One of the many amazing bikes on display at this year’s Handbuilt show in Austin was Dustin Kott’s BMW R80....
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.
For many years the United States was the biggest source of inspiration for custom motorcycle builders around the world. Then...
“I wanted to create an aggressive cafe racer with a design that separates it from the usual and a line...
It’s been a couple of years since I first featured one of Kevin Hills custom builds. Since then under his...
The Interceptor may be an unexpected development from Radical Ducati, but it certainly isn’t a disappointment. They’ve created a high...
Brazillian workshop Retrorides is the result of forty years of hard work by two generations of the Lourenço family. Nestled...
Out of all the bike reviews I’ve done, handing the keys back for the BMW R Nine T has been...
Mentioning Grand Tourer and cafe racer in the same sentence isn’t something you’ll see me do often. That’s because bikes...
Repeat customers are the bread and butter of every business. Unfortunately, for some businesses, such as custom motorcycle builders, most...
After just having the pleasure of pretending to own an R Nine T for the past few days (keep an...
Everyone has their favorite things in life but only a few of us get to enjoy a career working with them....
After a 70mph spill this BMW Boxer was in no state to be ridden. The bikes wheels, forks and engine...
It’s the start of yet another working week. What better way to get through the day than by drooling over...
BMW struck a chord in the custom motorcycle scene when they released the R Nine T. Powered by a bulletproof...
Sometimes techniques for overcoming adversity are found in unexpected places. Scott Campbell found the solution to his battling his demons...
37-year-old Degano developed an interest in BMWs from a young age. His father was a member of the French police...
Building one-off projects for individual customers has its benefits, but it isn’t the most reliable income model for a custom...
This happens when one of the world’s most creative custom workshops decides that they need to customise their shop bike....
Established in 2002 the K-Speed business is spread over 12 stores around Thailand with its head quarters in Bangkok. Eak...
What better way to celebrate a motorcycle workshop’s 10 year anniversary than with a build that showcases everything they’re capable...
I love a good concept bike. An open brief and an aim to push the boundaries, breach new territory and...
Adrián Campos and the team at Valencia’s Bolt Motor Co. are set to finish their 50th build sometime during 2021....
There’s no denying that classic BMW motorcycles make great looking Cafe Racers, but if you’re looking to build a modern...
Early this year Hammer received an invitation to work on the project direct from BMW Motorrad and gladly took up...
I once said that the 1934 BMW R7 was one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made, and I still...
40 years later the bike is still running (see video below) and still features the original racing seal of the Italian...
A few years ago, James would hear his neighbor start up his old BMW, and after numerous conversations, he was...
When he’s not fabricating parts for submarines (Yes, you read that right) David Manchester is building bespoke furniture or helping...
Back in 2012 four like-minded friends decided enough was enough. Driven by their desire to build and ride custom bikes...
Another cool motorcycling video brought to you by The Selvedge Yard. If you can get past the Bourne Identity-esque erratic...
Could a motorcycle be any more beautiful? This is a fully restored 1934 BMW R7 and it’s the only one...
Europe’s largest Cafe Racer event, the Glemseck 101, just took place in Stuttgart, Germany. Now in its 5th year, the...
The custom motorcycle world has been full of collaborations in the past few years. Manufacturers have recognised the influence custom...
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when building your own Cafe Racer, or any style of custom motorcycle for...
Giorgio De Angelis of ‘De Angelis Elaborazioni’ prides himself in turning old BMWs into performance focused customs. Throughout his childhood,...
Remember in school when you had an exam and there was always that one kid who consistently finished before everyone...
Some people profess to being obsessed by a brand because they own 2 or 3 things said brand has made....
High in the northeastern reaches of Italy, you’ll find the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Bordered by Slovenia and Austria it’s...
Kyohey Sugimoto, owner of Berrybads Motorcycles works out of a modest space in Ōtsu, the capital of Japan’s Shiga Prefecture....
After months of hard work and seemingly endless nights of writing, issue 2 of Tank Moto is now available! Just...
“The Diva project was inspired by BMW motorcycles of twenties, taking their class and elegance and blending it with modern...
Last month Deus Ex Machina in Camperdown, Sydney unveiled their stunning R Nine T Cafe Racer, the ‘Henirich Maneuver’. Unfortunately...
The Johnnie Wash R Nine T series features 3 different models of which the Brown is the most extensively modified....
This lovely BMW R 100 named the “Earl Grey” is currently up for sale through Urban Moto in Germany for...
There are few motorcycle engines as iconic as BMW Motorrad’s flat twin ‘Boxer’. Renowned for their bulletproof reliability the Boxer...
Customer requests and customer needs are two very different things. UK’s Sinroja Motorcycles are always happy to oblige with customer...
Hugo Eccles and the Untitled Motorcycles team are capable of building pretty much whatever they can dream up. Their custom...
The Katze is finally out of the Tasche. BMW Motorrad has unveiled its highly anticipated R18 concept. As we all...
I’ve never had the urge to eat a motorcycle before but this latest build from Jerikan looks delicious. For some...
As the lines blur between the different styles of custom bike building and builders become more adventurous, it’s getting much...
Stumbled across this 1961 BMW R69s Cafe Racer named “The Bull” today. It’s a strange combination of parts but it...
For more than a decade I’ve stayed true to this websites cafe racer theme. I can assure you this was...
In full dress, the BMW R1200RT tips the scales at hefty 259kg. This is by no means an ideal starting...
“This project kicked off with a stock 1982 BMW R45 that had laid dormant in our client’s garage for almost...
Custom bikes often opt for a shock and awe approach to make an impact in this modern, social media-saturated world....
The 2012 Bonneville Speed Week is wrapping up for another year. Thankfully it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot...
Well, that wraps up yet another year of amazing cafe racer builds from custom workshops and backyard builders around the...
When a builder chooses to convert a tourer into a cafe racer it’s always a bit of a surprise to...
Who can resist the beauty of BMW’s boxer engine? Their unorthodox horizontal head configuration and shaft drive has always intrigued...
I’ve always loved the use of wood in cars. When I was young a neighbor converted an old ’30s Chevy into...
Experiences from our youth can have a profound effect on what we do later in life. For Jean-Pierre, it was...
I am Nigel Petrie from Engineered To Slide and I want to share with you my new BMW R Nine...
The majority of the weight dropped from the Saline R9T can be attributed to the use of aluminium. Saline’s new tail,...
This drastically customised BMW R80 is the brainchild of Oaky and JJ from Griffin Spares in Sydney. “Sometimes the best...
New York City is arguably the planets most influential style and culture mecca. Whatever you’re into you’re sure to find...
BMW Motorrad has just lifted the covers off their upcoming 2021 R nineT range. This is of course great news...
Working with clients can be both challenging and rewarding. When Ønix Design’s latest customer, a doctor from Valencia, brought his...
When it comes to building custom bikes, taking the path less travelled is never the easy option. Sure, cafe racers...
David explains that “Manuel is really good at rebuilding and customising frames and seats. Kurt is a genius with the...
Last year I had the pleasure of attending the Mooneyes show in Japan. The builder that took out best of show...
BMW’s stalwart R100 was offered in various guises from 1976 to 1996. The 980cc boxer twins made adequate power, had...
Here’s a little something to get you through another night glued to the couch. Our latest instalment of the Sunday...
We’ve all had a gut full of 2020 and I’m sure most people would agree they’ll be glad to see...
This isn’t the first time we’ve featured a BMW cafe racer that’s been put together by a BMW car enthusiast....
Unless you’re buying a Harley-Davidson most dealerships don’t offer much in the way of customisation at the time of sale....
More and more motorcycle workshops are utilising advanced manufacturing technologies to realise their custom creations. 10 years ago three-dimensional computer-aided...
From building show cars to display at the hallowed halls of the Las Vegas Sema show to tinkering on Honda...
Nitro Cycles are a relatively new workshop to the Spanish custom scene and this BMW K100 RS Cafe Racer represents...
There’s no denying that Guzzis and BWMs have the biggest, bulkiest looking engines of all the motorcycle manufacturers (not to...
The Digimoto project was a collaboration between industrial designer Christian Zanzotti, product development agency Greydev and BMW aftermarket experts Wunderlich....
The Eleven by Kevil’s Speed Shop in the UK. One of the latest BMW Cafe Racers to roll out of...
If you’re customising motorcycles in Bavaria it seems only right said motorcycles should be those built by BMW Motorrad. Ralf...
Looking back over the last 11 years of running this website the thing I’ve enjoyed the most is seeing workshops...
Ok I know it’s getting ridiculous now. Yet another BMW based Cafe Racer. This is the last one for...
This great video featuring musician/songwriter/producer Butch Walker was pulled together by Mann-made Pictures for Cafe Racer TV. Butch talks about...
I recently became acquainted with Maximiliaan van Kuyk of Maverick motorcycles. Max and his brothers stumbled into the Cafe Racer...
As 2014 comes to an end I thought I’d take a (close up) look at some of the incredible work...
The BMW, which belongs to a friend of Weston, was originally introduced into the family by his ‘Uncle Lou’ and...
Last week we featured a very tidy BMW K1100 LT cafe racer by Anthony LoGalbo of New York based workshop...
Imagine this scenario: A bike magazine hands you a box-fresh 1978 BMW R100RS and the concept rendering for a fantastic,...
Our friends over at Cognito Moto have been toiling away on their latest custom BMW R75 project. The project was...
“All men’s misfortunes spring from their hatred of being alone“ The sad individual responsible for that quote obviously never had...
“As the story goes my first word was ‘car’ rather than ‘mummy’. I’m not so sure whether this is the...
Melbourne is arguably the creative hub of Australia. If you’re looking for great food or a cultural experience the city...
When it comes to customising older BMW motorcycles the R series airheads are the most popular weapon of choice. Fuss-free...
Nostalgia can be a powerful motivator. For Joe Loss of Fremantle, Western Australia it started in his teenage years when...
It’s been less than 6 months since we featured the Le Bouterollier BMW R60/7 and Jean-Pierre is back with yet...
Growing up in India the Sinroja brothers, Rahul and Birju, developed an out of the ordinary love for motorcycles. In...
