BMW’s Ok-series is legendary, however its legend was not made on racetracks or crossing deserts. No, the big block-shaped engines, lovingly often known as ‘Flying Bricks,’ are shrouded in lore developed by way of thousands and thousands of touring miles. There are tales of Ks reaching lots of of hundreds of miles and not using a rebuild, and even operating with out oil.
BMW stopped manufacturing these bulletproof engines within the mid-90s, however they’re nonetheless straightforward to seek out as a result of, properly, they only by no means die. And whereas reliability could make an engine an icon, 72 HKG Efficiency wished to construct a machine that begs a extra visceral response.
“One of the best BMW Ok that may be manufactured,” as they put it. A stripped-down and aggressive BMW K75, with classic superbike flare and no stone left unturned. This was to be 72 HKG’s final Ok-model; “The Ok.”
72 HKG Efficiency is a collaboration between builders Antonio of 72 Cycles Efficiency and Jorge of Hell’s Kitchen Storage. Based mostly in Burgos, Spain, the duo has solely been working collectively beneath this title for a short while, however has managed to provide some unbelievable bikes. Engine efficiency and dealing with are clearly a precedence with sporty angles, aggressive ergonomics, and high-end elements displaying by way of as a standard thread.
To rework the relaxed, upright touring stance of the K75 into this sharp-handling café racer, all the bodywork and the subframe was eliminated. A taller, narrower tail part was made out of tubular metal, cleansing up the bike’s traces and inserting the rider greater up above the rear wheel. Aluminum Tarozzi clip-on handlebars and rear-set foot controls now have the rider leaning ahead over the bike, balanced and simply able to shifting their weight.
A set of beefy Öhlins forks from an Aprilia RSV4 Manufacturing unit had been fitted with Brembo Serie Oro radial calipers on 320mm rotors. These forks are shorter than inventory, additional contributing to the forward-leaning, aggressive stance, and a customized wind-deflecting entrance fender exaggerates that much more. By utilizing the single-sided swingarm of a BMW R1100RS, and the shaft-drive system from an R850, the wheelbase was prolonged by 5 cm from inventory.
A construction was constructed to mount the Öhlins monoshock in probably the most vertical orientation and optimize its perform. The shock’s distant reservoir is mounted off of the subframe close by, for on-the-fly adjustment. Spoked wheels, 18” within the entrance and 17” within the rear, had been wrapped with Michelin Pilot tires.
A customized four-to-one exhaust system was fabricated, snaking up beneath the seat and popping out of the again like a rocket booster. That muffler on the tail goes by way of a cylinder housing inner LEDs, which function an auxiliary taillight—a refined however extremely dramatic element. A louvered carbon fiber rear fender covers the exhaust and ties the livery collectively properly.
The fuel tank on a K75 has lodging for the inventory mannequin’s radiator shroud, which may look awkward as soon as eliminated. However 72 HKG constructed smaller carbon fiber panels that completely change the road of the entrance of the bike, whereas nonetheless protecting the consumption and sides of the radiator.
Inventory wiring and electronics had been virtually fully eliminated and changed. A Motogadget mo.unit serves because the mind of the bike’s electrical system, with a Motoscope Professional speedo from the German model serving because the instrumentation. A minimal license plate mount extends from the rear axle, to which small three-in-one LED lights are mounted.
The workforce at 72 HKG went all-out with the trendy really feel, too, putting in a full vary of monitoring techniques to work with the Motogadget controller. A keyless system, an alarm; there are even LED lights labored into the customized solo seat (masterfully upholstered by Senen Leather-based Works), controllable by way of the rider’s smartphone.
To complete all of it off, the construct was painted in a deep sweet inexperienced with a pointy orange stripe throughout the fuel tank, down the carbon fiber facet panels, and onto the stomach pan. The tip result’s a motorcycle with gorgeous particulars and clear traces. The inventory geometry has been refined, suspension and braking techniques are radically improved, and it’s all constructed round an iconically dependable and constant engine.
All that’s left now could be for its new proprietor, a prime sushi chef primarily based close to Madrid, to take pleasure in it. “He has boundless creativity,” Antonio tells us. “He’s a man who’s at all times in search of one of the best for his prospects, who enjoys watching from his kitchen how every dish provokes a response in his diners.”
“When he advised me he wished a bike from us, it was clear to me that we needed to construct one thing wonderful.”
Contemplating the brief time that the 72 HKG Efficiency collaboration has existed, and the caliber of bikes the model has produced, we will solely hope the duo continues—as a result of they’re onto one thing nice.
72 Cycles Efficiency | Hell’s Kitchen Storage
