Muscular, with a little 80s fashion; that was the temporary given to Spain’s 72 HKG Efficiency by the homeowners of this tradition BMW K75. The bike initially belonged to their father, nevertheless it had been relegated to the storage for the previous few years. It wanted resurrecting, so that they figured they could as properly have it personalized on the identical time… and 72 HKG was all too blissful to oblige.
72 HKG Efficiency is an ongoing collaboration between established Spanish {custom} builders Antonio (72 Cycles Efficiency) and Jorge (Hell’s Kitchen Storage). And within the 12 months or in order that they’ve been working collectively, they’ve already produced magical outcomes.
‘Muscular and 80s’ just about describes their signature fashion—so when the BMW K75 was booked in, their concepts rapidly snowballed. “Typically it’s comforting to seek out shoppers who’re clear about what they need, particularly if we additionally like what they like,” Antonio and Jorge inform us. “All of us agreed to provide the Okay a superb second life!”
“We pictured a radical front-end with up to date elements, a single seat, a 180-wide rear tire, and a mono-shock. It must be visually massive, however it will additionally should be compact and planted. And it needed to have our signature; elegant, however a bit of rogue.”
72 HKG picked out a slew of repurposed elements to overtake the basic K75’s operating gear. The upside-down forks come from a Kawasaki ZX-10R, as do the dual Tokico brakes. As for the alloy wheels—they’ve been lifted from a BMW R1100.
Transferring to the again, Antonio and Jorge employed a trick that they used on their final {custom} BMW K75. Utilizing the driveshaft from a BMW R850 and a bit of {custom} fabrication wizardry, they grafted on the R1100’s single-sided swingarm. “We had executed it earlier than, and we knew it labored completely—so we replicated it,” they clarify.
The R1100 additionally loaned the K75 its rear brake and shock. All 72 HKG needed to do was ditch the unique twin shock mounts and construct a brand new mono-shock attachment. So that they started working designing a brand new subframe, with one main caveat…
“In Spain, you can not legally modify the central triangle of the BMW Okay. So we at all times search for artistic methods to keep away from homologation issues. This time, we constructed a tubular subframe that crosses the unique construction, to provide the bike a steady line from entrance to again.”
It’s a intelligent trick, and it’s produced one of many tidiest subframes we’ve ever seen on a K75 café racer. Up entrance, custom-made aspect panels combine neatly into the OEM gas tank, forming a baseline that may be traced by means of to the tail. Out again, a brand new seat sits up in opposition to a home made bum cease, which was designed to subtly mimic the blocky designs of 80s sportbikes.
72 HKG formed the tail bump and entrance fender utilizing a mixture of fiberglass and carbon fiber. In addition they produced the BMW’s beneficiant stomach pan; its gaping maw impressed the bike’s nickname, ‘Mobula’ (it’s a kind of ray). That theme is carried by means of to the BMW’s 3D-printed ‘aero’ winglets.
Antonio and Jorge are followers of Motogadget electronics, so this K75 was rewired across the firm’s Bluetooth-equipped mo.unit blue management field, with a wi-fi RFID ignition. A Motogadget speedo does obligation within the cockpit, tucked behind a glossy windshield. The K75 can also be outfitted with new clip-ons, grips, controls, and switches, and custom-made rear-set foot controls.
An LED headlight lights the way in which, with a slim LED taillight strip embedded within the tail. The license plate and rear flip indicators sit on a swingarm-mounted bracket, with all the requisite wiring neatly hidden away.
One factor that 72 HKG nails on each bike they construct, is the livery. This BMW K75 isn’t any exception—the bottom colour is Mini’s ‘Rooftop Gray Metallic,’ with sporty pistachio highlights that carry by means of to the distinction stitching on the seat. It’s a tasteful, albeit uncommon, mixture.
Ending issues off is a burly three-into-one exhaust system, terminating in an upswept muffler that additional enhances the K75’s retro sportbike vibe.
The mid-80s Okay not solely seems to be a heck of lots sharper now, nevertheless it’s considerably lighter too. It now weighs 204 kilos [450 lbs], and its wheelbase has been prolonged by two inches. Antonio and Jorge are happy to report that it’s a runner, with improved street manners and additional freeway stability. And the truth that it bends necks wherever it goes is fairly cool too.
72 HKG Efficiency | Photographs by Eduardo Recuero
