No motorbike encapsulates the vibe of 90s BMW sport tourers fairly just like the BMW K1100RS. It had all the pieces—three-spoke wheels, triangular bodywork, and a stonking inline-four block oriented horizontally within the body. However behind all of that quirkiness lay a hella succesful machine.
Though the venerable Ok is beginning to present its age, it’s discovering new life on the {custom} scene. And one outfit has persistently produced a number of the raddest Ok-series café racers we’ve seen; the Dutch components specialist and {custom} store, Powerbrick.
Powerbrick’s star is sharply on the rise. Founder Tim Somers has wowed with each Ok-series café racer he’s launched, refining his signature aesthetic every time. Powerbrick’s Ks are razor sharp and ooze efficiency from each pore.
Their newest venture is their wildest but. It takes cues from its predecessors however provides a number of particulars that elevate the system to new ranges.
One hallmark of Powerbrick’s work is their penchant for working across the K1100’s closely scalloped OEM gasoline tank. They’ve developed a subframe—machined from a stable 220-pound aluminum billet—that hosts the seat, tail cowl, and higher shock mount. Aggressively abbreviated and tapered, it aligns completely with the inventory tank.
The subframe attaches to the bike by the use of a pair of mounting brackets which might be welded to the primary body. An LED taillight with built-in flip alerts is embedded out again, whereas luxurious upholstery by Jeroen Bouwmeester at Silver Machine adorns the saddle.
A multi-faceted fairing sits on the reverse finish of the K1100. The entrance of it resembles a standard café racer headlight nacelle, however the rear half has a sportier bend, tucking effortlessly into the gasoline tank’s flanks. It homes a Koso LED headlight, and LED flip alerts which might be embedded into flared bits on the edges.
“We tried to construct the final word café racer and have been desirous to do the complete fairing for a very long time,” Tim tells us. “It’s totally 3D-printed in a carbon compound materials. We CNC’ed a full bracket to carry the headlight, fairing, and the Motogadget Motoscope Professional speedo.”
Operating by the fairing are the forks from a BMW S1000RR superbike, fitted with Öhlins NIX30 cartridges and anodized purple. They’re held in place by a set of black-anodized aluminum Powerbrick yokes. A completely adjustable shock does obligation on the again, custom-built with a purple spring by TFX Suspension in The Netherlands.
Tim didn’t low cost out on the wheels both. This Ok rolls on a set of jaw-dropping solid carbon hoops from Rotobox, taking full benefit of the bike’s single-sided swingarm to create a placing visible impact. The braking system is all-Brembo, with Venhill hoses linking all the pieces up.
Powerbrick paid a complete lot of consideration to the BMW’s engine too. The large brick was overhauled and ported, and advantages from an NGK ignition system and new Bosch injectors. An aluminum radiator from RC Racing helps the K1100 run cooler, with Samco hoses providing one other tasteful pop of purple.
The consumption includes a row of custom-branded DNA filters. Gnarly four-into-one, hand-welded stainless-steel headers expel gasses from the motor, exiting by way of a Powerbrick muffler. (We are able to solely think about how this factor should sound at full tilt.)
Powerbrick rewired the bike too, utilizing a Motogadget management field and keyless ignition, a NOCO Lithium battery, and a CTEK battery administration system. You’ll discover backlit Motogadget switches within the cockpit, together with Brembo grasp cylinders, AEM reservoirs, a Domino throttle, and Biltwell Inc. grips. Powerbrick rear-sets sit decrease down.
The Ok’s radical stance and tight proportions are matched by a tasteful metalflake gray paint job, executed by Royal Kustom Works. Ultimate particulars embrace a smorgasbord of black finishes and a pair of custom-made monochrome BMW roundels.
As soon as once more, Tim and Co. have impressed with their skill to extract the utmost potential from the BMW K1100RS. This Ok completely illustrates their evolution—and, optimistically, is a style of issues to return.
Powerbrick | Fb | Instagram | Photos by Paul van Mondfrans Lindén
