OC Garage

Lewis Hamilton has just ensured his place in the history books by winning a second Formula 1 world title in a modern era where the excessive cockpit adjustments have garnered opinion from some that currently drivers have too much to concentrate on. I beg to differ. The steering wheel goes left to right and the pedals are in the same layout as in a Hertz rental car.
Imagine being a motorcyclist and getting called up to fight in a World War, pretty bad news. Then you find out you’ll be a motorcycle dispatch rider, slight improvement. But you turn up and find throttle is on the left, the clutch lever is now the front brake and the actual clutch by your left foot and there’s a suicide shift for the gears. Oh, and a foreign man is shooting you, so you must shoot him back, reload and shoot his mate whilst riding fast across a deeply rutted field in the pouring rain. And it’s winter, your fingers don’t feel your own and they’ll be no champagne spraying when you deliver your important documents.
So, now we’ve set a gallant, macho and heroic tone hopefully some of it will blend into the picture at the bottom of this page. The man sporting bare feet and half a suit is Oscar Tasso, he is Italian, from Milano, and therefore fully accredited to suggest such sartorial juxtaposition. If it wasn’t for the fact that we know Oscar and OC Garage we’d possibly have a dig.

OC’s last build, Dark Lady, was the result of a truly life changing moment, one reason why Oscar is so very passionate about what he creates for a living. This BMW was to be the antithesis to the Dark Lady, a bike to exude testosterone. “Mortaio” started out life as an R80RT and is just about recognisable as one.

Obviously to achieve this degree of paint finish a complete strip down was required. Everything was cleaned and blasted before the various tones and textures could be added. The wrinkle finish on the engine and transmission is particularly resilient and hard wearing. The subframe and luggage racks are Oscar’s handiwork, the pillion pad a detail reminiscent of bikes from decades earlier. This and the main seat are of course handmade and covered with fine leather.

The engine and gearbox were also stripped and refreshed with new bearings and seals. Bing carbs enjoyed an ultrasonic bath and new jets to cope with the free-breathing cone filters. The usual truck sized battery has been recycled, probably now being used by some soap dodgers living off-grid in the Dolomites, a minuscule Lithium-Ion version is now hidden away in one of the ammo cases.

The fuel tank is from a Honda and modified to fit, with textured paint to match the engine. The forks have been firmed up with a thin but strong steel tubed brace. Trials tyres are a welcome break from the aggressive knobblies we often see in the Shed, offering a off-road potential and vintage looks.

The R50 style headlight is mounted in a bracket fabricated in the same way as the fork brace, with an Acewell all-in-one speedo making up the cockpit. The ignition key and switch have been located rearward, below the saddle. Wide, flat bars compliment the retro aesthetic whilst helping Oscar lever his way through Milano’s mean streets.

The stainless exhausts headers are tailored to fit and held in by a rather tasty machined aluminium rose nut. Which not only looks great but saves that knuckle-skinning, thread stripping episode if the heads need to ever come off.

Oscar has executed his own brief with crisp detail and built something a little different form the norm, hear hear for that.  Other examples of his “Moving Art” can be found on his website as well as videos of previous builds. With a few more commissions he might even be able to afford a pair of trousers and some nice shoes.

First published at http://thebikeshed.cc

Black Spider Sumisura Posted

K100 Tatanka "Black Spider"

by Moto Sumisura - Vigevano, Italy

Frank Augello of Moto Sumisura was certainly one of the first builders in Italy, if not the very first, to modify BMW K successfully. Tatanka is his trademark for this kind of builds. Calling "Spider" the heavy "Special K", conversely, is a provocation...

First read on inazumacafe

ER Voltron: A BMW R69S for the future

It’s not easy to pick out Slovenia on a map. It’s a tiny, picture-postcard country just to the east of Italy, full of mountains and forests and rivers, and home to some of Europe’s best driving roads. Slovenia is also home to ER Motorcycles, one of the fastest-rising stars on the custom scene. This is the latest build from Blaž Šuštaršič and his crew, and it confirms their place in the premier league.


The story of Voltron can be traced back to last year’s ‘Mobster,’ a BMW R80-engined custom with a strong vintage vibe. “After the success of the Mobster project we couldn’t resist the chance to do it all again—but this time in a different style,” says Blaž. Mobster was all about the vintage BMW vibe, but Voltron propels it a few decades into the 21st century: It’s a clever, retro-futuristic mash-up of styles and eras. “We’ve used many of the ideas that were going through our heads when designing Mobster,” says Blaž, “but didn’t suit the vintage style.”


Voltron is a scrambler-meets-street-tracker hybrid, with an emphasis on clean lines and visual simplicity. It’s a much more ‘technical’ and ambitious build than Mobster, with more of a focus on the rider experience. “We also wanted to improve the maneuverability and the ergonomics, to make the rider feel even better.” The core of the bike is a modified and cleaned-up 1964 R69S frame, upgraded with a liberal sprinkling of parts from the later R80 RT. That includes the engine, the complete front end, and the 18” wheels.


The transmission is a rebuilt five-speed BMW R100 unit, and the fuel tank is the famous R60/5 ‘Toaster’ design. A few modern components have been discreetly integrated, such as the Brembo calipers, Renthal bars and a whole raft of top-shelf Motogadget electrics—including the instrument, switchgear and an m-Unit master controller. The distinctive upright shocks have been rebuilt with Hagon internals and the tires are Heidenau K60 Scouts—classic 50/50 dual sport rubber with an excellent reputation. Ancillaries include Tarozzi pegs and Ariette grips. Everything else is custom-made to an extraordinarily high standard.


There’s no question about the quality or the design vision here, but what about the name? “We wanted a name that sounds strong and has a futuristic flavor, to emphasize the bike’s modern features,” says Blaž. “Voltron was a giant robot from an old animated TV series, who fought evil forces as the Defender of the universe. “For us, Voltron represents our most advanced build—fighting its way from past to future!”
If this is the future of custom motorcycle building, we reckon it looks pretty good.
Images by Jernej Konjajev. Follow ER Motorcycles’ news via their Facebook page.

Build Sheet
Build time: 4 months (April to July 2014)
Engine: BMW R80 RT engine, replaced: main chain, sprockets, tensioners, gaskets, exhaust, intake tubes, diode plate
Carburation: stock, rebuilt
Exhaust system: custom made exhaust pipes, Spark silencer
Air cleaner: K&N air filter
Transmission: BMW R100 / rebuilt, 5 gear
Frame: stock / modified
Subframe: custom made (solo seat)
Forks: BMW R80 RT monolever / modified
Shocks: Hagon cartridge
Upper Triple Tree: BMW R80 RT / modified
Front rim: BMW R80 RT 18 inch
Rear rim size: BMW R80 RT / modified 18 inch
Tires: Haidenau K60 Scout 120/90/18
Front brake: Brembo calipers / modified
Rear brake: stock drum brake / modified
Brake calipers: Brembo calipers
Fuel tank: BMW R60/5 “Toaster” stock
Handlebar: Renthal Ultralow black
Speedo: Motogadget Motoscope pro
Headlight: 165 mm
Taillight: custom housing, LED lights / integrated into subframe
Hand controls: Motogadget M-switch
Handgrips: Ariette grips black
Footpegs: Tarozzi footpegs
Electrics: completely new electrical wiring, Motogadget m-Unit
Fabricated parts designed by ER team
Subframe, seat pan, leather seat, headlight brackets, brake caliper holders, honeycomb mesh side panels, front shield, license plate, custom front and rear fenders, exhaust pipes, battery box.

The post ER Voltron: A BMW R69S for the future appeared first on Bike EXIF.

Pure Klasse: Diamond Atelier’s BMW R80

The BMW R80 ticks all the boxes for custom builders. It’s reliable, simple to work on and cheap to buy. And, as with all R-series airheads, it looks pretty good straight out of the box. Unfortunately, the popularity of the venerable BMW means it’s edging into cliché territory: most customs look pretty much the same. The R-series is ripe for a fresh approach, and here it is—courtesy of two young, first-time builders from Munich, just down the road from BMW’s own headquarters.


Diamond Atelier is the new company of 21-year-old Tom Konecny, and 24-year-old Pablo Steigleder. “We’re not building bikes to become rich and famous,” says Tom, “but to add something to the custom scene. “We’ve never raced around a track, but we know what looks good. And that’s what we’re trying to achieve.” Believe it or not, this 1992 R80 RT is Tom and Pablo’s first build. Tom has owned the bike since he was 17, and felt it was time for an overhaul.


Hardly anything from the original R80 remains. The 18” spoked front wheel and floating brake discs are from an R100R; they’re now hooked up to a Brembo PSC-16 brake master cylinder and Brembo calipers, via stainless steel hoses. The forks have been lowered three inches to improve stance, and are clamped by custom upper triples. Top-flight controls are fitted to Fehling clipon bars—including Magura levers and a Tommaselli quick-action throttle system. The headlight is a combination of Yamaha and Honda parts.


The componentry is beyond approach, but it’s the perfect lines that catch the eye. To match the angle of the new seat unit, Tom and Pablo lifted the fuel tank a couple of inches. The tail section is crafted from fiberglass and padded with industrial-grade caoutchouc—a natural rubber compound. “We built the entire rear frame from scratch,” says Tom, “and made it about 15 centimeters narrower, to give the bike a sleek and lightweight look.” The rearsets are from Tarozzi and underneath the seat is a featherweight Porsche GT3 Cup car battery.


Diamond Atelier have kept the stock exhaust headers, but ditched the middle silencer and fitted short cone pipes—which have custom-made inserts to pass the strict German TÜV regulations. Little touches help to give the bike its highly crafted feel. The frame has been completely de-tabbed and cleaned up, and new housings were designed for the alternator, starter and shaft drive. Round valve covers and air filters complete the look.
The delicate blue paint is not something you’ll find in the Glasurit color guide: it’s hand-mixed to create the palest of pale blues, with vestigial black pinstriping providing a link back to BMW’s heritage.


The result is simply jaw dropping. And even the hardcore stalwarts of the Munich custom scene were impressed: “At the local biker hangout bar, a guy described us as ‘the boys who would never win a race, but have the coolest looking rides,’” says Tom. “I admit we would gladly accept this description!” “The R80 wasn’t built to be faster or more comfortable than the original, or to save gas. But it’s got our own Diamond Atelier look going, which we think is unique and just right for us.”
It’s just right for us too—and a good omen for the future of the custom BMW scene.
Diamond Atelier website | Facebook page | Images © 2014 Philipp Wulk.

The post Pure Klasse: Diamond Atelier’s BMW R80 appeared first on Bike EXIF.

A BMW R69S with a bit on the side

Few things in the world of motorcycling are as cool as sidecars. And the allure is magnified when the rig in question is both vintage and ultra-rare. This very classy setup was put together by South African BMW experts Cytech, and pairs a 1964 BMW R69S with a 50s-model Steib sidecar. “The client had been in touch with us for two years looking for this particular combination,” says Cytech owner Donovan Muller. “Eventually we made the match.”


And what a match it is. Steib was the sidecar of choice for BMW Motorrad in the 50s; replicas are still available, but finding an original is a tad more difficult. This one was bought from a deceased estate, as part of a bigger lot—but it was completely dismantled, and riddled with rust and amateur repair work. Cytech’s restoration on the sidecar would rival many complete motorcycle rebuilds. The main shell was stripped, sandblasted and repaired, and the wheel fender was rebuilt with sheet metal before being painted and rubberised inside.


The sidecar’s wheel received new spokes and nipples, the hub was powdercoated, and every nut and bolt was cadmium plated. Cytech has also fitted a new aluminum bead to the fender and body, and refurbished the original tail light and Steib badge. The seat was recovered in black leather with gold pin studs. The BMW itself was also in need of a serious restoration, and was even missing a few parts—such as the seat and exhausts. So Donovan and his team tore into it with vigour, completely overhauling the engine, gearbox and original 26mm Bing carbs.


The electrical system received a serious refresh, with a new wiring harness and ignition system, and the suspension was rebuilt. Every little detail was attended to—such as fitting tapered steering head bearings and replacing the air filter housing. A rare long range Hoske tank was fitted, with a Karcoma fuel tap and a set of US-spec R50 handlebars to accommodate its width. Other top-shelf parts include a Denfeld bench seat and Bumm bar-end mirrors.
Then a full stainless steel exhaust system was installed, and a set of wide-lipped aluminum rims built up with stainless spokes and nipples. Metzeler rubber was fitted to the bike and sidecar’s wheels.


By default, the sidecar mounts were all placed on the right from the factory. “But for the road rules in South Africa, the sidecar must be mounted on the left,” explains Donovan. Cytech moved the mountings to to the opposite side of the bike, and finished everything in a timeless BMW livery: black with white pinstriping. Both the R69S and the Steib are immaculate in their own right. But combined, they’re unbeatable.
It’s the perfect rig for ambling around on a Sunday afternoon, in style.


Cytech | Images by Ryan Roux. The post A BMW R69S with a bit on the side appeared first on Bike EXIF.

BMW R 65: A Second Life

Like any self-respecting cafe racer motorcycle is always eternally work in progress, and so Tuner And after showing his BMW R 65 in its first version now show this new step, where the original tank almost slack space to let in aluminum with the exposed metal with only the transparent and the saddle is now lined with suede.  

Custom BMW R100 | Dirt Tracker

BMW R100 Dirt Tracker Custom built by Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles. Owner of this BMW R100 Dave from England decided to commission the guys at Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles to build his new "Custom BMW R100 Tracker". Dave has participated in "the Scram Africa" where he happened to crash his bike at the Desert stage. Custom BMW R100 Dirt Tracker was conceived after several sketches by the builders. The ultimate goal was to make it Lighter yet performing.

Custom BMW R100 Dirt Tracker Features

BMW K75 front suspension, brakes were borrowed, two Mikuni carbs, K&N air intakes, Öhlins rear suspension, Fondseca quick throttle, Custom LSL handlebars,  Motogadget Motoscope speedo, Bates headlamp, Custom battery box, modified rear frame, custom exhaust, side panels (aluminum), Custom seat.

Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles has done a marvelous job with the Custom BMW R100 Dirt Tracker.

First read on http://www.way2speed.com
 

BMW Monolever by Flat Racer

Flat Racer is a boutique London-based company that produces some eye-catching accessories for vintage BMW motorcycles, the bike you see above started life as a stock 1990 BMW Monolever before being kitted out in a new full-fairing – giving it an entirely new lease on life.
When the team at Flat Racer set out to design the fairing they made a point of ensuring that it could be fitted without irreversibly altering the frame – this may not sound like much but the process took 5 years to complete.
Shakedown testing on the prototype (pictured here) revealed that it had a higher top speed than the stock bike, with slightly better fuel consumption and an improved riding position – not to mention the fact that it looks an order of magnitude better than the original OEM BMW fairing that hasn’t aged particularly well.
If you’d like to read more about the fairing kit, you can click here to visit Flat Racer – just be warned, you’ll spend the next few days hunting around your local classifieds looking for affordable Monolevers.