The bike you see here is a fully restored BMW motorcycle from the 1970s, converted into a café racer. It...
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.
In full dress, the BMW R1200RT tips the scales at hefty 259kg. This is by no means an ideal starting...
Located in New York City, The Suited Racer considers himself a ‘living piece of conceptual art’. The multidisciplinary artist creates...
The Retro Rebuilds workshop in Rockford, Michigan transformed a 1987 BMW K100LT motorcycle into a stylish cafe racer. The bike...
This lovely BMW R 100 named the “Earl Grey” is currently up for sale through Urban Moto in Germany for...
Imagine this scenario: A bike magazine hands you a box-fresh 1978 BMW R100RS and the concept rendering for a fantastic,...
The cafe racer in BMW’s R nineT heritage series won hearts with its sleek styling. However, motorcycle journalists brought a...
Why let a little Snow stop you from getting out on your motorcycle? Here’s Blitz motorcycles solution to your winter blues....
Another cool motorcycling video brought to you by The Selvedge Yard. If you can get past the Bourne Identity-esque erratic...
You may remember the somewhat controversial Buell Norton Manx I featured a couple of months ago? Well it’s back and it’s...
Early this year Hammer received an invitation to work on the project direct from BMW Motorrad and gladly took up...
There’s no denying that classic BMW motorcycles make great looking Cafe Racers, but if you’re looking to build a modern...
Taking on the restoration of a 1986 BMW K100, the builder dove into the project right after finishing another motorcycle....
Lord Drake Kustoms, a motorcycle customization workshop in Malaga, transformed a 1984 BMW R65 into a cafe racer style for...
This drastically customised BMW R80 is the brainchild of Oaky and JJ from Griffin Spares in Sydney. “Sometimes the best...
This 1978 BMW R100S underwent a scrambler-style customization, showcasing various enhancements. The replacement tank has been skillfully repainted in a...
Stumbled across this 1961 BMW R69s Cafe Racer named “The Bull” today. It’s a strange combination of parts but it...
Europe’s largest Cafe Racer event, the Glemseck 101, just took place in Stuttgart, Germany. Now in its 5th year, the...
Austria’s NCT Motorcycles are this week’s ‘talk of the town’ with 3 of their awesome builds appearing on custom motorcycle...
Some people profess to being obsessed by a brand because they own 2 or 3 things said brand has made....
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when building your own Cafe Racer, or any style of custom motorcycle for...
It all began when Hieronymus spotted an MC club member’s BMW boxer parked on a sidewalk in Paris. Sitting in...
Every so often a custom motorcycle appears in my inbox that is so unique it stops me in my tracks....
The Digimoto project was a collaboration between industrial designer Christian Zanzotti, product development agency Greydev and BMW aftermarket experts Wunderlich....
I bet the last thing Edgar Heinrich and the BMW Motorrad Design team ever expected to see was their behemoth...
For many years the United States was the biggest source of inspiration for custom motorcycle builders around the world. Then...
During its impressive 20-year run, there were 81 different model variations of the BMW R100. The iconic boxer has been...
Repeat customers are the bread and butter of every business. Unfortunately, for some businesses, such as custom motorcycle builders, most...
Of all the bike reviews I’ve done, handing the keys back for the BMW R Nine T has been the...
Nostalgia can be a powerful motivator. For Joe Loss of Fremantle, Western Australia it started in his teenage years when...
“This project kicked off with a stock 1982 BMW R45 that had laid dormant in our client’s garage for almost...
Nitro Cycles are a relatively new workshop to the Spanish custom scene and this BMW K100 RS Cafe Racer represents...
Sometimes it’s a single detail that defines a build. Just one modification or handmade part that takes a custom motorcycle...
Trust is one of the biggest hurdles for any business. But once it is achieved, success will follow. After amassing...
Jeffry Sol’s BMW R nineT has been somewhat of a social media sensation since it was unveiled at the Big...
Kyohey Sugimoto, owner of Berrybads Motorcycles works out of a modest space in Ōtsu, the capital of Japan’s Shiga Prefecture....
Last weekend we officially released issue 7 of Tank Moto. Packed with awesome motorcycle features from around the world this...
In 2018, Federal Moto of Chicago crafted this 1980 BMW R100/7, undertaking various modifications. Their work included the creation of...
One of the hardest parts of a custom bike build is deciding when it’s done. This same problem applies to...
We have a serious soft spot for BMW cafe racers but we’re also big fans of Scrambler styled Beemers. There’s...
This 1975 BMW R75/6 underwent a three-year transformation into a cafe racer. The bike is finished in metallic silver with...
It’s been almost 10 years since BMW Motorrad released the R nineT. Technologically the Boxer-powered Roadster wasn’t anything groundbreaking. Its...
This 1977 BMW R75/7 was transformed into a cafe racer, featuring modifications such as a carbon-fiber cafe-style bump seat and...
It’s been a couple of years since I first featured one of Kevin Hills custom builds. Since then under his...
As BMW Motorrad put it, the R9T Racer is “Style in the fast lane.” It’s a fitting statement for this...
Introducing the remarkable BMW R Nine T Sport Custom, a unique motorcycle that underwent an extensive two-year transformation, requiring substantial...
According to Mark Condon of BikeBiz “Our team really know their bikes, so depending on the customer we can give...
In 2016, C&J Motorrad of Victoria, Minnesota, transformed this 1983 BMW R80ST into a scrambler masterpiece. The modification involved adjusting...
This happens when one of the world’s most creative custom workshops decides that they need to customise their shop bike....
“I thought to myself, if I can fix and maintain a 40 million dollar yacht, then I can build a...
BMW’s stalwart R100 was offered in various guises from 1976 to 1996. The 980cc boxer twins made adequate power, had...
Don’t get me wrong, the BMW thumper is a great utilitarian machine. The reliability of the simple 650cc Rotax engine...
This 1985 BMW R80 underwent modifications, including refinishing the fuel tank and frame in black, fitting a shortened rear subframe...
Experiences from our youth can have a profound effect on what we do later in life. For Jean-Pierre, it was...
Unless you’re buying a Harley-Davidson most dealerships don’t offer much in the way of customisation at the time of sale....
This 1982 BMW R100RT has been customized in the cafe racer style. The fuel tank, front fender, and custom fiberglass...
There’s something undeniably magical about the classics. In the early eighties, BMW released its K100RS. The landmark sport tourer was...
Big thanks to Collin Christenbury for sending in these shots he took at the Vintage Motorcycle Races & Show in Elkhart Lake...
The Katze is finally out of the Tasche. BMW Motorrad has unveiled its highly anticipated R18 concept. As we all...
The 2012 Bonneville Speed Week is wrapping up for another year. Thankfully it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot...
I can confidently say this is the first time I’ve featured a custom motorcycle that was influenced by Keira Knightley. Jeremy at...
BMW made a cardinal sin when they created the cafe racer variation of the R Nine T. They down-graded its...
Building one-off projects for individual customers has its benefits, but it isn’t the most reliable income model for a custom...
Well, that wraps up yet another year of amazing cafe racer builds from custom workshops and backyard builders around the...
Could a motorcycle be any more beautiful? This is a fully restored 1934 BMW R7 and it’s the only one...
At first glance, you could be forgiven for assuming this custom motorcycle is based on a model from BMW Motorrad’s...
Even in the motorcycle world, trends, like all things in life, come and go. The cafe racer scene has seen...
Building 2 identical motorcycles probably wouldn’t sound all that appealing to most builders. But for Antoine Meister who runs the...
Hugo Eccles and the Untitled Motorcycles team are capable of building pretty much whatever they can dream up. Their custom...
“As the story goes my first word was ‘car’ rather than ‘mummy’. I’m not so sure whether this is the...
The Johnnie Wash R Nine T series features 3 different models of which the Brown is the most extensively modified....
When he’s not fabricating parts for submarines (Yes, you read that right) David Manchester is building bespoke furniture or helping...
We’ve all had a gut full of 2020 and I’m sure most people would agree they’ll be glad to see...
Florida’s Nmoto Studio blew us away with their stunning R7 inspired kit for the BMW R Nine T. BMW Motorrad’s...
Twin Shock Division (TSD) Motorcycles is a tiny shop located in the Ukranian capital of Kiev. Headed by the talented...
Back in 2017, French builder Ortolani Customs wowed us with his metalworking prowess. His polished Ducati 1199 S earned him...
Upcycle Garage designed and built two cafe racers, and this custom BMW motorcycle is one of them. It was originally...
The bar has definitely been raised in the custom motorcycle scene. If you’re planning on impressing anyone a bolt-on seat,...
Two motorcycle obsessed friends building bikes for a living. It sounds like the perfect life to be living. This is...
“The most elaborate and beautiful K100 we have ever built” For this unique collaboration, VTR Customs ironically chose a...
The compact, muscular R1200R with it’s classic, flat twin engine and naked design was the perfect starting point, but it...
I’ve seen enough BMW cafe racer builds to last a lifetime. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to see any...
Changing a motorcycle built for long rides into something truly bold is not an ordinary task. Most people see bikes...
We’re big fans of the work of Californian motorcycle builder Samuel Kao and his workshop JSK Moto Co. JSK motorcycles...
Our friends over at Cognito Moto have been toiling away on their latest custom BMW R75 project. The project was...
Custom bikes often opt for a shock and awe approach to make an impact in this modern, social media-saturated world....
One of the many amazing bikes on display at this year’s Handbuilt show in Austin was Dustin Kott’s BMW R80....
Looking back over the last 11 years of running this website the thing I’ve enjoyed the most is seeing workshops...
It makes perfect sense that one of the world’s top custom BMW motorcycle builders is based in Germany. Under the...
When it debuted, the BMW K1 was Marmite for motorcyclists. They either loved it or hated it. The radical sports...
This 1983 BMW R100 was transformed into a cafe racer by Untitled Motorcycles in San Francisco, California. Throughout the process,...
Of all the boxers the BMW R75/5 models with the “toaster” tank are a firm favourite. They are less angular...
Customer requests and customer needs are two very different things. UK’s Sinroja Motorcycles are always happy to oblige with customer...
This great video featuring musician/songwriter/producer Butch Walker was pulled together by Mann-made Pictures for Cafe Racer TV. Butch talks about...
Established in 2002 the K-Speed business is spread over 12 stores around Thailand with its head quarters in Bangkok. Eak...
As Mark Twain so eloquently put it “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work...
Not all custom builds have to completely transform a motorcycle to catch our attention. Fresh on the heels of BMW...
Upcycle Garage created a unique BMW motorcycle, which is one of two cafe racers built by them. The bike, originally...
