BMW K100RS was the frontier of the future when it appeared in the 1980s. Between the cuboidal in-line 4-cylinder engine and its geometric fenders, this was an important step up from the vans that were used by trucks. This brand is famous.
Sure, it’s still look like it’s from the ’80s, but that doesn’t make it a bad bike. Peel off the bodywork and throw a bunch of top-of-the-line parts in there, and you can have a sharp, high-performance car. cafe racer On your hand. That’s exactly what Spain Bolt . Engine Co did with this 1986 BMW K100RS.
Bolt customer requested a BMW K100 cafe racer with a racing-inspired aesthetic. But while most clients usually only have a vague idea of what they are after, his ideas are very specific. So specific, in fact, that he gave Bolt a detailed, full-color sketch to work with.
Shop owner Adrián Campos said: “The entire team was stunned when the freehand drawing of how he wanted the bike to be delivered to the workshop. “It is a drawing ready to be framed, where every detail comes to life. From that point on, our goal was to make that drawing a reality.”
From the subframe to the Ohlins suspension, everything is clearly presented. Performance is top of the list; no problem for Bolt, whose sister company is the Formula 3 team, Campos Racing.
From their co-working space in Valencia, the team stripped down the BMW K100RS and got to work. This isn’t the first time Bolt has dabbled in a K-series BMW, so they’ve found some clever ways to get more than the original 90 hp out of it.
Do you see the box on top of the engine block on the left side? It’s a custom inlet, developed specifically for K’s engine. Flip over to the other side of the bike and you’ll discover a displaced igniter and a Motion coolant recovery bottle. Pro.
As for the exhaust, Bolt tweaked the front end and fitted Akrapovič twin mufflers. They also rewound the bike with a Formula 3 wire loom and Motogadget parts. Adrián can confirm that he and his team did some other “interesting things” with the engine, but he wants to keep those secrets to himself.
Moving on to the chassis, Bolt took Ohlins upside down forks and twin Brembo brakes from an Aprilia RSV. Getting everything right meant not only crafting new yokes but also a whole new stem. They also added a new mounting tab to the frame, to house the Öhlins handlebar shock absorbers, borrowed from the Aspar motor racing team.
The K100 retains the original wheels and Brembo rear brake, but is now equipped with Öhlins shock absorbers. It is connected to BMW’s new bespoke subframe, which has a few unique details of its own. There’s a custom seat and 3D-printed tail cap at the top, an electronics tray is hidden below, and a rear-mounted LED headlight.
Bolt also keeps the K100’s original fuel tank, but modifies it to flatter the body and hide the radiator. There are also discreet fenders at both ends, custom Bolt.
An LED headlight sits up front, mounted on a custom bracket. The cockpit features new clamps with internal wiring, turn signals at the end of the Motogadget bar and Highsider mirrors. There’s also a Motogadget panel, housed in a 3D-printed dome and LED-backlit push buttons.
Complementing the many mods is a BMW M-inspired paint job, expertly executed by Ángel at Airbrush Custom. Frequent collaborator, Tapizados Llop, handles leather upholstery on the chair. If you look closely, you’ll notice the matching blue and red lines match the asymmetrical accents on the fuel tank and wheels.
Other add-ons include a Goodridge brake hose, a Tarozzi rear-mounted foot controller and a one-time license plate mount that attaches to the swingarm. There are a lot of details to consider, which shows how many man-hours were spent on this build.
“It was a difficult build, very difficult to get out of, and required hours of work,” Adrián said. “We know that we have repeatedly tested our customers’ patience, because time has passed a little longer than we expected. But creating a work of art like this is not quick or easy.”
“Finally, the results are worth the wait. We tried to bring to life a unique and super special motorcycle, just like its owner. I hope he likes it as much as we enjoyed customizing it!
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