How wonderful Versatility of the classic BMW boxer is. Do you want a long, low and medium bike? A raw and ready scrambler? A sleek, stylish look cafe racer? An airhead will do all that and more.
This 1982 BMW R80 definitely fall into that last category. It was built by 72 HKG Performance — a new collaboration between Antonio (72 Cycles Performance) and Jorge (Hell’s Kitchen Garage), based in Burgos, Spain.
They made it for an Egyptian friend, and named it ‘Sekhmet’ after the powerful mythological goddess. Much modified, leaving only the engine, frame and fuel tank from the original bike.
“I was looking for a supercar feel, matching high performance with classic luxury,” explains Antonio. “It looks like a classic boxer but it feels brand new. You don’t need a key, everything works with the buttons on the handlebars and most of the electronics are hidden.”
First, a set of hook wheels from a later BMW R850 model have been painted black and bolted. Wanting a bit more from the suspension, a set of Suzuki Hayabusa forks (and their Tokico brakes) have been hooked up to the front.
The swingarm is a Frankenstein creation, using parts from the aforementioned BMW K1100 and R850, with Öhlins shock absorbers from Ducati 999. It sounds simple on paper, but it’s far from it. To accommodate the modern swingarm, a later-style transmission had to be replaced — that’s why this 80s tractor now runs a hydraulic clutch.
We love the enduring ’80s racing feel that BMW’s new bodywork delivers. The refined crank is upgraded from the original Yamaha XJ600 and features twin LED headlights. They remind us of a Jawa — a small, hairy humanoid native to the desert world of Tatooine.
The driver’s cockpit is simple – or at least it appears that way. TRW handlebars are integrated with buttons and Highsider mirrors. One Motogadget The timing-type speedometer is front and center, and the brake and clutch master cylinders have also been upgraded.
The tail section is handcrafted in steel, then skillfully wrapped in a forged carbon vinyl. The folds on the spacious leather seats are modeled after a Rolex watch strap.
A smoked glass screen hides the tail lights and turn signals; another detail that looks like it’s taken straight from an 80s racing bike. The whole arrangement is placed on a new subframe, complete with a redesigned rear shock mount.
Along with the cosmetic upgrades, the engine also received a lot of attention. Starting with a complete tear, it was reassembled with forged pistons, new gaskets and seals, and a fresh coat of black paint. The upgraded electronics thanks to the new CDI, Motogadget mo.unit and full coil will keep this thing running well for decades to come.
Fuel is provided interestingly by a pair of 38 mm Mikuni flatbeds with case filters. Hot air escapes through a custom stainless steel exhaust, which works perfectly against the dark paint color.
“The bike exceeded 180 km/h with perfect stability and a fully aligned 160 rear tire,” says Antonio. “We spent over a year with the bike, refining the parts and looking for the perfect combination of power, stability and form. I think Sekhmet is a great combination of ugly and charming! “
Antonio is also quick to point out that he and Jorge will only build one-of-a-kind bikes, tailored to each customer’s specification. He added: “We never repeat a shape, color or design. “Our bikes have to be unique.”
That sounds both a blessing and a curse, as we’re sure there are some people out there who wouldn’t notice this exact bike in their garage. We all know how flexible the airhead platform is and now we all know how good the 72 HKG Performance is at harnessing that flexibility.
72 cycle efficiency | Hell’s Kitchen Garage | Pictures of Eduardo Recuero
