“A Scottish businessman reached out to us after seeing our bikes. He asked us to customise his own brand new...
BMW Cafe Racer
The German company BMW Motorrad built its first motorcycle, the R32, in 1923. Powered by a 494cc flat-twin boxer the R32’s horizontally opposed engine configuration became an iconic feature of BMW motorcycles throughout their history. In later years they also developed the flat-four engine used in models like the K100. This engine was coined the ‘flying brick’ due to its bulky appearance. Despite its unfortunate nickname the flat-four still the level of performance that earned BMW their well-respected reputation.
Older BMW “airhead” boxer twins and R series models are popular choices for BMW cafe racer projects. With some models featuring bolt-on subframes and others sporting aluminum fuel tanks, choosing a BMW as the donor for your project has its benefits. In more recent years BMW has embraced the custom scene by creating the R Nine T. The BMW R9T was designed and built specifically with customization in mind.
In our archives, you’ll find countless BMW cafe racer features that are a great source of inspiration and tips for anyone hoping to build their own.
After a 2 year hiatus, the Munich-based custom motorcycle powerhouse Diamond Atelier is back. Despite big changes in the company’s...
What better way to celebrate a motorcycle workshop’s 10 year anniversary than with a build that showcases everything they’re capable...
Mentioning Grand Tourer and cafe racer in the same sentence isn’t something you’ll see me do often. That’s because bikes...
The BMW, which belongs to a friend of Weston, was originally introduced into the family by his ‘Uncle Lou’ and...
“The Diva project was inspired by BMW motorcycles of twenties, taking their class and elegance and blending it with modern...
The bar has definitely been raised in the custom motorcycle scene. If you’re planning on impressing anyone a bolt-on seat,...
As 2014 comes to an end I thought I’d take a (close up) look at some of the incredible work...
This 1981 BMW R100RT underwent modifications, including rebuilding the air-cooled 980cc opposed twin and installing a custom quarter fairing, electrical...
After a 70mph spill this BMW Boxer was in no state to be ridden. The bikes wheels, forks and engine...
You may remember the somewhat controversial Buell Norton Manx I featured a couple of months ago? Well it’s back and it’s...
Could a motorcycle be any more beautiful? This is a fully restored 1934 BMW R7 and it’s the only one...
“The most elaborate and beautiful K100 we have ever built” For this unique collaboration, VTR Customs ironically chose a...
The greatest gift a father can give his son is to believe in him. Wido Veldkamp is an industrial design...
This BMW R Nine T is a retro-inspired sports bike that has been significantly customized to create the original ‘PC.02’...
According to Mark Condon of BikeBiz “Our team really know their bikes, so depending on the customer we can give...
Cognito Moto, based in Richmond, Virginia, revamped a 1971 BMW R75/5 into a striking “brat tracker.” The motorcycle showcases a...
Last year I had the pleasure of attending the Mooneyes show in Japan. The builder that took out best of show...
Bill Costello crafted this custom café racer out of a 1981 BMW R100RT, intending to create a sleek urban ride...
The Bavarian Cafe of Costa Mesa, California, undertook a cafe racer-style modification of this 1983 BMW R100 around 2013. The...
Ok I know it’s getting ridiculous now. Yet another BMW based Cafe Racer. This is the last one for...
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when building your own Cafe Racer, or any style of custom motorcycle for...
Another cool motorcycling video brought to you by The Selvedge Yard. If you can get past the Bourne Identity-esque erratic...
“This project kicked off with a stock 1982 BMW R45 that had laid dormant in our client’s garage for almost...
Christian Boosen runs 86 Gear Motorcycles, a custom motorcycle shop in Warsaw, Poland. Growing up alongside the Dutch border in...
As BMW Motorrad put it, the R9T Racer is “Style in the fast lane.” It’s a fitting statement for this...
Early this year Hammer received an invitation to work on the project direct from BMW Motorrad and gladly took up...
I’ve written articles about thousands of custom motorcycles, but every so often a bike crosses my radar that’s unlike anything...
When it comes to building custom bikes, taking the path less travelled is never the easy option. Sure, cafe racers...
Plam Werks, located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, undertook the customization of this remarkable 1993 BMW R100R motorcycle. The bike underwent...
Brazillian workshop Retrorides is the result of forty years of hard work by two generations of the Lourenço family. Nestled...
The Katze is finally out of the Tasche. BMW Motorrad has unveiled its highly anticipated R18 concept. As we all...
In our opinion there’s nothing better than when a talented photographer turns his camera’s attention to classic motorbikes. These shots...
Daniel Delfour, an experienced violin maker, decided to channel his artistic sensibility into crafting a truly extraordinary motorcycle. Combining a...
The compact, muscular R1200R with it’s classic, flat twin engine and naked design was the perfect starting point, but it...
This 1978 BMW R80/7 was modified by Upcycle Motor Garage into a bobber and fitted it with military-spec Firestone tractor...
I can confidently say this is the first time I’ve featured a custom motorcycle that was influenced by Keira Knightley. Jeremy at...
The year is 1973 and Bavarian Motor Works has just celebrated their 50th anniversary. In addition, they’ve also just completed...
Upcycle Garage created a unique BMW motorcycle, which is one of two cafe racers built by them. The bike, originally...
Some people profess to being obsessed by a brand because they own 2 or 3 things said brand has made....
More and more motorcycle workshops are utilising advanced manufacturing technologies to realise their custom creations. 10 years ago three-dimensional computer-aided...
This isn’t the first time we’ve featured a BMW cafe racer that’s been put together by a BMW car enthusiast....
Looking back over the last 11 years of running this website the thing I’ve enjoyed the most is seeing workshops...
Nitro Cycles are a relatively new workshop to the Spanish custom scene and this BMW K100 RS Cafe Racer represents...
During its impressive 20-year run, there were 81 different model variations of the BMW R100. The iconic boxer has been...
This BMW R100R underwent an extensive modification process to enhance its performance and aesthetics. The modifications included refinishing the wire-spoke...
We have a serious soft spot for BMW cafe racers but we’re also big fans of Scrambler styled Beemers. There’s...
Jeffry Sol’s BMW R nineT has been somewhat of a social media sensation since it was unveiled at the Big...
It’s been almost 10 years since BMW Motorrad released the R nineT. Technologically the Boxer-powered Roadster wasn’t anything groundbreaking. Its...
Repeat customers are the bread and butter of every business. Unfortunately, for some businesses, such as custom motorcycle builders, most...
Back in 2012 four like-minded friends decided enough was enough. Driven by their desire to build and ride custom bikes...
I’ve always loved the use of wood in cars. When I was young a neighbor converted an old ’30s Chevy into...
Growing up in India the Sinroja brothers, Rahul and Birju, developed an out of the ordinary love for motorcycles. In...
Twin Shock Division (TSD) Motorcycles is a tiny shop located in the Ukranian capital of Kiev. Headed by the talented...
Introducing the remarkable BMW R Nine T Sport Custom, a unique motorcycle that underwent an extensive two-year transformation, requiring substantial...
Building a custom motorcycle means owning a one-of-a-kind machine. A unique, personal expression that merges your individual style with performance...
Austria’s NCT Motorcycles are this week’s ‘talk of the town’ with 3 of their awesome builds appearing on custom motorcycle...
Zweiradwerke is a BMW Motorrad authorized dealership and moto cafe in the Bavarian city of Rosenheim. Their headquarters offers a...
The latest instalment of the Batman movie series directed by Matt Reeves is due to hit US cinema screens in...
This is a 1993 BMW R100R that was customized by Plam Werks in North Carolina. It has a metallic blue...
Customer requests and customer needs are two very different things. UK’s Sinroja Motorcycles are always happy to oblige with customer...
I love a good concept bike. An open brief and an aim to push the boundaries, breach new territory and...
Unless you’re buying a Harley-Davidson most dealerships don’t offer much in the way of customisation at the time of sale....
This 1977 BMW R75/7 was transformed into a cafe racer, featuring modifications such as a carbon-fiber cafe-style bump seat and...
Don’t get me wrong, the BMW thumper is a great utilitarian machine. The reliability of the simple 650cc Rotax engine...
I’ve seen enough BMW cafe racer builds to last a lifetime. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to see any...
Perth’s Kaylan Galloway is a guy who likes to do things the hard way. Probably because he can. A welder...
BMW made a cardinal sin when they created the cafe racer variation of the R Nine T. They down-graded its...
The BMW R nineT, part of BMW’s Heritage line, is a classically styled café racer that seamlessly combines vintage and...
It makes perfect sense that one of the world’s top custom BMW motorcycle builders is based in Germany. Under the...
After the success of his first custom bike series, Fran Manen of Lord Drake Kustoms knew he was on to...
BMW struck a chord in the custom motorcycle scene when they released the R Nine T. Powered by a bulletproof...
Hot on the heels of my recent post about Les Ateliers Ruby’s leather jackets UK based, custom workshop Kevil’s Speed Shop,...
Custom bikes often opt for a shock and awe approach to make an impact in this modern, social media-saturated world....
The transformation of this 1984 BMW K100RT into a cafe racer was a meticulous five-month project. The bike now exudes...
When a builder chooses to convert a tourer into a cafe racer it’s always a bit of a surprise to...
The 1978 BMW R80/7 showcases a polished fuel tank complementing its black frame. It is equipped with a 797cc boxer...
“I wanted to create an aggressive cafe racer with a design that separates it from the usual and a line...
“We are first and foremost designers, we don’t consider ourselves as ‘builders’ or mechanics. We customize and have enough contacts...
I recently became acquainted with Maximiliaan van Kuyk of Maverick motorcycles. Max and his brothers stumbled into the Cafe Racer...
Changing a motorcycle built for long rides into something truly bold is not an ordinary task. Most people see bikes...
One of the many amazing bikes on display at this year’s Handbuilt show in Austin was Dustin Kott’s BMW R80....
After just having the pleasure of pretending to own an R Nine T for the past few days (keep an...
The bike started out as a fully faired stock ’95 BMW R100 that Junior agreed to customise for his newly...
It’s the start of yet another working week. What better way to get through the day than by drooling over...
The owner of the BMW came to the OSE workshop in search of a cafe racer conversion for his 2016...
This lovely BMW R 100 named the “Earl Grey” is currently up for sale through Urban Moto in Germany for...
Established in 2002 the K-Speed business is spread over 12 stores around Thailand with its head quarters in Bangkok. Eak...
Building custom motorcycles is all about solving problems. This could be working around a modern electrical system, extracting additional horsepower...
There’s something undeniably magical about the classics. In the early eighties, BMW released its K100RS. The landmark sport tourer was...
Well, that wraps up yet another year of amazing cafe racer builds from custom workshops and backyard builders around the...
Taking on the restoration of a 1986 BMW K100, the builder dove into the project right after finishing another motorcycle....
Introducing the BMW K1100, a remarkable cafe racer-style motorcycle that pays homage to the legendary Bavarian ‘Flying Brick’. This particular...
Back in 2017, French builder Ortolani Customs wowed us with his metalworking prowess. His polished Ducati 1199 S earned him...
When it comes to customising older BMW motorcycles the R series airheads are the most popular weapon of choice. Fuss-free...
There’s no denying that Guzzis and BWMs have the biggest, bulkiest looking engines of all the motorcycle manufacturers (not to...
Kyohey Sugimoto, owner of Berrybads Motorcycles works out of a modest space in Ōtsu, the capital of Japan’s Shiga Prefecture....
I am Nigel Petrie from Engineered To Slide and I want to share with you my new BMW R Nine...
