[Mr Bones]

G'day, Mr Bones from Aus here. I'm 38 with zero custom experience but been working on my own bikes for years.
Thought I'd have a lash at a cafe project. Feel free to point out the obvious to me as I probably haven't seen it yet
Any way hope you all get a good laugh out my theory's.
I've taken on the task of turning this clean but high mileage BMW R 1100 RT into a cafe racer.

I've no real idea of what I'm doing but that's the fun of it isn't? I'm learning as I go & have already learnt heaps.
Step one take all her clothes off. That's the easy part.

I've got a K tank fitted up. With my seat shroud mock up here.

I've started on foot peg brackets, Leaving myself plenty of metal for adjustment.

And you can see my final seat shroud there. All though it has to be trimmed down loads just to cover the frame rails.

So I'll try to post as often as I can.
Cheers
Bones

 

[TrialsRider]

It's Huge!
couldn't you find a bigger one to modify?

 

[TrialsRider]

? What fuel pump are you planning to use, the one in the K100 tank might be quite different, it came from a different era. They run very hot.

... and rubber mount that fuel tank everywhere or you will have long term problems, it's made from aluminum.

 

[Mr Bones]

It's Huge!
couldn't you find a bigger one to modify?

Oh I'm 6"5. I need something I can fit on 😁

 

[Mr Bones]

? What fuel pump are you planning to use, the one in the K100 tank might be quite different, it came from a different era. They run very hot.

... and rubber mount that fuel tank everywhere or you will have long term problems, it's made from aluminum.

Pumps were the same, the wiring was the same just the plug was different. Same wires, just a round plug vs square plug. I just changed the plug over. I have run it like this and it purred like a kitten. 👍
Rubber mounting is a good suggestion. Thanks.

 

[Teazer]

G'day mate. That is a very ambitious project. Obviously the stock ugly frame used to be hidden by all that plastic and that's your first challenge - to hide it/disguise it.

Just a quick observation/comment, but it looks like the tank and seat need to move forward quite a bit - like 100mm or more to get the rider's seat where it needs to be. Although you are tall, you still need weight relatively far forward if you want it to handle well. The tank will need to be modified I suspect to pull it forward to where it would be on a brick. That will allow you to move the front of the seat to be above the swingarm pivot or maybe even slightly ahead of that.

Check out custom or race bricks like BSK SpeedWorks - BMW K100 racer , or

BMW K100 Cafe Racer

The BMW K100 is not a motorcycle that one usually associates with cafe racers, or customs of any sort for that matter. The bike itself is a

silodrome.com

BMW K100 Endurance Racer

Rocketgarage Magazine, Engine Fuel & Passion since 2007. cafe racer, scrambler, bobber, flat track, motorcycle, lifestyle, endurance, restomod

rocket-garage.blogspot.com

BMW K100 at DuckDuckGo

duckduckgo.com

That will give you some ideas as to tank position on a brick. Then if you look at say a modern boxer such as the R9T, you should get some styling ideas.

https://bsd.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/BMW-R9T-002.jpg

Red Line - Tank Machine BMW R9T | Return of the Cafe Racers

This BMW R9T cafe racer, named ‘Red Line’, was built by Tank Machine with BMW Motorrad France. With a super tight timeframe of only one month, the TM team took delivery of a brand new R9T Racer with the goal of creating a bike that was a striking visual contrast to the original, and it began...

www.returnofthecaferacers.com

BMW R NineT Cafè Racer by Boxer Design

Blog dedicato al Motociclismo

racingcafe.blogspot.com

Or look at say Boxer Cup bikes for ideas

http://www.v-duo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/BMW-R1100s-Boxer-Cup.jpg

Or older boxer cafe racers

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VrwyRXxVBzc/TV-A5oDUeBI/AAAAAAAAGno/48-b_c_W3xc/s1600/web-2.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syxGlC0uTSc/Ul0Z8oI7O5I/AAAAAAAA0Kk/8Dw8NceDUFs/s1600/Bmw+R90+%2522Interceptor%2522+by+Radical+Ducati+%2526+Max+Boxer+14.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNL2aW10iN4/Ul0Z5M6EwkI/AAAAAAAA0JM/JQjtghi0-XY/s1600/Bmw+R90+%2522Interceptor%2522+by+Radical+Ducati+%2526+Max+Boxer+01.jpg

Blue Boxer - 46 Works R100RS | Return of the Cafe Racers

Created by Japan's 46 Works this BMW R100RS is built to perform. Flashy paint and fabrication are appealing, but functionality should always come first.

www.returnofthecaferacers.com

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gr82O8ZVOYc/VeaitI0seMI/AAAAAAAAjxM/2MR1fTo9Y_U/s1600/XTRpepodaytona-xtr-002.jpg

Or newer boxers

BMW R1200S CAFE RACER DREAMS MOTORCYCLE

The guys over at CRD have taken a classic 2007 BMW R1200S and turned it into something special. The BMW R1200S Cafe Racer Dreams Motor...

fashion-gadgets-movies.blogspot.com

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/78/3f/7f/783f7f4663efe12c8c8db24fd0711eee--bmw-rgs-bmw-boxer.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HVbj_SJaU6c/TYNjFbg6aXI/AAAAAAAABU4/qg6OSWIJGks/s1600/img_0326.jpg

Play with ideas as to the shape and style you see in your dream and then work out ways to get from where you are to that goal.

 

[Mr Bones]

Thanks mate
I have moved the tank back but it would be easy to move it forward.
The problem then is the back behind the seat becomes to long

 

[TrialsRider]

...

BMW K100 Cafe Racer

The BMW K100 is not a motorcycle that one usually associates with cafe racers, or customs of any sort for that matter. The bike itself is a

silodrome.com

...

omg what happened to that poor thing :|
might better just double the insurance and set fire to it.

 

[Teazer]

True, but the idea is to stimulate creative juices and think about shapes and styles rather than the execution of that particular bike.

The RT is a big old bus - my son is repairing a 1200RT at the moment - and the frame and parts attached to it are pretty agricultural and not in a good way, so they need to be hidden or disguised to make the plan work. On a conference call this morning so I played with the shapes. Unfortunately the software I normally use won't open that picture, so I went back to the old analog cut and paste. I literally cut the tank out of the printed copy and stuck it forward where it looked better and that allowed me to sketch a simple shorter solo seat with the rear of it in line with the back of the rear wheel.

That worked but leaves a gap between the lower edge of the tank and frame rails, so I added a lower extension and a smaller front tank extension to fill the gap and that works but could make the tank look too large if you're not careful. You could make a simple filler piece (tank extension) out of fiberglass or even metal if you have those skills and that would help it blend better with the frame shape.

You could also extend the tank down to create a lover side panel like a Krauser MKM1000

Or you could fabricate a new frame more like http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8nxF_1p0a4/UBBcBQtZ04I/AAAAAAAAY_M/nPnk14VdcGQ/s1600/krauser+02.jpg That would be a just a little more work with that paralever front end.

I just found this: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XwD8sU-rRlM/maxresdefault.jpg


Either way, you will have to be creative with the bodywork to make it look right.

 

[Teazer]

That took about 5 minutes as you can tell. Just a simple way to play with ideas. You could also add a period top half fairing like say a Pantah style which might cover some of the big girl's ugly bits.

And the footpegs need to move a long way forward to work. Style is important, but it must work. Function has to be top of the list or attributes. Try about 50mm back from the swingarm pivot as a place to start.

 

[Mr Bones]

Loving the imput guys. Love the observations and idea's .
I moved the tank back to eliminate the gap behind the rear of the seat.
Where I live I can't, am reluctant to cut the frame.
But if I move the tank forward and the seat I could make a rear bump over the back of the seat. This should work.
As for the foot pegs, there are as far forward as I can put them with the tank in it's current position. Due to my lanky legs. But if I move everything forward the pegs can also be moved forward.
I was always planning to create a shroud under the tank and sseat to cover the exposed frame rails. Anyway off to the shed to see what I can come up with.
Thanks again for the input it's much appreciated.

 

[TrialsRider]

It's a BMW they are practically all motor, you only need enough frame to hold on the front wheel, the rear shock and your ass.

 

[Mr Bones]

Did a bit this morning. Used the original speedo. Added a headlight.
Also moved the tank forward about an inch.

 

[Mr Bones]

My pipe arrived today 😁

 

[Register]

omg what happened to that poor thing :|
might better just double the insurance and set fire to it.

For me it just needs a downward tilt to the 'headlight' and its a thing of beauty.

 

[Register]

Did a bit this morning. Used the original speedo. Added a headlight.
Also moved the tank forward about an inch.
View attachment 103976

View attachment 103977

For me the tank needs to move a lot further forwards. Visually the weight needs to be up front. I can see that's not easy with the incline to the backbone however.
Maybe this with a bump seat?

https://i2.wp.com/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0f/d3/44/0fd3443ad086c861a8caf685f2347f24.jpg?resize=618,618&ssl=1