The BMW K100RS was borderline futuristic when it hit the scene within the Eighties. Between its blocky horizontal inline-four engine and its geometric fairings, it was a big side-step from the boxer fashions that the marque was well-known for.
Certain, it nonetheless appears to be like prefer it got here from the 80s, however that doesn’t make it a foul bike. Strip off the bodywork and throw a bunch of top-shelf parts at it, and you might have a pointy, high-performing café racer in your palms. Which is precisely what Spain’s Bolt Motor Co. has executed to this 1986 BMW K100RS.
Bolt’s shopper had requested a BMW K100 café racer with a race-inspired aesthetic. However whereas most shoppers often solely have a imprecise thought of what they’re after, his concepts have been very particular. So particular, actually, that he gave Bolt an in depth, full coloration sketch to work from.
“All the group was shocked when a freehand drawing of how he needed the bike arrived on the workshop,” says store boss Adrián Campos. “It was a drawing that was prepared to border, the place each element got here to life. From that second on, our purpose was to convey that drawing to life.”
From the skeletal subframe to the Öhlins suspension, all the pieces was laid out unambiguously. Efficiency was high of the checklist; no downside for Bolt, whose sister firm is the System 3 racing group, Campos Racing.
From their shared workspace in Valencia, the group stripped the BMW K100RS all the way down to its naked bones and set to work. It’s not the primary time that Bolt has torn right into a Okay-series BMW, in order that they’ve found out a couple of intelligent methods to eke greater than the unique 90-ish horsepower out of it.
See that canister sitting on high of the engine block on the left aspect? That’s a custom-made consumption, developed particularly for the Okay’s motor. Flip to the opposite aspect of the bike, and also you’ll spot the relocated ignition, and a Movement Professional coolant restoration bottle.
For the exhaust, Bolt tweaked the headers and fitted twin Akrapovič mufflers. They rewired the bike too, with a System 3 racing-spec wiring loom and Motogadget parts. Adrián can verify that he and his group did another “fancy issues” to the engine, however he prefers to maintain these secrets and techniques to himself.
Shifting to the chassis, Bolt sourced the upside-down Öhlins forks and twin Brembo brakes from an Aprilia RSV. Getting all the pieces to suit meant not solely machining new yokes, however an entire new steering stem too. Additionally they added a brand new mounting tab to the body, to accommodate an Öhlins steering damper, borrowed from the Aspar bike racing group.
The K100 retains its unique wheels and Brembo rear brake, however now sports activities an Öhlins piggyback shock. It’s linked to the BMW’s new bespoke subframe, which options a couple of distinctive particulars of its personal. There’s a {custom} seat and 3D-printed tail cowl up high, an electronics tray tucked beneath, and an LED headlight embedded out again.
Bolt additionally saved the K100’s unique gasoline tank, however modified it to sharpen up the bike’s silhouette, and to cover the radiator away. Additionally current are discreet fenders at each ends, {custom} made by Bolt.
An LED headlight sits up entrance, mounted on {custom} brackets. The cockpit wears new clip-ons with inner wiring, Motogadget bar-end flip indicators and Highsider mirrors. There’s additionally a Motogadget sprint, housed in a 3D-printed encompass, and LED-backlit push buttons.
Complementing the quite a few mods is BMW M-inspired paint job, masterfully executed by Ángel at Airbrush Customized. Frequent collaborator, Tapizados Llop, dealt with the leatherwork on the seat. If you happen to look carefully, you’ll spot blue and purple threads that match the asymmetrical highlights on the gasoline tank and wheels.
Different add-ons embrace Goodridge brake hoses, Tarozzi rear-set foot controls, and a one-off license plate mount that attaches to the swingarm. There’s lots of element to absorb, which suggests simply what number of man-hours went into this construct.
“It has been a troublesome construct which has been arduous to get out, and has wanted many hours of labor,” says Adrián. “We all know that we’ve got put the shopper’s persistence to the take a look at on multiple event, as a result of the time has gone just a little greater than we anticipated. However making a murals like this isn’t fast or straightforward.”
“Ultimately, the ultimate end result has been price each day of ready. We’ve got managed to provide life to a singular and tremendous particular bike, identical to its proprietor. I hope he enjoys it as a lot as we’ve got loved customizing it!”
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