BMW R100RS Cafe racer build
- Thread starter Lawman
- Start date
Not really....My mate made me two balance pipes for the exhaust then managed to lose them, so I've had to source some more material. At least he has the tooling for flaring the pipe so it should be a one day turnround. my silencers are fitted, albeit with a bit of a faff with the brackets.notlob said:
Ive found a good painter who lives only 300 yards from me, he has a paintshop about 8 miles away. He's got the job and will be picking the bits up anyday soon for basecoat (he's been away at the TT) , we are then offering them up on the bike for the lining for the final design.
Then I'll get it MOT'ed, maybe have a run over to Bolton on it if all's well!!
Quick update,
The exhaust is fitted and done including the custom made stainless balance pipes.
My painter Arnie came round last night with the tank and seat unit that are now base coated, we played with lines and ideas. It was quite strange, I ended up with something opposite to my original thought.
Here he is laying out.
He's a great painter and gave me loads of good advice on how to do it all myself in my garage, so, I'm probably going to buy some gear, I have the compressor so it shouldn't be too expensive.
Oh and I bought a little Kawasaki Z250, the next project, a little brat for commuting in summer I think.
The exhaust is fitted and done including the custom made stainless balance pipes.
My painter Arnie came round last night with the tank and seat unit that are now base coated, we played with lines and ideas. It was quite strange, I ended up with something opposite to my original thought.
Here he is laying out.
He's a great painter and gave me loads of good advice on how to do it all myself in my garage, so, I'm probably going to buy some gear, I have the compressor so it shouldn't be too expensive.
Oh and I bought a little Kawasaki Z250, the next project, a little brat for commuting in summer I think.
caferay
Been Around the Block
Re: BMW R100RS Cafe racer build commences....
I would not try to make a German bike look like a British bike, and the whole thruxton/ace cafe look has been over done.
Ideas: these look great in titanium grey or German racing silver:
Also, that bike was made in era when BMW was racing with these colors:
Lawman said:I still haven't decided Steve,
The square tank doesn't lend itself to some of the more appealing designs I see on the teardrop style tanks.
I might be boring and have it in black, with a white thruxton stripe, it suits the ethos behind the style.
I'm open to suggestions, ive trawled thousands of pics for inspiration but nothing has grabbed me yet.
I made a bracket for a side mounted number plate today, simple and minimalistic. Also all the bits are cut for the battery box. I'm nipping to see Mark on Mon/Tue next week to get them all welded up. Indicators are on and to be fair they add to it's look. Waiting for a pair of ace bars and making some new balance pipes for the exhaust. Ill update with pics next week.
It will be on the road in 1 month I estimate, before strip down and barrel/head refurb.Looking forward to riding it and hopefully turning a few heads..
I would not try to make a German bike look like a British bike, and the whole thruxton/ace cafe look has been over done.
Ideas: these look great in titanium grey or German racing silver:
Also, that bike was made in era when BMW was racing with these colors:
caferay said:I would not try to make a German bike look like a British bike, and the whole thruxton/ace cafe look has been over done.
Ideas: these look great in titanium grey or German racing silver:
Thanks, the grey looks good. Ive made a decision, its at the painters, it will have to do!!
It's not Thruxton (I already have one of those).
The bike above in grey and white looks like it has a fishtail style exhause which I always see as synonymous with Velocette. I like the polished rocker covers.
Vision isn't my forte. I kind of make it up as I go along.............
Thanks for the positive comments. It's my first real project where everything went down to the frame.
The Brake and tail light are above the number/licence plate out of view in the photo.
It's an LED unit. It's one part I'd most like to change, it needs a more "retro" light. I'm sure I'll pick something up one day that fits the bill better. I need a smaller number plate too, but anything less than 7x9" is strictly speaking illegal in the UK. The current one is 7x 6 or something. 6x4" would be much better.
The Brake and tail light are above the number/licence plate out of view in the photo.
It's an LED unit. It's one part I'd most like to change, it needs a more "retro" light. I'm sure I'll pick something up one day that fits the bill better. I need a smaller number plate too, but anything less than 7x9" is strictly speaking illegal in the UK. The current one is 7x 6 or something. 6x4" would be much better.
caferay said:
Yes you are right from a safety point of view, I have been through the construction and use regs re the sidemount and cannot see anything that says it is illegal as such. Reflectors have to be on the centre line of the bike. I know it will pass the MOT. I'll have a word with an ex traffic cop I know and get his thoughts.
notlob said:Nice to see it finished you've done a fantastic job and paint choice gives it a classy look.
Cant wait to see it person so get your finger out, get it on the road and get over here. Bring some of those other reprobates with you as well.
Can't wait mate see you soon, Im away this weekend but I'll MOT next week and I should be rady to rock and roll...
caferay
Been Around the Block
Lawman said:
Legality may not be the issue, but I do know of a rider rear-ended on a custom bike with a side-brake light and the driver's lawyer argued that the light was not fully visible (how that explains not seeing guy stopped at a red light is still beyond me).
burnicarus
Oliver
Glad to see someone else building a bmw here. Cant wait for this one
Beautiful job Lawman - every time I check in here I get the urge to build another [ built 3 ] !
Re: the rear light # plate issue.
The MSVA states that there should be a "cone of divergance" [ a cone ] of light visible for something like 30 degrees from the horizontal centreline. I'll get the specifics - my pal has borrowed my copy of the Govt. manual to sort out his Trike legalities. That can't happen with your set up as the seat hump is neatly in the way ! The MSVA is NOT the same as C&U [ Construction and Use ] regs. used as a basis for the MOT requirements.
I also believe [ but again will check ] that a single sided # plate is also a no, no.
Re: the rear light # plate issue.
The MSVA states that there should be a "cone of divergance" [ a cone ] of light visible for something like 30 degrees from the horizontal centreline. I'll get the specifics - my pal has borrowed my copy of the Govt. manual to sort out his Trike legalities. That can't happen with your set up as the seat hump is neatly in the way ! The MSVA is NOT the same as C&U [ Construction and Use ] regs. used as a basis for the MOT requirements.
I also believe [ but again will check ] that a single sided # plate is also a no, no.
Thanks Beachcomber,
It's all very unclear, if you get the specifics let me know. It passed it's MOT ok but that doesn't mean much!
The MOT tester enjoyed it though, guess it gets boring testing the normal fodder.
Traffic cops Ive spoken to dont seem to worry about it, as long as thay can read the plate, they are happy.
The stop tail light is easy to move, I like the plate position.The light is part of the build I dont really like as it's too modern looking.
I already have the next project in my garage but that will be next Autumn.
It's all very unclear, if you get the specifics let me know. It passed it's MOT ok but that doesn't mean much!
The MOT tester enjoyed it though, guess it gets boring testing the normal fodder.
Traffic cops Ive spoken to dont seem to worry about it, as long as thay can read the plate, they are happy.
The stop tail light is easy to move, I like the plate position.The light is part of the build I dont really like as it's too modern looking.
I already have the next project in my garage but that will be next Autumn.
Lawman said:
Just spoke to my pal [ who borrowed the MSVA manual ] - he's dropping it off over the weekend - I'll check and pass the info on.
Yes, get an enthusiast MOT tester and you'll get away with almost anything. There's no way my old Centauro would have passed ANY noise test ! He was a Guzzi enthusiast, and after I let him have a ride round the block he came back and wrote the certificate out !
