It started as a project for a cafe racer motorcycle and ended up being a very sporty and racing BMW. This is the new BMW K1 just finished in Lord Drake Kustoms’ motorcycle customization workshop.
Fran Manen (owner of LDK), has decided on this occasion to use a very special motorcycle: a BMW K1 to do what he has called one of the most impressive motorcycle transformations on a BMW K model that have been made until the date.
It is not the typical converted BMW K100, it is a unique custom motorcycle transformed from start to finish; in which no detail has been left behindโฆ A brutal and unique BMW.
The modification process of this BMW K1
The first idea was to make a BMW cafe racer, but quickly Fran decided to change the concept and make something less seen and very radical. To do this, as soon as they arrived at their custom motorcycle workshop, the first thing they did was strip and completely disassemble this K1 that they had bought from a collector.
Work began with the installation of an inverted fork, BMW spoke rims with road tires, discs and brake calipers. Afterwards, the semi-handlebars were installed and then the entire subframe was removed and part of the chassis was cut and modified to begin to shape what would be the new rear of this spectacular transformed BMW.
The fuel tank, which is the same as that of the BMW K100 models, had to be modified a bit to achieve the radical line of the motorcycle. A new air bottle rear shock was installed, the entire rear tail and seat were installed with custom upholstery.
All this work has been accompanied by a Motogadget digital odometer, Motogadget motorcycle keyless M-Lock starting system and buttons from the same brand. Retarded foot controls for BMW K and a paint job inspired by BMW โMโ series graphics.
The modified and handmade exhaust with the Spark tail gives it a Moto GP sound, a V-Rod type headlight, front indicators for Motogadget grips and Kellerman indicators at the rear, are other details to highlight from all the endless modifications. that this custom bike has.
Data Sheet
MOTORCYCLE: BMW K1
YEAR: 1991
DISPLAY: 1000 cc
FORK: Inverted
REAR SUSPENSION: WP Shock
DEPOSIT: Original modified
SUBCHASSIS: Handcrafted
SEAT: Manufactured and upholstered by hand
EXHAUST: Modified manifold and tail
FRONT WHEEL: Spokes
REAR WHEEL: Spokes
LIGHTING: Headlight with bracket, indicators and taillight
SPEEDOMETER: Relocation of speedometer and witness box.
OTHER WORKS: painting, powder painting, graphics, grips, footrest modification, etc.
BMW K1 Gallery
You can buy this model now!
BASE: BMW K1 STYLE: Cafe Racer SHIPPING: Worldwide.
“Customize your motorcycle even if it is an old dismantled Yamaha Virago 535” … this was what they told the owner of this Yamaha Virago Bobber recently transformed by Lord Drake Kustoms in his cafe racer workshop in Spain (Malaga).
Indeed, this custom motorcycle from the early 90s arrived at our motorcycle modification workshop, completely disassembled in several boxes and incomplete because it was missing many parts; and others were in poor condition or useless.
When you come to customize your motorcycle, you must take into account something very important: Make sure that the base motorcycle to be transformed is in good mechanical condition and that it is a reliable base; and not an old motorcycle with mechanical problems and failures all over the place; Well, customizing a motorcycle in poor mechanical or electrical condition is like starting a house from the roof and throwing money away.
Having said all this, we can tell you that in addition to the motorcycle modification work, we have had to invest a number of hours in our motorcycle workshop in Malaga, to solve all the mechanical and electrical problems that this custom motorcycle presented due to having numerous components in bad condition. state or included does not exist.
What have we modified in this Yamaha Virago
Once the mechanics part of this Virago XV Bobber has been solved, we focus on the transformation and modification work of this custom motorcycle. The first thing was to lower the front fork to the maximum and put some rear cafe racer shocks, as well as change the diameter of the rear wheel, going from 15 to 16 inches.
Some parts used on this bobber bikehave been bought at the โCustomiza tu motoโ shop: the cafe racer handlebar, headlight with yellow optics, Biltwell grips, Motogadget mini odometers and custom exhausts.
We have manufactured the license plate bracket and the two fenders, we have modified the subframe and made and upholstered the handmade motorcycle seat.
Finally, the motorcycle has been completely disassembled to be stripped and blasted to later be painted with electrostatic powder paint or black powdercoating and the tank has been stripped and polished to later be lacquered in matte. This work has been carried out by the Metal Colors company (www.metalcolors.com).
Thanks to our motorcycle homologation service we have legalized all the reforms carried out on this beautifulYamaha Virago XV Bobberwith the air of a cafe racer.
We have called this custom bikeTriumph Scrambler “Thruxton”, because the transformation or modification of this Triumph bike has not been done with a Bonneville or Scrambler base … A Triumph Thruxton has been customized.
It is true that the result of this scrambler modification can be achieved with the Triumph Bonneville; but on that occasion Fran Manen (owner of Lord Drake Kustoms) has chosen a model that originally is the opposite: a cafe racer since it leaves the factoryโฆ. a 2006 Thruxton 900 carburetion.
LDK has carried out the transformation of motorcycles like this on numerous occasions in its Triumph modification and customization workshop in Spain and especially in Miami. This scrambler in particular, it has been modified in our cafe racer workshop in Malaga.
Customizing the Triumph Scrambler “Thruxton”
The first thing was to disassemble this cafe racer bike to start modifying the subframe, giving it more height and adding some scrambler-style tires. Note that the front wheel has been changed to a 19-inch model to give it a more Street Tracker look.
After finishing with the subframe and seat, a Biltwell handlebar has been installed and a Motogadget Tiny odometer has been installed, accompanied by adjustable levers, biltwell grips and other details up front.
The original manifolds have been protected with anti-heat tape for exhausts, an aluminum skid plate for Triumph has been installed and a license plate holder with side arm has been manufactured.
The painting of this Triumph scrambler has been very simple, since the whole bike has been painted in matt black, except for the fuel tank that has been painted in dark pearl blue.
The seat, which has been manufactured at Lord Drake Kustoms, has been upholstered with brown leather and the wheels and other parts have been treated with electrostatic oven powder paintby the metalcolors company.
Finally, all the reforms carried out in this motorcycle customization work have been legalized with our own Homologation for motorcycles.
“Japanese also have the right to be transformed… I mean motorcycles!”. That was one of the phrases of Francisco Alรญ Manรฉn (owner of LDK) when he saw the result of this customization work done on the base of a Yamaha Drag Star XVS 650.
Many people think that to have a nice bobber or custom bike you have to make them on a Harley base; but we forget about some models of Japanese custom bikes that have a softail type chassis very similar to the “big twin” family of the American brand and that if they work well can result in spectacular custom bikes at much more economical prices.
On this “Yamaha XVS Drag Star Bobber” the process has been the same as on other bobber bikes they have customized at Lord Drake Kustoms… Disassembly of the entire rear and front, fabrication of rear fender and bobber seat for Yamaha, along with matching license plate bracket and front fender.
Handcrafted seat
Handmade mudguards
Handlebar Tracker
Modification of suspensions, installation of tracker type handlebars, lighting and turn signals, modification of exhaust pipes with universal tails and anti-heat tape, mirrors, grips, seat upholstered in perforated leather with rhombuses, etc.
Finally an impressive paint that combines matte black with gloss black and separated by lines in gold color throughout the bodywork. And gloss black powder coating for other structural elements such as rims, footrests, front forks, etc.
HOMOLOGATION
And once finished this “Yamaha XVS Drag Star Bobber”, we have proceeded to carry out the legalization of the reforms of a bobber bike like this one for the territory of Spain, in our department of homologations of transformed motorcycles.
Now let’s talk about a Harley Davidson Sportster 883 R that we converted into a Scrambler Street Tracker style motorcycle, a Sportster Scrambler.
After doing more than 15 or 20 units of Harley Davidson converted to Scrambler, there came a time when we were a little swamped and I wanted to make a bike a little more peculiar, which differed a little from the first units, and above all, do something for two seats.
This time I wanted to give it a little more urban style, reminding a beach style, for riding along a Californian promenade, something cooler, and that’s where the idea of the Urbantracker came from.
The process of building this Sportster Scrambler
Itโs a bike that has been completely modified, from front to back, it is a spectacular work, weโve put inverted fork, radio wheels, a handcrafted tail made entirely of metal. Weโve modified the subframe, weโve made a mask to integrate the headlights, along with the numbers it carries, 69, also a very “hot” number, and weโve modified the tank. All this weโve combined with not a “vintage” paint, for the cream color it has, and weโve given some summer touches, surfers, perhaps a little ethnics with the graphics that is in shades of turquoise blue.
If youยดve liked this Harley Davidson turned into a scrambler donโt miss the next episodes were you can see new scramblers made from Harley Davidson. Donโt forget to subscribe and click the bell and like it.
It is a bike that we have transformed into an hybrid, it is neither a Cafe Racer, nor a Bobber, nor a “retro” bike.
Due to some characteristics such as the semi handlebars, the height of the bike and the general aesthetics, we could say that it is a Cafe Racer, however, that spring seat that we have put in, has more airs of a Bobber or a “retro” bike.
The main feature of this bike is that we have incorporated, apart from modifying the whole subframe, a 200 wide wheel. A fairly considerable wheel for the sportster, which gives the bike more body and more wingspan especially when you see it from behind.
The tank and all the bodywork, we have practically left it without paint, in polished metal, we have stripped it all, we have polished it, we have given it a matt lacquer.
We’ve lowered the front suspension. We have placed a very short rear fender, to show all the wide wheel we have put it on. Exhaust, filters, short front fender.
A lot of details that have given rise to a slightly different bike with a not very defined style.
If you liked this Sportster, don’t forget to give us a โLikeโ an subscribe to our channel and remember: โGreat things have small beginnings”.
We would say that this time, more than a complete Harley Davidson customization, it has been a restyling, since we have kept many original parts of this 2019 Iron 883, such as the wheels or the gas tank and its beautiful candy red paint.
This transformation of Harley Davidson has turned out to be one of the simplest custom motorcycle modifications that we have made and yet it has attracted a lot of attention among our customers and followers … As we sometimes say: โless is moreโ.
We have trimmed the subframe to turn this Harley into a single seater and we have manufactured a new very short rear fender, which we have accompanied with another trimmed front fender.
We have installed a Biltwell seat and manufactured a new side arm license plate holder for this Sportster Iron 883. Front led indicators integrated into the handlebar cones, a drag bar handlebar, metal covers for the fork bars between the triple clamps.
Biltwell grips, a Rough Craftsy air filter, exhaust tails with the original manifolds, along with other small details such as the elevation of the fuel tank; have shaped this beautiful Harley SPORTSTER IRON RED.
Regarding the paint, we have decided to keep the original color and graphics of the penaut fuel tank … a beautiful candy red. We have painted the side covers and the two fenders in matt black powder together with other parts of the bike (this electrostaticpowder painting job has been carried out by the metalcolors company)
Finally, we haveremapped this Harley Davidson with DIAG4BIKE and we have legalized all custom motorcycle modifications made by homologating the reforms made to this Sportster Iron Red.
On this occasion, we have achieved a brutal, strong and tough looking BMW Scrambler. All this, despite the fact that the R1150R models and their little sister the R850R, are perhaps somewhat complicated motorcycles to use as a basis for a good motorcycle transformation, (due to their fuel tank and front suspension system).
MODIFICATIONS
The removal of the entire fairing has been essential to start this project, as Fran Manen himself (owner of Lord Drake Kustoms) told us. Cutting of the subframe to convert the bike into a single-seater was another essential point and of course a pair of very radical tires such as the Continental TKC80.
Continental TKC80 tires
Tracker handlebar with mirrors and turn signals on the grips and minidigital odometer (all Motogadget brand) make up the part of the manual controls.
Motogadget Mini digital odometer
LED headlight
On the other hand, the oven-baked powder-coated bottles in gold, a LED headlight and a new minimalist fender give the front of this BMW R115R Scrambler a new look.
Handmade seat
A custom made seat, like the license plate support, heat tape on the manifolds and a small and more radical exhaust tail together with all the led lighting and other small details have given this imposing scrambler motorcycle look to a BMW R1150R somewhat complicated to customize (aesthetically speaking).
Other works
At Lord Drake Kustoms (as always and for all custom motorcycles for clients in Spain), we have carried out the homologation of all the reforms carried out on a scrambler motorcycle such as the BMW R115R Scrambler.
The owner of this customized Sportster, decided to buy a second hand bike and turn it into a Sportster cafe racer to his liking, after visiting the Harley Davidson dealership in Madrid. For this, he contacted our workshop specialized in customizations in Malaga.
After a long conversation with the owner of Lord Drake Kustoms (Fran Manen); we started this project of customization and transformation of a bike that would end up being a mix between a moto cafe racer and maybe a bobber.
The modifications made in this Sportster Cafe Racer
In our workshop specialized in Harley Davidson and custom motorcycles in Malaga, we began to dismantle the entire base bike, which was a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 custom of the year 2007.
One of the few requests that the customer had was that the rear should stand out for the presence of a wide tyre. A wide tyre for the Sportster, which could be 240 or 200. Finally we opted for a 200 tyre so as not to be too exaggerated.
The customer also told us that he liked the metal finish that he had seen on some of our latest BMW Cafe Racer; so we decided to make a custom bike that combined the black powder paint (made by www.metalcolors.com) with the metal and some touches of chrome on the rims and engine.
Despite being a Sportster cafe racer, its style changed a bit when we decided to install a spring seat that was manufactured and upholstered by hand; since At Lord Drake Kustoms we have a service for the manufacture and upholstery of custom motorcycle seats.
The sprung seat along with the rather retro or bobber style rear light made this transformed bike look rather undefined in terms of style. What mattered, though, was that the end result looked just like the customer expected.
With our Motorcycle Homologation, all the alterations made to this stylishly transformed bike were legalised by a cafe racer.
And once this transformed Harley Davidson was approved, it was delivered to its owner in Madrid, with our own free motorcycle delivery and collection service.
Gallery of this Sportster Cafe Racer
TECHNICAL DATA
Base: Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 CUSTOM
Year: 2007
Displacement: 1200 cc
Exhaust: vance and hines
Air filter: custom
Shock absorbers: 12.5″.
Fork: Original modified
Odometer: Original
Hand controls: Semi-rings, fists, etc.
Foot controls: modified
Rims: 6×16-spoke rear with 200″ tyre
Fuel tank: custom with modified height
Seat: handmade spring seat
Front fender: handcrafted
Rear fender: handmade
License plate holder: handmade
Chassis: Modified subframe
Illumination: front turn signals on handles, pilot and rear turn signals LED’s, indicators, etc.
Black powder coating and chrome and matt lacquered metal finishes.
Today we present the new BMW R100 Cafe Racer style, Scrambler and touches of Bobber and Old Style in green color.
It is a custom bike based on the BMW model from the early 80’s.
The bike we have here today is an early 1980s BMW R100 with a Boxer engine. This bike is quite a significant bike, it’s very fashionable these days. In previous chapters you have seen that we have made some similar ones.
And well, the main feature of this bike compared to others we have made of the style is the color, we have not painted it neither black, nor gray as they usually are, nor with the metal bare… we have put a nice English green. And otherwise, as you see is a bike that from front to back has touches of Cafe Racer, touches of Scrambler and touches Bobber or โOld Styleโ.
Highlight the hanging seat from the chassis. The integrated turn signals at the ends of the handlebars and the odometer. The dirt tires we have put on it, the exhaust and, in general, the work that has been done on “restyling”.
If you liked this BMW R100 Cafe Racer or Scrambler, do not forget to subscribe to our channel, because in the next chapters you will see many more works on BMW R base and Boxer engine that will surprise you … We are waiting for you!
