Mid-life profession swerves don’t come a lot larger than Matias Corea’s. The Barcelona native co-founded Behance, the world’s largest on-line artistic community. However he then left the corporate to experience from New York to Patagonia on board a BMW R80G/S Paris-Dakar.
A e-book in regards to the journey adopted—Two Wheels South—and Matias now makes use of his multi-faceted abilities to customise basic BMW bikes beneath the banner of Brooklyn-based Fable Motor.
Lengthy distance using is in Matias’ blood, and Fable Motor offers different riders the instruments to create their very own recollections. “The core concept is to allow adventures on these lovely airheads we love a lot,” says Matias.
“Some dream of a six-month intercontinental journey, and a few need smaller two-week journeys on occasion. Others want the joys of peeling off for the weekend into the grime roads of their dwelling state.”
“To start with, I used to be targeted on constructing a machine that might be good for the long-distance journey traveler. However I noticed the chance to broaden the providing to a few various kinds of setups—Touring and Enduro, in addition to Journey.”
This specific bike was constructed for Eric Della Vedova, a person who’s captivated with BMW. He owns a inventory 1985 R80 G/S, however wished extra energy, higher dealing with, and a greater using place.
“Eric is 6’2″ and the inventory airheads are a measurement too small,” says Matias. “So, he requested me to construct his subsequent touring machine.” The donor bike was to be a 1984 R80 ST, the twin sport OG.
Matias has put in a taller KTM entrance finish with 11.8 inches (300mm) of journey, collaborating with an ex-Renault mechanical engineer to design a brand new aluminum triple tree for mounting the 48mm WP forks and customized bar risers.
The tree has two units of holes: one for mounting an HPN faring, and one other set for the inventory G/S headlight bucket that Matias makes use of on his enduro builds. The plan is to breed the bushes and risers for a variety of proprietary Fable elements to go on sale sooner or later.
The Fable risers raise the middle of the bar 1.7 inches (45 mm) greater than inventory. They clamp onto aluminum alloy Magura bars, which have a taller bend than standard—to maneuver the rider’s hand place significantly greater.
Reducing the foot pegs 1.5 inches additionally permits for a extra relaxed and comfy place, for lengthy days within the saddle. “The mixture of upper bars and decrease pegs makes the standing place for off-roading far more comfy than the inventory G/S,” Matias notes.
The taller forks are matched to an elongated 15.7-inch swing arm that extends the wheelbase by 4 inches—rising stability and decreasing the ‘jacking’ impact of the BMW Monolever. It additionally makes the bike significantly taller, enhancing Eric’s using consolation nonetheless additional.
To provide Eric the additional energy he was on the lookout for, Matias has rebuilt the engine from scratch, utilizing a 1070cc Siebenrock package with barely shorter than standard ‘touring’ conrods, for extra torque at decrease revs. The pistons are 98mm short-skirt objects; like different key parts they’ve been balanced, and all of the seals, clips and bearings are new.
To get extra energy out of that configuration, Matias additionally dual-plugged the heads and elevated the consumption valve measurement. With the rally air filter and a reasonably ‘open’ Siebenrock exhaust, the R80 additionally wanted an improve from 32mm to 40mm Bing carbs.
Temperatures are saved in test with a brand new seven-row cooler, with high-flow chrome steel traces and a mechanical thermostat.
{The electrical} facet is powerful slightly than revolutionary, with somewhat assist from Moto Borgotaro. “Eric likes being self-reliant and needs to keep up his bike,” says Matias. “So, I used an EME digital ignition and charging system—they’re dependable and plug into the principle harness.”
To stiffen the body and enhance dealing with, the body was bolstered with 12 plates, and the subframe is modified and pivoted upwards to permit for the elevated swing arm journey. Matias then added a built-in baggage rack and new diagonal struts for longevity and rigidity, plus a mount for the exhaust and a locking mechanism for the seat.
“The seat wanted to be barely taller, to make the place extra comfy,” he says. “I turned to my expensive pal Seba Achaval from One Eye Deer and we constructed it on high of a brand new G/S solo seat pan.”
It’s sculpted with reminiscence foam and has been upholstered with vinyl facet panels and an Alcantara high (for an anti-slide impact) by Ginger McCabe from New Church Moto.
The touring tank is from an R100GS and holds 6.4 gallons: “Sufficiently big for an extended day’s experience—however a lot smaller visually than the 11.4-gallon HPN tank that I exploit on our Journey mannequin.”
The wheels are actually constructed for journey: they’re 21- and 18-inch Takasago Excel rims with heavy-duty spokes. And if issues get out of hand, Eric can squeeze on a 320mm entrance rotor with a contemporary Brembo caliper.
Matias has completed off the BMW with understated monochrome paint, plus a splash of heat crimson on the fairing and swingarm. Like all the things else on this bike, it’s fantastically judged—and can stand the check of time. Eric now has the right companion for his adventures, wherever they could take him.
Fable Motor | Fb | Instagram | Pictures by Rick Bajornas