. The result wasn’t just a machine—it was a mix of old-school charm, modern upgrades, and a stubborn refusal to let thieves have the last laugh.
Key Takeaways
- Transporting bikes can be risky without the right setup
- Custom builds demand patience and problem-solving
- Security upgrades matter when parking on busy streets
The Skill of Moving Motorcycles
Tying It Down Without Losing Your Cool
He had strapped down plenty of bikes, but the nerves never went away. One wrong move and the front end could pop up like a wild horse on the freeway. He once learned the hard way in a rented pickup, watching the bike bounce before slamming back down. A quick lesson: paying attention to straps saves both the bike and the car behind you.
Quick checklist he swears by:
- Tighten straps evenly on both sides
- Check the front end twice
- Pull over after a few miles to re-check tension
Why Hiring Experts Saves You Trouble
After that freeway scare, he realized it’s often cheaper to call in a pro. A loose strap can cost more than just repairs—it can cause an accident. Professionals bring the right gear, the right truck, and the calm mindset to handle the stress.
Think about it:
| DIY Attempt | Professional Service |
|---|---|
| Risk of bike tipping | Proper equipment used |
| Stress on the driver | Peace of mind |
| Possible damage costs | Safe delivery |
Meet Vincent: LA’s Bike Whisperer
In Los Angeles, everyone seemed to know Vincent, the man trusted to move motorcycles without a scratch. He wasn’t just another tow guy—he treated each bike like it was worth a fortune. Riders called him the only one in the city they’d hand their keys to without worry.
Vincent’s reputation came from his “white glove” approach, where details mattered and shortcuts didn’t exist. If you were in LA and didn’t want to roll the dice with your ride, Vincent was the man you called.
Security And Keys: Outsmarting London’s Sneakiest Thieves
BMW’s Flimsy Factory Locks
He laughed at how BMW thought a round pin was enough to keep a bike safe. Every old model used the same peg, which meant one “key” could unlock them all. It was less security and more like a community bike-share program no one signed up for.
Problem in short:
- Same pin design across bikes
- Easy to swap between motorcycles
- Thieves love it, owners don’t
Swapping In A Proper Ignition
Instead of trusting that sad excuse for a lock, he fit a real ignition barrel into the headlight bucket. The new key looked original but actually worked like a modern lock. Now, instead of pressing a pin, the rider had to turn a proper key to fire it up.
Benefits of the upgrade:
- Looks stock but works better
- Actual key turning instead of pushing a peg
- Slows down thieves, at least for a little while
Extra Locks For The Overly Cautious
Because the bike would live on London’s streets, he didn’t stop at just one upgrade. A gadget from Roadblock added another layer of hassle for anyone trying to roll it away. It required pulling a plug with a key, a step that made stealing the bike more like solving a puzzle.
Layers of defense:
- Real ignition key
- Roadblock device with removable plug
- Thieves forced to waste time they don’t have
Even he admitted—this wasn’t about making the bike theft-proof. It was about making London’s finest thieves sigh, curse, and hopefully walk away.
Stripping Down for Style: The No-Plastic Shift
See-Through Charm
He ditched every scrap of plastic so the bike now shows its guts with pride. Wires, bolts, and metal sit in plain view, and that raw look gives the machine its character. The clean finish makes it feel more honest—nothing hiding, nothing fake.
Quick notes on the setup:
- No plastic covers → full mechanical visibility
- Custom headlight bucket → ignition barrel with a real key
- UK-spec headlight → built for left-side traffic
Handlebar Tricks
The handlebars became a game of precision. Everything got tucked in and integrated, leaving no switches or clutter hanging around. It’s a nod to the stripped-down chopper vibe but dressed in a sharper, more refined suit.
Handlebar highlights:
- Integrated controls → no loose add-ons
- Simplified design → sleek and minimal
- Inspired by 90s Harley outlaw builds
From Rebel Chopper to Polished Ride
What started with a Harley-style edge ended up looking like a gentleman’s bike. The stance is bold, but the details show restraint. Six weeks of work turned into something that feels both rebellious and respectable.
| Build Time | Usual Time | Engine Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks | 6 months | Pre-built Krauser block ready to go |
The result mixes outlaw energy with classic refinement—like a chopper that finally learned to wear a tailored jacket.
Assembling The Monster: A Six-Week Scramble
Motor Ready To Go: The Big Time Saver
He didn’t start from scratch on this one—he already had a fully built engine sitting on the shelf. That shortcut saved months of work. Instead of six months of wrenching, he cranked the whole bike out in just six weeks.
- Pre-built engine = no waiting on machining
- Already upgraded = instant performance boost
- Saved time = more focus on custom details
Having the motor ready meant fewer headaches and way more time to fuss over the fun stuff, like polishing chrome until it blinded anyone who looked too close.
One-Off Builds Deserve One-Off Powerplants
This wasn’t just any engine—it was a Krauser four-valve head setup from the 1980s. Normally, BMW airheads run two valves per cylinder. Krauser doubled that, giving the motor more air in, more air out, and more speed.
But special parts bring special problems:
| Part | Normal Size | Krauser Size | Problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhaust port | 38 mm | 40 mm | Headers didn’t fit |
| Mufflers | 38 mm bore | Needed 40 mm | Had to custom order |
He thought it would be a one-day fix. It turned into a week of trial, error, and one ruined set of pipes. In the end, new 40 mm reverse cone mufflers fit perfectly and sounded even better.
Cars With Wings And Other Pricey Dreams
Shipping the bike overseas meant some wild conversations. Someone joked about flying in a car for the show—until the price tag came up. Thirty grand just to put a car on a plane. That idea died fast.
Instead, the bike got the VIP treatment with a trusted mover who handled it like fine art. No shortcuts, no risks, just white-glove service. Because when you’ve got six weeks of sweat in a machine, you don’t cheap out on the ride across the ocean.
Custom Headlights And Gauges: Seeing And Measuring In Style
Slash 5 Bucket Upgrade
They took a classic Slash 5 headlight bucket and gutted the inside. Out went the old switchboard, and in went something far more useful. The clean setup worked perfectly with the rest of the bike, keeping that vintage look but without the clunky plastic bits.
Key changes:
- Removed stock switchboard
- Kept the original bucket shape
- Integrated new parts for a cleaner finish
Real Key, Real Security
Instead of the usual pin system that every old BMW seems to share, they fitted a proper ignition barrel. Now the bike doesn’t just look like it has a key—it actually does. Parking it on London streets suddenly feels a little less like an invitation to thieves.
How it works:
- Insert the key into the barrel
- Turn left or right to power the bike
- Adds real theft resistance compared to the stock setup
UK-Friendly H4 Headlight
Since the bike’s headed to England, the headlight needed to play by British rules. A UK-spec H4 lens aims the beam the right way for driving on the left side of the road. It’s a small detail, but without it, the rider would be lighting up hedges instead of asphalt.
Headlight setup:
| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Bulb type | H4 |
| Beam direction | Right-hand drive |
| Road use | UK legal |
Modern Electric Speedometer
The original Slash 5 combo gauge used a mechanical tach, but the 1980s engine block had no tach drive. The solution? Convert it to electric. Now the tach reads signals from the coil, giving modern accuracy while keeping the old-school face.
Why it works better:
- No need for mechanical gear or cable
- Cleaner setup with fewer moving parts
- Still looks period-correct while working with the newer engine
Krauser Four Valve Heads: More Valves, More Bragging Rights
More Airflow, More Go
He explained that BMW’s old airhead engines came with just two valves per cylinder—one for air in, one for air out. Krauser decided that was too basic and doubled the fun with four valves per cylinder. Two intakes plus two exhausts meant the engine could breathe better, which translated into more speed. In his words, the engine is just an air pump, and now it pumps harder.
Quick comparison:
| Setup | Intake Valves | Exhaust Valves | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock BMW Airhead | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Krauser Upgrade | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Engine Mix-Ups and Surprises
He already had a Krauser motor sitting on the shelf, originally built for himself, but the special project demanded it. Having it ready to go saved months of work, but it still threw him a curve. The larger exhaust ports weren’t what he expected, and suddenly his shiny new parts didn’t fit. What was supposed to be a quick job turned into a week-long puzzle.
Tackling the 40mm Exhaust Puzzle
Normal U.S. bikes run 38mm exhaust ports, but these Krauser heads wanted 40mm. That tiny difference made a big headache. The headers he bought were useless, so he sourced chrome 40mm ones from Europe. Then came the mufflers—his usual 38mm reverse cones wouldn’t work.
After one failed attempt at stretching pipes, he called in help and had proper 40mm mufflers made. The result? A polished setup that not only fit perfectly but also looked sharp once the chrome started turning that golden shade riders love.
Problem → Fix → Result
- 38mm headers didn’t fit → ordered 40mm chrome headers
- Mufflers too small → custom 40mm reverse cones built
- Chrome finish too bright → polished to match, now aging beautifully
Exhaust Circus: Shiny Pipes, Golden Hues, And Cone Troubles
Chasing the Perfect Headers
He thought the headers he had would fit—turns out they didn’t. The new heads had a 40mm exhaust port, while his old pipes were only 38mm. Too small. After a short panic, he tracked down some chrome 40mm headers from EuroMotoElectrics. Problem solved, but now the rest of the system had to match.
Polished Mufflers and Cone Confusion
The headers looked sharp, but the usual mufflers didn’t fit either. The bore size mismatch meant a custom solution. He called Rich at Cone Engineering, who first tried to stretch the smaller mufflers to fit. That experiment ruined a set of pipes. Luckily, new 40mm reverse cone mufflers were built, polished to a mirror finish, and finally bolted on.
Quick breakdown:
- Stock mufflers: 38mm → useless here
- Custom mufflers: 40mm → perfect fit
- Finish: high polish to match chrome
When Chrome Turns to Gold
Normally, he avoids chrome headers. But this time the chrome started to heat-tint into a golden tone, almost like stainless. Instead of fighting it, he embraced it. The pipes now shift color naturally, giving the bike a mix of shine and warmth that looks like it was planned all along.
Color change chart:
| Material | Fresh Look | Heat-Treated Look |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Bright silver | Golden tint |
| Stainless | Matte silver | Blue-gold mix |
It wasn’t just exhaust—it was a whole drama of mismatched parts, ruined pipes, and unexpected color upgrades. And somehow, it all worked out.
Suspension And Wheels: Where Grip Meets Style
Öhlins Forks That Flip The Script
He went with Öhlins upside-down forks, and they’re not just there for show. The geometry comes straight off an R9T, so the triples and hub line up like they were born for it. To keep the vintage BMW vibe alive, he had custom /5-style headlight brackets made to wrap around those beefy 52mm tubes. It’s a mix of old-school charm and modern suspension muscle.
Machined Hubs With 17-Inch Sun Rims
The wheels got the full custom treatment. A billet aluminum hub laced with stainless spokes holds a 17-inch Sun rim, and that size change makes a real difference. Smaller rims mean quicker handling and sharper acceleration. It’s like trading in loafers for running shoes—same legs, way more speed.
| Part | Material | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Hub | Billet aluminum | Strong and lightweight |
| Spokes | Stainless steel | Durable and rust-resistant |
| Rim | 17-inch Sun | Better handling and acceleration |
Avon Tires: Oversized And Unapologetic
On the back, he went bold with a massive Avon tire. The combo of a smaller rim and a big tire gives the bike a chunky stance without messing up the ride height. Avon didn’t just supply rubber; they backed the build because he was already a fan. The result? A rear wheel that looks like it’s been hitting the gym while still hugging the road with confidence.
- Look: Fat and aggressive
- Function: Stable grip with better road feel
- Bonus: Works perfectly with the custom hugger fender
Brakes And Anti-Theft Gadgets: Stopping Power And Peace Of Mind
Brembo GP4 Stoppers: The Fancy Watch Of Brakes
He swears by the Brembo GP4 calipers, calling them the best after trying plenty of others. They’re chunky, polished, and sit on the bike like a pair of jewelry pieces that just happen to stop a machine at high speed.
- Material: Billet aluminum
- Look: High-end shine, almost too pretty to get dirty
- Performance: Strong bite, smooth feel, and consistent power
He jokes that they’re like the Rolex of brakes—expensive, classy, and guaranteed to make you stare at them longer than you should.
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Oversized design | More stopping force |
| Billet build | Strong and lightweight |
| Premium finish | Matches the polished exhaust and chrome |
Roadblock Locking Gear For London Streets
Because the bike’s heading to London, theft prevention got serious. He fitted a Roadblock device that works like a removable plug. Stick the key in, pull the piece out, and the bike isn’t going anywhere.
It’s not about making it impossible to steal—just about slowing down the unlucky thief who thought today was his day. In a city where bikes vanish faster than free pints at a pub, even a few extra minutes of hassle can make the difference.
Anti-theft setup includes:
- A real ignition key (not the generic peg older BMWs used)
- Roadblock plug system
- Extra wiring hidden in plain sight to confuse would-be thieves
He knows it won’t stop every crook, but at least it gives the owner a fighting chance while the bike sits on the street.
