PROJECT ZERO 20: BMW R80

This project commenced from an abandoned 1985 BMW R80 that arrived at the workshop in separate boxes. As it stands Fahim - Cafe Rider's mechanical wizard - and his crew had their work cut out for them. A few months later, the finished bike was presented to its excited owner.  

A good bike has a strong heart and this BMW R80 is no different. The fully-rebuilt engine inhales through K&N free-flow filters and rebuilt carbs, while exhaling through a set of Lossa Engineering twin reverse cone mufflers. The setup provides both function and form, allowing the rider to benefit from a nice bump in torque and the unmistakeable sound of a free-breathing BMW airhead engine. 

The subframe received a lot of attention, in order to achieve the exact aesthetic desired by the owner, without sacrificing comfort or practicality. A detachable rear subframe was fabricated in-house to accomodate just the rider, while retaining the option to upgrade to a two-seater in future, if required. 

Meanwhile, the tank was raised by two inches, staying in line with the frame and the rear seat, which itself was upholstered out of genuine leather and oil tanned to achieve a weathered look. Repositioned rear footpegs, a lowered front end and clip-on handlebars were also employed to ensure a sporty seating position. 

While this BMW R80 may look like a bare-bones build in the images, it has no shortage of modern amenities. Fahim and the crew looked to Motogadget to fill the technical and aesthetic gaps during the build and it worked out beautifully. A Motogadget speedometer, black momentary switches, bar-end indicators, and a Motogadget M-unit helped to clean up the wiring and improve visibility and ergonomics, while reducing unnecessary weight. 

Continuing on this theme, a small lithium battery, ignition coil and control module located under the fuel tank take care of spark, while an smaller old school headlight up front takes care of lighting duties. 

All in all, it's an aesthetically clean build with the brown leather seat complementing the black frame perfectly. Minimal, tasteful, yet equipped with all the modern amenities to make it fire on the first crank.