How many customizations The shop has built more than a hundred bicycles? A few. But the BMW R80 RT we are reviewing here is not available. 128 for Madrid outfit Dream Café Racer.
CRD began in 2010 under the tutelage of Pedro García, but is now run by Jaime Colsa. They sold an average of ten bikes on a regular basis each year, with a focus on classic BMW driving style. They like to mix things up from time to time and in this case, they built a very unusual tribute to Bultaco Frontera 370 Gold Medal.
Most people will know the Bultaco from its test, motocross and enduro bikes, which peaked in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. Flat track racers may also recall the famous ‘Astro’ .
But this R80 RT is a Tributo to the lesser known ‘Gold Medal’ — a version of the mid-70s Frontera enduro bike.
That explains why we couldn’t identify the tank on this odd machine. “The only change to the fuel tank, with its original cap featuring a distinctive ‘thumb’ logo and even the kit rubber cap, is the BMW logo,” say the CRD folks.
The front fender and headlights are also from Frontera, and have been repainted to match the original 1976.
BMW’s massive tourer isn’t a strong candidate for a go-anywhere machine, but mods applied by mechanic Marcos Castro have transformed it. CRD claims to have lost 100 kg of weightand the loss of the heavy body must have played a big part in that.
The new user interface will also be helpful. CRD has paired Showa USD 43mm forks, along with four-piston Tokico radial brake calipers and 320mm discs. Twin Hagon shock absorbers now support the rear of the vehicle.
The original rear frame is gone, with the shocks leaning forward to hook onto the rear of the main frame. A custom backplate expands to support the minimalist saddle, wrapped in 4mm buffalo leather.
There’s also a sheepskin panel to provide extra grip; There’s no slide around, motocross style, on this perch.
The engine has been refurbished and repainted black, looking even better than new. The reworked Bing carbs have been Cerakot to match the body color and the intakes now feature K&N filters.
In the final stages of combustion, titles are now terminated with a stout, lightweight SuperTrapp silencer.
The cockpit is finished with Renthal bars, vintage-style Domino handles and bar-style Highsider mirrors. The cabling is from Tarozzi and there’s a clever new LSL brake reservoir.
Motogadget provided Tiny Motoscope speedo — mounted to a machined aluminum rod — as well as m.switch mini controls and mo.blaze indicator lights.
It’s an attractive and centrally located build, even by BMW customs standards. But it also works, no doubt thanks to the Continental TKC80 rubber – as the action footage shows, with Spanish journalist Sergio Romero riding. 
Plus, anything that has anything to do with vintage 1970s Bultacos gets our attention. Well played, Café Racer Dreams.
Cafe Racer Dreams | Facebook | Instagram | Image of Jaime de Diego
