This Custom BMW Cafe Racer Proves Some Motorcycles Are Truly Timeless

Seeking to zip from coffee shop to coffee shop and look great doing it?

1981-BMW-R100RT-Cafe-Racer-gear-patrol-full-lead

Robert Earl Keen once said, “The road goes on forever and the party never ends.” The custom motorcycle world might suggest a slight change:  “The modifications go on forever and the build sheet never ends.” Customizing bikes has been part of the motorcycle industry since the beginning. The café racer sector of customizers has waxed and waned over the years, but recently, it seems the field of coffee shop zoomers is picking up enthusiasts left and right. Who could blame them? To tap into a long history of motorcycle performance and racing culture and remain classy and crisp — well, seems like a good deal.

And it seems Bring a Trailer would agree, considering this custom BMW R100 cafe racer that is currently being auctioned on the site.

BMWs have long been one of the more popular offerings to be chopped up, lowered down and slathered in brown leather accents for the around-town racer. The bomb-proof design of the boxer motors that so many of these cafe bikes center around makes them the perfect candidate for ripping apart and building a budget racer. The basic idea: take a stock bike, pull off everything that isn’t absolutely essential, lower the stance and let it rip.

Of course, most things that begin simple will inevitably develop into more complicated versions. This BMW R100 has been completely overhauled. The seller has put 6,400 miles since completing the build; the bike has been completely refinished in matte black with white gold leaf accents. The R100 has custom-made wheels by Woody’s Wheel Works; dual-disc Brembos do the braking up front, accompanied by a rear drum, and all lights and indicators were replaced by LED bulbs.

The customization continues with completely rebuilt and resigned front shocks by Race Tech to act as two-stage dampening shocks and completely custom rear coil-over shocks for the rear by Works Shocks. The bespoke list continues with a custom solo seat, custom-machined triple-clamp, custom fabricated toolbox, and many, many more features.

As of this writing, the BMW R100 cafe racer sits at $6,300 with five days left to bid. Get your bid in now.

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