When Shiro Nakajima isn’t honing his appreciable abilities in his dwelling workshop on the base of the Yatsugatake Mountains, you’ll discover him racing on the Tsukuba Circuit, a number of hours away. These opposing environments are mirrored in Nakajima-san’s {custom} bikes; tasteful restomods which might be aesthetically restrained, but additionally constructed to be ridden exhausting.
The person referred to as 46Works additionally has an affinity for European bikes, carried over from his days because the founding father of the powerhouse restomod workshop, Ritmo Sereno. This explains why his newest creation—a splendidly prepped 1986 BMW R80 restomod—seems to be so rattling good.
The bike was constructed as a collaboration between 46Works and the Japanese leather-based racing swimsuit producer Kushitani. Based within the late Forties in Hamamatsu, Kushitani has made leathers for Grand Prix racing greats like Randy Mamola, Wayne Gardner, Kevin Magee, and Kevin Schwantz. They’re additionally Shiro’s go-to race swimsuit provider, they usually’ve collaborated on quite a few 46Works attire collections.
Shiro’s purpose was to construct a lithe machine that will be simply as blissful on the monitor as it could be on B-roads. His second precedence was ensuring that when the bike was parked, it could give its rider countless particulars to ogle.
Since Shiro was seeking to acquire efficiency by shedding weight and bettering dealing with, the choice was made to rebuild the BMW R80 boxer motor to OEM specs, quite than bore it out. The overhauled engine and transmission have been each blasted to a uncooked end, and the heads have been fitted with vintage-style peanut covers. The Bing carbs have been tossed in favor of superior Keihin FCR items, fitted with Ok&N filters.
A custom-made battery tray now sits the place the airbox used to, hooked as much as the revised electrical system. Shiro threw a bucketload of digital elements from Euro MotoElectrics on the outdated Beemer, together with a brand new electrical hub, digital ignition system, starter, charging system, and extra.
One hallmark of Shiro’s work is his skill to bend titanium tubing. True to type, this BMW sports activities a set of sand-bent titanium headers, flowing into a chrome steel two-into-one-into-two collector, which in flip exits through a pair of aftermarket stainless-steel mufflers. (The carbs have been tuned to verify the bike runs optimally with the brand new cans and pod filters.)
As per ordinary, the person’s consideration to element is on one other degree. Try the exquisitely machined exhaust hangar; it additionally acts as a foot management mount, heel guard, heart stand stopper, and seize deal with for lifting the bike onto the stand. The foot controls are {custom} too, as is the corresponding mounting plate on the opposite facet of the bike.
Shiro turned his consideration to the suspension subsequent, swapping the OEM forks out for a set of Ceriani replicas. They’re matched to the BMW chassis by means of a bespoke steering stem and yokes. An Öhlins shock sits out again, with a distant reservoir tucked away inboard of the body rails.
The wheels and rear drum brake are inventory, however the entrance calipers have been swapped for Brembo objects, connected to {custom} caliper mounts and gripping contemporary Sunstar discs. Shiro specced the R80 with Dunlop TT100 GP tires, which supply classic seems to be with fashionable rubber.
This basic roadster additionally wears all-new aluminum bodywork—from its entrance fender by way of to its teardrop gasoline tank, completely proportioned tail bump, and internal rear fender. Though the tank and tail are two separate items, they’re so properly matched that they seem like a monocoque at a look. The subframe is one other {custom} piece, as are the headlight brackets and seat pan.
The cockpit sports activities a cultured set of chromed low-rise handlebars, fitted with a brand new throttle, Brembo levers, and Motogadget bar-end flip alerts. A Motogadget speedo sits entrance and heart, hovering above the chromed Bates-style headlight.
Shiro’s even handed use of chrome and uncooked metallic finishes is the proper accompaniment for the R80’s elegant livery. Drops Design Works dealt with the paint, splashing the bike in a chic blue hue that completely matches the colour of Shiro’s special-order Kushitani race leathers.
With every thing buttoned up, Shiro did the one logical factor—he took the bike to the Tsukuba Circuit for a correct shakedown. “I made a number of carburetor and suspension changes, and rode it on the race monitor,” he tells us. “As I had hoped, it presents mild and nimble dealing with, a strong engine attribute, and a cushty experience.”
Shiro sums the bike up as “a roadster that mixes desirability with the enjoyment of driving,” and we will’t fault that evaluation. From the svelte bodywork to the well-judged chassis mods and complex exhausting elements, there isn’t an inch of this BMW R80 restomod that we aren’t in love with.
