Motorcycle customization Being a sustainable business is hard enough, but Marcus Walz has taken it to another level. his company, WalzWerk, has been in business for 32 years — and in that time, they’ve built no less than 1,000 custom motorcycles. You read that right: one thousand.
Marcus is sure of that number, because WalzWerk is registered as a motorcycle manufacturer in Germany — and that means they have to document every bike they build. “We know exactly when we will build our 1,000th bike,” Marcus told us. “And we’re talking about complete, built-from-scratch bikes — not just slightly modified or custom bikes.”
WalzWerk’s first twenty years were mostly spent building a handful of custom Harleys each year. But they gained traction quickly when they started customizing old BMW cars. Now, they average about 100 a year — and 80 of those are planes.
Most orders are for WalzWerk’s signature BMW ‘Schizzo’ cafe racer so Marcus chose it as the inspiration for the store’s 1,000th project. His starting point is a 1990 model BMW R100RSwhich he discovered was produced within a month of WalzWerk’s founding.
The project started with the complete demolition of the donor’s bike. The frame was sandblasted before the WalzWerk team removed it, and re-welded all major structural welds to make it stiffer and stronger.
Next, they tore down the engine and transmission with a complete rebuild of both. The engine remains the same 1,000 cc capacity, but has extensively modified the cranks, heads, ports and valves. Along with racing cams, adjustable electronic ignition and a pair of Dell’Orto cabins, the engine now has around 85 hp.
The exterior of the engine looks refined. WalzWerk has bead blasted and clear, then finished the valve covers in black with contrasting stripes. Most of the wiring is now inside a neat enclosure, located where the air conditioner box would normally be.
You’ll see the battery lower, tucked away in a small box below the transmission. Custom stainless steel two-in-one exhaust system on either side.
Moving on to suspension, the WalzWerk keeps the usual BMW front forks – but has added some neat upgrades. They’ve lowered them by about 5″, and enhanced them with new internals and progressive springs. The lower legs are shaved and powder coated black, with a custom set of tubes added to the top for an aggressive look.
However, that is a much different story. The rear suspension has been replaced for the ‘Sidewinder’ kit – a special setup exclusive to the BMW R series, developed by the Dutch distributor YSS Suspension, Suspension Store. If it looks familiar, that’s because it’s similar to the kits that often appear on BMW K-series versions.
All components on it are CNC machined from high-grade aluminum and assembled around a custom-built YSS fork. “I got my first kit for this particular bike,” says Marcus. “To this day, it remains the first and only bike worldwide to be fitted with this kit.”
The bike is on WalzWerk’s exclusive 18-inch tubeless wheel, built with black axles, brushed rims and stainless steel spokes. Firestone tires are an aesthetic choice, but don’t worry – there’s a set of spare wheels fitted with Continental RoadAttack rubber. So if you plan to carve canyons with this BMW, you’re all set.
The disc and twin front brake calipers are also from WalzWerk, and are connected to Wunderkind brake lines. The rear wheel still uses a drum brake, but the team has drilled the outer hole of the shaft to aid in cooling. A separate WalzWerk rear footer controller is also being used.
The front is a new CNC machined spokes rim, engraved with the words Marcus has tattooed on his finger: “DIY”. The cockpit also has buttons, KustomTech levers, integrated pushbuttons and Daytona handles. A Speedo Motogadget sits behind a modified Harley-Davidson crank, with LED headlights and a pair of small turn signals.
The powerfully massaged 1970s Honda CB’s gas tank is centrally located. WalzWerk shortened it, welded in a new tunnel, and lowered its shape slightly.
It’s finished in a beautiful 60’s Porsche color scheme that matches one of WalzWerk’s own custom Porsches. (Yes, they also make custom Porsches.) CNC-machined tank badges adorn the sides, with a special commemorative motif on top.
Completing things is a bolted WalzWerk subframe and one of their signature ‘GT’ seats; a design inspired by the old Ford GT40 racing seat. The rear of the frame has dual embedded LED taillights as turn signals. Blink your eyes, and you’ll remember them.
From the stance to the elegant finish, the WalzWerk #1000 is flawless and a testament to the store’s family. It’s also slim, with 168 kg [370 lbs] weight restraint.
If you want your own piece of custom motorcycling history, Marcus and his team plan to build a limited run of 32 of these. Interested parties, please line up in order.
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