Who can resist the beauty of BMW’s boxer engine? Their unorthodox horizontal head configuration and shaft drive has always intrigued...
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.
Lord Drake Kustoms, a motorcycle customization workshop in Malaga, transformed a 1984 BMW R65 into a cafe racer style for...
From building show cars to display at the hallowed halls of the Las Vegas Sema show to tinkering on Honda...
During its impressive 20-year run, there were 81 different model variations of the BMW R100. The iconic boxer has been...
Last weekend we officially released issue 7 of Tank Moto. Packed with awesome motorcycle features from around the world this...
The custom motorcycle world has been full of collaborations in the past few years. Manufacturers have recognised the influence custom...
The BMW K1100LT motorcycle, despite being heavy and expensive, had a powerful engine and high-quality components, making it a popular...
Nitro Cycles are a relatively new workshop to the Spanish custom scene and this BMW K100 RS Cafe Racer represents...
I am Nigel Petrie from Engineered To Slide and I want to share with you my new BMW R Nine...
The quality of the home built Cafe Racers being submitted by our readers continues to astound us. This exceptional bike...
Years later I managed to scrape together enough to buy my first road bike, get my license sorted and I...
Stumbled across this 1961 BMW R69s Cafe Racer named “The Bull” today. It’s a strange combination of parts but it...
Custom bikes often opt for a shock and awe approach to make an impact in this modern, social media-saturated world....
This is 1980 BMW R100 was modified by Boxer Metal in California, in the style of a drag bike. drag...
Early this year Hammer received an invitation to work on the project direct from BMW Motorrad and gladly took up...
If you’re considering attempting to turn any kind of tourer into a cafe racer you’re going to have your work...
Back in 2012 four like-minded friends decided enough was enough. Driven by their desire to build and ride custom bikes...
Sinroja Motorcycles is run by brothers Rahul and Birju. This bike was only the third build to roll out of...
Building a custom motorcycle means owning a one-of-a-kind machine. A unique, personal expression that merges your individual style with performance...
This isn’t the first time we’ve featured a BMW cafe racer that’s been put together by a BMW car enthusiast....
I’ve never had the urge to eat a motorcycle before but this latest build from Jerikan looks delicious. For some...
Introducing the remarkable BMW R Nine T Sport Custom, a unique motorcycle that underwent an extensive two-year transformation, requiring substantial...
Florida’s Nmoto Studio blew us away with their stunning R7 inspired kit for the BMW R Nine T. BMW Motorrad’s...
The Kustom Moto team has transformed this 1992 BMW K1100 into a modern cafe racer, complete with a powerful 100+...
Jeffry Sol’s BMW R nineT has been somewhat of a social media sensation since it was unveiled at the Big...
Repeat customers are the bread and butter of every business. Unfortunately, for some businesses, such as custom motorcycle builders, most...
Why let a little Snow stop you from getting out on your motorcycle? Here’s Blitz motorcycles solution to your winter blues....
Unless you’re buying a Harley-Davidson most dealerships don’t offer much in the way of customisation at the time of sale....
Here’s a little something to get you through another night glued to the couch. Our latest instalment of the Sunday...
We’ve all had a gut full of 2020 and I’m sure most people would agree they’ll be glad to see...
This lovely BMW R 100 named the “Earl Grey” is currently up for sale through Urban Moto in Germany for...
When a builder chooses to convert a tourer into a cafe racer it’s always a bit of a surprise to...
There are few motorcycle engines as iconic as BMW Motorrad’s flat twin ‘Boxer’. Renowned for their bulletproof reliability the Boxer...
Bill Costello crafted this custom café racer out of a 1981 BMW R100RT, intending to create a sleek urban ride...
Growing up in India the Sinroja brothers, Rahul and Birju, developed an out of the ordinary love for motorcycles. In...
If you’re into custom motorcycles (which I will assume you are since you’re here) the name Kaichiroh Kurosu and his...
Trust is one of the biggest hurdles for any business. But once it is achieved, success will follow. After amassing...
The BMW R nineT, part of BMW’s Heritage line, is a classically styled café racer that seamlessly combines vintage and...
Christian Boosen runs 86 Gear Motorcycles, a custom motorcycle shop in Warsaw, Poland. Growing up alongside the Dutch border in...
Could a motorcycle be any more beautiful? This is a fully restored 1934 BMW R7 and it’s the only one...
The bike you see here is a fully restored BMW motorcycle from the 1970s, converted into a café racer. It...
This 1977 BMW R75/7 was transformed into a cafe racer, featuring modifications such as a carbon-fiber cafe-style bump seat and...
Established in 2002 the K-Speed business is spread over 12 stores around Thailand with its head quarters in Bangkok. Eak...
Are you a dreamer or a doer? Prior to 2018 Marcel Galuszka would have labelled himself a dreamer. But when...
In our opinion there’s nothing better than when a talented photographer turns his camera’s attention to classic motorbikes. These shots...
The compact, muscular R1200R with it’s classic, flat twin engine and naked design was the perfect starting point, but it...
BMW’s stalwart R100 was offered in various guises from 1976 to 1996. The 980cc boxer twins made adequate power, had...
Upcycle Garage created a unique BMW motorcycle, which is one of two cafe racers built by them. The bike, originally...
Cognito Moto, based in Richmond, Virginia, revamped a 1971 BMW R75/5 into a striking “brat tracker.” The motorcycle showcases a...
I once said that the 1934 BMW R7 was one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made, and I still...
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when building your own Cafe Racer, or any style of custom motorcycle for...
High in the northeastern reaches of Italy, you’ll find the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Bordered by Slovenia and Austria it’s...
Jérémie, the owner of the French workshop Jerem-Motorcycles, has only been building motorcycles for 3 years part-time. Still, he somehow...
On the dawn of a new year there’s plenty to get excited about. You’ve got another year of riding adventures...
Imagine this scenario: A bike magazine hands you a box-fresh 1978 BMW R100RS and the concept rendering for a fantastic,...
Tucked away in the southeastern forests of Bavaria is the small town of Viechtach. If you look it up on...
When it comes to building custom bikes, taking the path less travelled is never the easy option. Sure, cafe racers...
“All men’s misfortunes spring from their hatred of being alone“ The sad individual responsible for that quote obviously never had...
“The Diva project was inspired by BMW motorcycles of twenties, taking their class and elegance and blending it with modern...
When it comes to customising older BMW motorcycles the R series airheads are the most popular weapon of choice. Fuss-free...
Twin Shock Division (TSD) Motorcycles is a tiny shop located in the Ukranian capital of Kiev. Headed by the talented...
After months of hard work and seemingly endless nights of writing, issue 2 of Tank Moto is now available! Just...
The BMW, which belongs to a friend of Weston, was originally introduced into the family by his ‘Uncle Lou’ and...
Working with clients can be both challenging and rewarding. When Ønix Design’s latest customer, a doctor from Valencia, brought his...
I love a good concept bike. An open brief and an aim to push the boundaries, breach new territory and...
This BMW R Nine T is a customized retro-inspired sportbike turned café racer. It is equipped with a 1,170cc air-cooled...
Giorgio De Angelis of ‘De Angelis Elaborazioni’ prides himself in turning old BMWs into performance focused customs. Throughout his childhood,...
Shiroh Nakajima is the custom motorcycle engineer and CEO behind Japanese workshop Ritmo Sereno. In this short film Shiroh explains...
The latest instalment of the Batman movie series directed by Matt Reeves is due to hit US cinema screens in...
When he’s not fabricating parts for submarines (Yes, you read that right) David Manchester is building bespoke furniture or helping...
BMW’s K100 Sports Tourer is a motorcycle that few people would consider when planning a custom build. Despite it’s 1000cc,...
One of the many amazing bikes on display at this year’s Handbuilt show in Austin was Dustin Kott’s BMW R80....
Adrián Campos and the team at Valencia’s Bolt Motor Co. are set to finish their 50th build sometime during 2021....
As Mark Twain so eloquently put it “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work...
As the lines blur between the different styles of custom bike building and builders become more adventurous, it’s getting much...
Introducing the BMW K1100, a remarkable cafe racer-style motorcycle that pays homage to the legendary Bavarian ‘Flying Brick’. This particular...
“We are first and foremost designers, we don’t consider ourselves as ‘builders’ or mechanics. We customize and have enough contacts...
Don’t get me wrong, the BMW thumper is a great utilitarian machine. The reliability of the simple 650cc Rotax engine...
The Interceptor may be an unexpected development from Radical Ducati, but it certainly isn’t a disappointment. They’ve created a high...
In 2018, Federal Moto of Chicago crafted this 1980 BMW R100/7, undertaking various modifications. Their work included the creation of...
“This project kicked off with a stock 1982 BMW R45 that had laid dormant in our client’s garage for almost...
Customer requests and customer needs are two very different things. UK’s Sinroja Motorcycles are always happy to oblige with customer...
Daniel Delfour, an experienced violin maker, decided to channel his artistic sensibility into crafting a truly extraordinary motorcycle. Combining a...
The bar has definitely been raised in the custom motorcycle scene. If you’re planning on impressing anyone a bolt-on seat,...
It all began when Hieronymus spotted an MC club member’s BMW boxer parked on a sidewalk in Paris. Sitting in...
I’ve always loved the use of wood in cars. When I was young a neighbor converted an old ’30s Chevy into...
It makes perfect sense that one of the world’s top custom BMW motorcycle builders is based in Germany. Under the...
The year is 1973 and Bavarian Motor Works has just celebrated their 50th anniversary. In addition, they’ve also just completed...
Our friends over at Cognito Moto have been toiling away on their latest custom BMW R75 project. The project was...
Melbourne is arguably the creative hub of Australia. If you’re looking for great food or a cultural experience the city...
We’re big fans of the work of Californian motorcycle builder Samuel Kao and his workshop JSK Moto Co. JSK motorcycles...
After a 2 year hiatus, the Munich-based custom motorcycle powerhouse Diamond Atelier is back. Despite big changes in the company’s...
The Johnnie Wash R Nine T series features 3 different models of which the Brown is the most extensively modified....
In 2016, C&J Motorrad of Victoria, Minnesota, transformed this 1983 BMW R80ST into a scrambler masterpiece. The modification involved adjusting...
Of all the boxers the BMW R75/5 models with the “toaster” tank are a firm favourite. They are less angular...
Hot on the heels of my recent post about Les Ateliers Ruby’s leather jackets UK based, custom workshop Kevil’s Speed Shop,...
Looking back over the last 11 years of running this website the thing I’ve enjoyed the most is seeing workshops...
Brazillian workshop Retrorides is the result of forty years of hard work by two generations of the Lourenço family. Nestled...
Building 2 identical motorcycles probably wouldn’t sound all that appealing to most builders. But for Antoine Meister who runs the...
It’s been less than 6 months since we featured the Le Bouterollier BMW R60/7 and Jean-Pierre is back with yet...