With futuristic seems to be, daring colours, and extra plastic than a Tupperware celebration, the BMW K1 was nothing if not memorable. Launched in 1988 and based mostly on the inline four-cylinder BMW K100, it was large, daring, and—relying on who you ask—lovely.
Billed as a sport-touring bike, the BMW K1’s brash aesthetic was decidedly non-BMW on the time and stays polarizing right this moment. To those that cherished it, it provided a good quantity of energy and a low drag coefficient—nevertheless it was additionally heavy, costly, and had points with warmth retention. It finally proved unpopular and pale from BMW’s line-up in simply 5 years.
Some individuals would balk on the thought of slicing up an unique K1, whereas others would think about it obligatory. The proprietor of this K1 sits someplace within the center.
Their transient to Portugal’s iT ROCKS!BIKES was to change the bike extensively, however with a hanging design that might pay tribute to the manufacturing unit aesthetic. An alternate actuality K1, if you’ll; a fully-faired fantasy with fashionable, snazzy traces.
“We had been very enthusiastic about this venture,” says Osvaldo Coutinho, who runs IRB alongside Ana Pina and Luís Teixeira. “Our goal was to create a motorbike with hanging traces which might mark the replace of this iconic bike—whereas utilizing top-quality, secure, and homologated tools.”
IRB focuses on monocoque-style bodywork, which might be what drew this shopper to them within the first place. They constructed a one-piece tank and tail part for the K1 café racer, all hand-beaten from metal, with a flowing fairing that attaches on to the primary physique.
Tributes to the K1’s plastics are sprinkled throughout this construct. The deeply sculpted knee indents echo the angular K1 fairings, whereas the louvered sides are a nod to the K1’s myriad air vents. IRB fitted the fairing with a sq. headlight too, nevertheless it’s a contact smaller than the inventory bike’s unit.
The gas tank and handmade leather-based seat look completely formed for a rider to fit into, with the tail part resting on a brand new subframe. A brand new rear suspension setup sits decrease down, that includes Wimoto linkages and a YSS shock. The swingarm is flanked by BSK SpeedWorks rear-sets.
The entrance finish can be new, with a set of Öhlins FGRT 216 forks matched to radial-mounted Brembo calipers and 320 mm Brembo discs. The Öhlins forks had been tailored to the K1 body with triple clamps from TGP MotoRacing, and there’s an LSL steering damper hidden away.
Strong custom-made Jonich wheels lend a visible bulk to the design and tie into the remainder of the bodywork, harking back to the unique bike. The massive entrance fender has been changed with a slim, fashionable interpretation, with an identical hugger mounted out again.
The 100 hp DOHC four-valve engine didn’t want a lot updating—nevertheless it acquired an intensive clear and recent paint and sharpening. It now screams by means of a four-into-one exhaust system with an SC-Mission can, which we wager feels like an previous Components One automobile at full tilt. A {custom} stomach pan sits slightly below the engine.
The K1 was stripped all the way down to the naked body in the course of the construct, so IRB took the chance to rewire it from the bottom up with a Motogadget management unit.
The handlebar switches, grips, bar-end flip indicators and mirrors, and speedo all got here from the German electronics model, the clip-ons got here from LSL, and the throttle is a Domino half. Every thing is tucked behind a smoke windscreen, with a chic hand-made bracket suspending the speedo useless middle.
“The opposite particulars of the bike, aside from the unique tools, had been all developed manually,” explains Osvaldo. “This contains the body, helps, exhausts, and different metallic components. Our motto is originality, high quality, and exclusivity in each bit we design and construct.”
The ultimate result’s a motorcycle that cuts a much more svelte silhouette than the inventory K1. The place the unique bike was a examine in flamboyance, IRB has crafted a much more refined creature. The brushed silver coloration scheme, with pops of BMW M crimson and blue, fits the bike completely, as does the brand new bodywork.
Right here’s hoping that the proprietor finds one other factory-fresh K1 to park within the storage—as a result of this is able to be the proper companion bike.
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