In the mid 90’sThe K1100 RS is at the top of the BMW lineup. It’s excellent adventure travel, at home on the auto track and interstate. A fully loaded RS will carry 600 pounds on the scale, but that’s not as important as being able to travel at triple-digit speeds all day.
Thirty years faster, and there are much better machines Reisesport (tourist sport) for miles and miles. But K1100 well-boned, and the inline 4-motor, put on its face, has both torque and power to spare. This makes it a great choice for a custom bike, especially if the heavy frameset is starting to show battle scars.
This spectacular cafe racer is one of the sharpest K1100 builds we’ve seen and shows that the platform is coming of age in the customization scene.
The person behind this machine is Tim Somers – the founder of Powerbrick, the Dutch BMW parts specialist. Tim made his debut on these sites last week, when we characteristic of R9T he built with fellow countryman Arjan van den Boom.
This solo effort is very different from Cloud 9, but equally engaging, with a omitted visual that matches clever engineering. Tim’s background is in industrial design, and he went to town on this K1100 — using CNC machining for the aluminum and stainless steel parts, and 3D printing for the front and rear bodywork.
He told us: “Visual contours are my main focus. “I wanted to build a bike that makes sense from every direction, with the main line being the top curve — running from the front of the Koso Thunderbolt headlights through the gas tank to the building behind.”
“It makes the car ‘low’ and gives it an aggressive stance.” That stance is accentuated by the swingarm, which has been extended by 15 mm (approximately 5/8″) despite the complexity of the Paralever design.
The swingarm is hooked up to a YSS G-Racing monoshock, which can adjust the compression at low speeds as well as the usual range of knobs for rotation. It is surrounded by Powerbrick frames, cast from aluminum.
The front end has been completely overhauled, with the S1000RR fork using Wilbers lower stanchions and Bitubo cartridges. The forks are mounted using Powerbrick’s own trio, crafted from aluminum and painted black. It is equipped with adjustable steering stops and an insert for the Motogadget motoscope mini digital device.
Clip-on is equipped with a Motogadget end indicator light and Biltwell grip, and Tim has also installed Brembo RCS19 brakes to equip Brembo HPK GP4-RS single front brake calipers and Serie Oro disc. They are connected by Venhill brake lines.
The K1100 RS engine makes around 100 hp in stock form, but Tim has enhanced this with a DNA air filter, a new igniter from NGK and top-of-the-line Bosch EV14 injectors. He also moved the intakes to get more air into the engine and raised the timing a bit.
He also paired a free-flowing stainless steel exhaust system: a 4-in-1 layout that ends with a sturdy silencer. And temperature is controlled by an RC Racing aluminum heatsink, enhanced with Samco silicone tubing. Power is now estimated at 130 hp.
Tim kept the standard tank with the heavy clamshell but removed the rest of the bodywork – this must have saved more than a few pounds in weight. The new subframe keeps the lines tight and provides a connecting point for the revised monoshock arrangement.
Under the hood, there’s a new electrical system connected to the Motogadget mo.unit blue box that can be controlled via Bluetooth. There’s also a NOCO lithium battery with a discreet Ctek charging point next to it.
If all of this spoils your toast, you’ll be glad to know that the K1100 is on sale. Tim will even include a Ctek charger and swap out Pirelli Diablo Rain racing tires for road legal rubber.
Tempted?
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