If anything We prefer to discover a new builder, it is to discover a young builder with the potential to work decades before them.
This sharp and very professional custom creator BMW K100 is Richard Petzold, 22 years old, studying Energy Technology in Dresden. And he has won awards for his work.
“Bike EXIF has been the biggest inspiration to me over the past two years, and that basically motivated me to start my own little project,” he tells us. “It started before I even got my motorbike license, but now the K100 is my ‘everyday’.”
There’s a lot of design and fabrication going on here, with Richard using his parents’ garage as a base and diving into the world of 3D printing. His K100 is also completely street-legal in Germany, which is an achievement in itself. “That’s why you won’t see any open air filters or welds on the frame – sadly.”
The base bike is a 1991 K100, which is over 30 years old. That’s the ‘LT’ model, which comes with a taller display as standard and about 90 hp from the vertically-injected four.
“The engine was rebuilt, but basically original,” says Richard. “With the air filter open, the engine draws only warm air from the radiator. I tried shorter intake manifolds, but ended up with lower torque at low revs.”
“In my opinion, the stock setup is the best way to go if you don’t program open alpha-n [airflow optimization], sadly it’s not in my budget. Instead, Richard optimized the ultimate gear ratio for his driving style, by switching to a higher 31/11 transmission.
He also fitted a hydraulic clutch converter, used an R nineT slave cylinder, and machined a new push rod.
A more obvious change is to switch to Moto Guzzi V11 forks, for more refined handling. These are USD Marzocchis, and paired with four-piston Brembo P34 brake calipers and 320 mm discs — which Richard tuned for the stock K100 Y-spoke front wheel.
The wheels are wrapped with carbon fiber front and rear fenders, using Richard’s 3D printed molds, and the rear shock is now a Wilbers unit.
There are two airbox lids: the top is made of carbon fiber, taken from a mold that Richard first shaped out of clay. The lower part is extruded from aluminum, for an attractive contrast.
Richard 3D printed the design in aluminum first, then made two molds from carbon-reinforced plastic, and finally pressed metal into them. He used a similar technique for the carbon fiber generator housing and also built a new coolant overflow reservoir from aluminum.
Other fully custom parts are the buttons, which are 3D printed, laser cut and painted. They cost about $25—“A little cheaper than most things you can buy!”
Richard also made the clamps himself, pouring them out of the silicone. But he’s already cataloged a few other parts, such as the Truck-Lite LED headlights, the Highsider side mirrors and end turn signals, and the speedo from MMB. Add to that the Magura brake and clutch lever.
The perennial problem with the BMW K100 – and all K-series cars – is actually getting the tank to work well with other mods. The odd angles make it very difficult to get clear lines.
But Richard’s solution is one of the best we’ve seen: the new airboxes are eye-catching and there’s a new tail unit that prevents the bottom of the barrel from looking too disjointed.
The unit is built from carbon fiber and we’re spotting hints of Husqvarna’s Pilen styling. It integrates rear lights, turn signals and an electronic tray. Richard used a mold machined from foam, and the chair itself weighs only about 12 ounces. Electronics and a Motogadget mo.unit hidden below.
The low-slope exhaust system comes from the EXIF tuning agency Garage unitbut Richard modified the muffler and the end pipe — by subtly widening the pipe so the dB killer elements could extend inward.
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis ensures that the flow remains good and noise levels are within legal limits.
After fitting new laser-cut tank emblems and carbon-fiber license plate holders, the K100 was finished. And we’re not the only ones who think it looks brilliant.
In the first stage of construction, the bike won the Custom Award at an exhibition organized by the renowned community garage in Berlin. Craftwerk.
“I am lucky enough to know Nico and Max from Hookie Co.as well as the Craftwerk guys who told me I should send my bike in to EXIF,” said Richard.
“It’s certainly not the most spectacular-looking K, but it could be scrapped every day. And most importantly, I learned a lot with this build.”
For a first build, based on such a tough donor bike, that’s an amazing feat. Richard Petzold is a name worth watching.
