BMW’s K100 Sports Tourer is a motorcycle that few people would consider when planning a custom build. Despite it’s 1000cc,...
BMW
The German company BMW Motorrad built its first motorcycle, the R32, in 1923. Powered by a 494cc flat-twin boxer the R32’s horizontally opposed engine configuration became an iconic feature of BMW motorcycles throughout their history. In later years they also developed the flat-four engine used in models like the K100. This engine was coined the ‘flying brick’ due to its bulky appearance. Despite its unfortunate nickname the flat-four still the level of performance that earned BMW their well-respected reputation.
Older BMW “airhead” boxer twins and R series models are popular choices for BMW cafe racer projects. With some models featuring bolt-on subframes and others sporting aluminum fuel tanks, choosing a BMW as the donor for your project has its benefits. In more recent years BMW has embraced the custom scene by creating the R Nine T. The BMW R9T was designed and built specifically with customization in mind.
In our archives, you’ll find countless BMW cafe racer features that are a great source of inspiration and tips for anyone hoping to build their own.
Hugo Eccles and the Untitled Motorcycles team are capable of building pretty much whatever they can dream up. Their custom...
“A Scottish businessman reached out to us after seeing our bikes. He asked us to customise his own brand new...
Early this year Hammer received an invitation to work on the project direct from BMW Motorrad and gladly took up...
Europe’s largest Cafe Racer event, the Glemseck 101, just took place in Stuttgart, Germany. Now in its 5th year, the...
The Interceptor may be an unexpected development from Radical Ducati, but it certainly isn’t a disappointment. They’ve created a high...
When a builder chooses to convert a tourer into a cafe racer it’s always a bit of a surprise to...
The quality of the home built Cafe Racers being submitted by our readers continues to astound us. This exceptional bike...
Everyone has their favorite things in life but only a few of us get to enjoy a career working with them....
BMW Motorrad has just lifted the covers off their upcoming 2021 R nineT range. This is of course great news...
Here’s a little something to get you through another night glued to the couch. Our latest instalment of the Sunday...
Tank Machine was established by Clement Molina back in 2015 following his 18 years of experience working in the motorcycle...
BMW’s stalwart R100 was offered in various guises from 1976 to 1996. The 980cc boxer twins made adequate power, had...
It all began when Hieronymus spotted an MC club member’s BMW boxer parked on a sidewalk in Paris. Sitting in...
I’ve seen enough BMW cafe racer builds to last a lifetime. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to see any...
Twin Shock Division (TSD) Motorcycles is a tiny shop located in the Ukranian capital of Kiev. Headed by the talented...
This happens when one of the world’s most creative custom workshops decides that they need to customise their shop bike....
Growing up in India the Sinroja brothers, Rahul and Birju, developed an out of the ordinary love for motorcycles. In...
Experiences from our youth can have a profound effect on what we do later in life. For Jean-Pierre, it was...
Tucked away in the southeastern forests of Bavaria is the small town of Viechtach. If you look it up on...
If you’re considering attempting to turn any kind of tourer into a cafe racer you’re going to have your work...
The compact, muscular R1200R with it’s classic, flat twin engine and naked design was the perfect starting point, but it...
Back in 2012 four like-minded friends decided enough was enough. Driven by their desire to build and ride custom bikes...
Nitro Cycles are a relatively new workshop to the Spanish custom scene and this BMW K100 RS Cafe Racer represents...
I recently became acquainted with Maximiliaan van Kuyk of Maverick motorcycles. Max and his brothers stumbled into the Cafe Racer...
You may remember the somewhat controversial Buell Norton Manx I featured a couple of months ago? Well it’s back and it’s...
Years later I managed to scrape together enough to buy my first road bike, get my license sorted and I...
Shiroh Nakajima is the custom motorcycle engineer and CEO behind Japanese workshop Ritmo Sereno. In this short film Shiroh explains...
Could a motorcycle be any more beautiful? This is a fully restored 1934 BMW R7 and it’s the only one...
More and more motorcycle workshops are utilising advanced manufacturing technologies to realise their custom creations. 10 years ago three-dimensional computer-aided...
The majority of the weight dropped from the Saline R9T can be attributed to the use of aluminium. Saline’s new tail,...
Of all the boxers the BMW R75/5 models with the “toaster” tank are a firm favourite. They are less angular...
Is there such a thing as a factory built cafe racer? If you ask a purist they’ll tell you no...
The custom motorcycle world has been full of collaborations in the past few years. Manufacturers have recognised the influence custom...
The bike started out as a fully faired stock ’95 BMW R100 that Junior agreed to customise for his newly...
Back in 2013 BMW Motorrad celebrated the 40th anniversary of the legendary BMW R 90 S with the unveiling of...
After months of hard work and seemingly endless nights of writing, issue 2 of Tank Moto is now available! Just...
Stumbled across this 1961 BMW R69s Cafe Racer named “The Bull” today. It’s a strange combination of parts but it...
Admittedly, Pepo has form. Between 2001 and 2013 Pepo helmed Radical Ducati, a Spanish outfit that earned a reputation as...
This lovely BMW R 100 named the “Earl Grey” is currently up for sale through Urban Moto in Germany for...
Adrián Campos and the team at Valencia’s Bolt Motor Co. are set to finish their 50th build sometime during 2021....
As BMW Motorrad put it, the R9T Racer is “Style in the fast lane.” It’s a fitting statement for this...
“The Diva project was inspired by BMW motorcycles of twenties, taking their class and elegance and blending it with modern...
Nostalgia can be a powerful motivator. For Joe Loss of Fremantle, Western Australia it started in his teenage years when...
Why let a little Snow stop you from getting out on your motorcycle? Here’s Blitz motorcycles solution to your winter blues....
It’s been less than 6 months since we featured the Le Bouterollier BMW R60/7 and Jean-Pierre is back with yet...
It’s the start of yet another working week. What better way to get through the day than by drooling over...
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when building your own Cafe Racer, or any style of custom motorcycle for...
Looking back over the last 11 years of running this website the thing I’ve enjoyed the most is seeing workshops...
Last week we featured a very tidy BMW K1100 LT cafe racer by Anthony LoGalbo of New York based workshop...
40 years later the bike is still running (see video below) and still features the original racing seal of the Italian...
When he’s not fabricating parts for submarines (Yes, you read that right) David Manchester is building bespoke furniture or helping...
When someone describes a bike as a clean build you usually expect it to be something pretty special and I...
“All men’s misfortunes spring from their hatred of being alone“ The sad individual responsible for that quote obviously never had...
Melbourne is arguably the creative hub of Australia. If you’re looking for great food or a cultural experience the city...
As the lines blur between the different styles of custom bike building and builders become more adventurous, it’s getting much...
The Katze is finally out of the Tasche. BMW Motorrad has unveiled its highly anticipated R18 concept. As we all...
It’s been a couple of years since I first featured one of Kevin Hills custom builds. Since then under his...
For more than a decade I’ve stayed true to this websites cafe racer theme. I can assure you this was...
Kyohey Sugimoto, owner of Berrybads Motorcycles works out of a modest space in Ōtsu, the capital of Japan’s Shiga Prefecture....
I can confidently say this is the first time I’ve featured a custom motorcycle that was influenced by Keira Knightley. Jeremy at...
Jeffry Sol’s BMW R nineT has been somewhat of a social media sensation since it was unveiled at the Big...
This isn’t the first time we’ve featured a BMW cafe racer that’s been put together by a BMW car enthusiast....
If you’re customising motorcycles in Bavaria it seems only right said motorcycles should be those built by BMW Motorrad. Ralf...
As 2014 comes to an end I thought I’d take a (close up) look at some of the incredible work...
The Eleven by Kevil’s Speed Shop in the UK. One of the latest BMW Cafe Racers to roll out of...
David explains that “Manuel is really good at rebuilding and customising frames and seats. Kurt is a genius with the...
Out of all the bike reviews I’ve done, handing the keys back for the BMW R Nine T has been...
The Johnnie Wash R Nine T series features 3 different models of which the Brown is the most extensively modified....
Don’t get me wrong, the BMW thumper is a great utilitarian machine. The reliability of the simple 650cc Rotax engine...
Last year I had the pleasure of attending the Mooneyes show in Japan. The builder that took out best of show...
“I thought to myself, if I can fix and maintain a 40 million dollar yacht, then I can build a...
From building show cars to display at the hallowed halls of the Las Vegas Sema show to tinkering on Honda...
Two motorcycle obsessed friends building bikes for a living. It sounds like the perfect life to be living. This is...
After a 70mph spill this BMW Boxer was in no state to be ridden. The bikes wheels, forks and engine...
Building custom motorcycles is all about solving problems. This could be working around a modern electrical system, extracting additional horsepower...
Sometimes techniques for overcoming adversity are found in unexpected places. Scott Campbell found the solution to his battling his demons...
The BMW, which belongs to a friend of Weston, was originally introduced into the family by his ‘Uncle Lou’ and...
This drastically customised BMW R80 is the brainchild of Oaky and JJ from Griffin Spares in Sydney. “Sometimes the best...
There are few motorcycle engines as iconic as BMW Motorrad’s flat twin ‘Boxer’. Renowned for their bulletproof reliability the Boxer...
Some people profess to being obsessed by a brand because they own 2 or 3 things said brand has made....
The 2012 Bonneville Speed Week is wrapping up for another year. Thankfully it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot...
Hot on the heels of my recent post about Les Ateliers Ruby’s leather jackets UK based, custom workshop Kevil’s Speed Shop,...
The cafe racer in BMW’s R nineT heritage series won hearts with its sleek styling. However, motorcycle journalists brought a...
I’ve never had the urge to eat a motorcycle before but this latest build from Jerikan looks delicious. For some...
“This project kicked off with a stock 1982 BMW R45 that had laid dormant in our client’s garage for almost...
The fine vólk at BMW Motorrad have a motorcycle for every occasion – just meander into a dealership and look...
Unless you’re buying a Harley-Davidson most dealerships don’t offer much in the way of customisation at the time of sale....
When it comes to customising older BMW motorcycles the R series airheads are the most popular weapon of choice. Fuss-free...
Christian Boosen runs 86 Gear Motorcycles, a custom motorcycle shop in Warsaw, Poland. Growing up alongside the Dutch border in...
“I wanted to create an aggressive cafe racer with a design that separates it from the usual and a line...
One of the many amazing bikes on display at this year’s Handbuilt show in Austin was Dustin Kott’s BMW R80....
Mentioning Grand Tourer and cafe racer in the same sentence isn’t something you’ll see me do often. That’s because bikes...
37-year-old Degano developed an interest in BMWs from a young age. His father was a member of the French police...
Ok I know it’s getting ridiculous now. Yet another BMW based Cafe Racer. This is the last one for...
Remember in school when you had an exam and there was always that one kid who consistently finished before everyone...
Brazillian workshop Retrorides is the result of forty years of hard work by two generations of the Lourenço family. Nestled...
Our friends over at Cognito Moto have been toiling away on their latest custom BMW R75 project. The project was...
