BMW K100 Cafe Racer
Discussion
It's very clean at the moment, but one damp road and no mudguards will see to that.
I tend to think it's lost a lot of the good points of a K-brick, without gaining many of the good points of a cafe racer.
Too many odd brackets and boxes under the seat etc.
The rear number plate looks at a funny angle, poised to slice the tyre on a big bump.
I owned a K of that era, it felt tall and heavy but great for a long run.
Also good two-up compared to most bikes I've owned.
When I bought mine 20--ish years ago, most of them were a mess of corrosion under the fairings, so he's done a great job to make it look like that.
Is it old enough for that crap-o-vic exhaust not to have to meet the MOT man? The first K's were about when I started work so must be getting into the exempt bracket now? I remember blagging a demo on a K-75 which felt like a game changer compared to twins, UJM fours and lumpy Italian bikes.
I tend to think it's lost a lot of the good points of a K-brick, without gaining many of the good points of a cafe racer.
Too many odd brackets and boxes under the seat etc.
The rear number plate looks at a funny angle, poised to slice the tyre on a big bump.
I owned a K of that era, it felt tall and heavy but great for a long run.
Also good two-up compared to most bikes I've owned.
When I bought mine 20--ish years ago, most of them were a mess of corrosion under the fairings, so he's done a great job to make it look like that.
Is it old enough for that crap-o-vic exhaust not to have to meet the MOT man? The first K's were about when I started work so must be getting into the exempt bracket now? I remember blagging a demo on a K-75 which felt like a game changer compared to twins, UJM fours and lumpy Italian bikes.
Personally not a fan, it looks very tidy but doesn't quite work for me. It's too blingy, more street fighter than cafe racer.
No idea if there's a market for something so heavily modified, k series bimmers are also far from an original idea as a cafe racer.
Isn't the point of building something like that to enjoy your hard work?
No idea if there's a market for something so heavily modified, k series bimmers are also far from an original idea as a cafe racer.
Isn't the point of building something like that to enjoy your hard work?
Jazoli said:
It actually looks ok for a 'cafe racer' (although it isn't one) I've no idea on value, its got some nice bits on it, and yet is missing a front mudguard.
The right mug will probably pay 5k for it.
Now that you say it, it does look a little naked at the front, without a mudguard.The right mug will probably pay 5k for it.
Edited by Jazoli on Tuesday 1st November 13:29
patchb said:
There’s quite a big scene but not sure there’s much of a market as such.
I don’t like them generally however that is fairly nice, ruined by the awful blue hoses and lack of mudguard (Edit; and the exhaust and whatever the hell is going on with the cables around the ‘tail tidy’)
Yep, the hoses need to be black.I don’t like them generally however that is fairly nice, ruined by the awful blue hoses and lack of mudguard (Edit; and the exhaust and whatever the hell is going on with the cables around the ‘tail tidy’)
Cakey_ said:
Personally not a fan, it looks very tidy but doesn't quite work for me. It's too blingy, more street fighter than cafe racer.
No idea if there's a market for something so heavily modified, k series bimmers are also far from an original idea as a cafe racer.
Isn't the point of building something like that to enjoy your hard work?
Think he enjoys the building more than the riding! Now that it's done, he doesn't know what to do with it.No idea if there's a market for something so heavily modified, k series bimmers are also far from an original idea as a cafe racer.
Isn't the point of building something like that to enjoy your hard work?
He'd probably let it go for £5-6k
ChocolateFrog said:
I almost did the same with mine, got as far as buying an R1 front end but decided against it.
I reckon £5k is absolute top end if you hook the right buyer.
Probably more like £3k for an actual sale but he'd be best trying in the spring.
It's definitely the sort of project you do for the enjoyment, rather than making money!I reckon £5k is absolute top end if you hook the right buyer.
Probably more like £3k for an actual sale but he'd be best trying in the spring.
bgunn said:
I think most bike projects are like that. I end up barely breaking even most times!
To the OP, I don’t think the K lends itself to that sort of job as the engine has a huge visual weight and it makes the bike look like one of those Harley live wires or something. But I imagine it was a scabby old rusty thing before, so fair play for doing the work!
bgunn said:
To the OP, I don’t think the K lends itself to that sort of job as the engine has a huge visual weight and it makes the bike look like one of those Harley live wires or something.
But I imagine it was a scabby old rusty thing before, so fair play for doing the work!
The R lends itself to cafe racer/brat/tracker conversions much better. The K is just too angular.But I imagine it was a scabby old rusty thing before, so fair play for doing the work!
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