BMW

A BMW R100 Cafe Racer and much more

14 November, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Text: Cafe Racer World, Photos: Álvaro Manén

No one can deny that we are facing a fashion in terms of custom bikes based on BMW models. A motorcycle that the German firm developed in the 80s designed to carry out long trips. On this occasion we started with a BMW R100 DM from 1981.

What Lord Drake Kustoms has achieved with this motorcycle is surprising, since he has managed to combine several styles into one. That is why we can quickly see strokes of Cafe Racer in its structure and Bobber or we could say a vintage touch. But even if we look at their used tires we could talk about a whole Scrambler.

Many are the details that make this custom motorcycle an object of desire. And it was precisely a desire like this that led a client and follower of Lord Drake Kustoms to visit his facilities to order the motorcycle of his dreams.

The meeting was very fast and Fran Manen and his team of Lord Drake Kustoms were soon ready to begin the work of customization.

Fran tells us “The client was very clear what motorcycle he wanted and we were also surprised that he was looking for this type of Cafe Racer or Scrambler motorcycle in Malaga, because it is not very normal to see them even here.”

The customization process.

The LDK team began by disassembling the original BMW R100 and pushing away everything unnecessary. Then they went on to modify the front suspension in order to achieve the necessary height. Once the rear shock absorbers and the handlebar were placed, they managed to see the final shape and height of the motorcycle. It was important that it be as low as possible.

From there, they began to manufacture by hand all the elements that they were going to include, such as the seat and its support, the front and rear fenders, the license plate holder, the headlamp support, the battery box and many other pieces.

All the original paint was removed from the tank until it reached the metal. After polishing it well, a matt lacquer was applied for the final finish. As for the rest of the pieces, it was the company Metal Colors who applied the powder coating (electrostatic paint) with a combination of matte black and textured black.

Technical Data Sheet

Motorcycle: BMW R100
Year: 1981
Displacement: 1,000 cc.
Exhaust: Original modified with custom tails.
Shock absorbers: LDK air suspension.
Fork: Original modified.
Odometer: Digital Motogadget.
Hand controls: Handlebars, grips, controls and pinions of lights, levers and front brake pump, etc.
Foot controls: modified LDK.
Rims: Originals with powdercoating.
Tires Continental.
Fuel Tank: Original.
Seat: support and craft seat LDK.
Front mudguard: artisan LDK.
Mudguard: artisan LDK.
Number plate: artisan LDK.
Lighting: spotlight, intermittent Front LEDs on cuffs, pilot and rear turn signals LEDs under saddle.
Paint and finishes: Deposit in matt lacquered steel and a combination of matte black and textured black with powdercoating on the rest of the motorcycle.

The wolf king … BMW Mardanis

29 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Sexual debauchery, Christian clothing, eating habits that included alcohol consumption… Mohamed Ibn Mardanis (nicknamed the wolf king of Murcia, Spain) became famous on both sides of the border for his lifestyle and if he had reigned in these times, I would probably have ridden this BMW R1200S, just finished by Lord Drake Kustoms.

Perhaps it has been, the most fun and exciting LDK project of the last year for the spectacular result and especially for being a BMW base not very common so far in the world of customization.

Fran Manen (owner of LDK), received a call from Fernando Cuello in which he commented that they had recommended Lord Drake Kustoms as the right company to make his dream come true: A BMW and unique and brutal.

At a later meeting they finalized the project and finally it was decided to use as a base a BMW R1200S from 2007. Fernando’s instructions to Fran to make the motorcycle were clear and strict: matte black and orange, a huge tank, cafe-racer style but with stud wheels and as simple as possible.

He began work and halfway through the almost finished tank Fran noticed that it was too large to paint everything in matte black and that some graphics should be added in orange, he called Fernando to explain it and hence the idea of putting a name . “Mardanis,” Fernando said, and then explained the origin of it; After the conversation and without having seen the motorcycle yet, Fernando’s expectations multiplied, he was so excited about the project that he decided that he would not see it until it was finished and that then he would have a great party in his honor.

When the day finally came when the “Mardanis” was revealed to its owner and a group of friends, it was at the spectacular party that was held on the estate where the ruins of Mohamed Ibn Mardanis castle “The wolf king”, in Monteagudo (Murcia).

DATA SHEET:

BASE: BMW R1200S
YEAR: 2007
CYLINDER: 1200 cc
FORK: Original modified
REAR SUSPENSION: Modified
DEPOSIT: Craft
SUBCHASIS: Craft
SEAT: Handcrafted including upholstery
ESCAPES: Modified collectors and Supertrapp queue
FRONT WHEEL: 130 Continental Tire
REAR WHEEL: 180 Continental Tire
LIGHTING: Headlamp with support, turn signals and rear light
SPEED: Relocation of speedometer and control panel.
OTHER WORKS: paint, powder paint, graphics, cuffs, passenger footrest modification, wiring, etc.

BMW R65, the green cafe racer

22 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

There are lots of BMW motorcycles with which Lord Drake Kustoms had worked, but this Cafe Racer based on a BMW R65 has meant a start for this new future with this brand.

“Everyone who knows me knows that I am a Harleys fan; and until that I had only worked with two BMW motorcycles (one R 1200 S and one R 1150 S)”, Fran Manen, owner of Lord Drake Kustoms, told us.

This R65 was the first BMW classic to fall into the hands of Lord Drake Kustoms. Its owner, Ana, a native of Granada (Spain) , is a lover of motorcycles and with her father she has a small collection of old motorcycles.

Ana arrived at the LDK workshop in Malaga to meet Francisco, driving a 48 Sportster, but she did not modify the Harley, she went to modify a BMW R65 that her father had given her. Although the bike was in excellent condition and despite the instructions of his father warning him not to touch her, she was clear that she wanted a very elegant and aggressive cafe racer.

“A few weeks later it would be Ana herself, the one who would bring the motorbike to our workshop in Malaga, driving it from Granada and there the story began …,” Fran pointed out.

“THE GASOLINE DEPOSIT WAS REPLACED BY THE MODEL OF THE R100 AND IT WAS PROCEDED TO MODIFY THE WHOLE SUBCHASIS”

How it was made

We started by disassembling the whole bike to blast it and paint the chassis, engine and other parts in black. Then the fuel tank was replaced by the model of the R100 and the entire subframe was modified to adapt a tail car made to measure for this occasion. To give it a more aggressive touch, higher air dampers were placed and the front suspension was lowered. The color was simple, an elegant color, all black and the green body (Racing Green) with the brown touch of seat made to measure “.

“THE COLOR WAS SIMPLE, A ELEGANT COLOR, ALL BLACK AND THE GREEN BODY (RACING GREEN) WITH THE BROWN TOUCH”

Just leave this motorcycle from the oven of Lord Drake Kustoms, it seems that BMW lovers agreed to start sending their machines to LDK in Malaga, because they are currently customizing a K100 and an R100 and in the coming weeks will begin to work with two other BMWs (one R100rs and one K1) that are apparently going to have to talk … we’ll see!

Details:

Motorcycle: BMW R65 Motor: 650 ccDepository: BMW R100
Escapes: Aftermarket and original collectors
Handlebar: Half-handlebars
Rear wing and tail: Handmade made of fiber
Subchassis: Modified
Front flap .: Modified original
Seat: Custom made and upholstered in perforated synthetic leather
Front suspension: Modified
Rear suspension: Modified with longer air shock absorbers
Wheels: Original wheels painted in matt black powder
Other: digital kilometer counter, LED pilots, cuffs, gas cap, artisan license plate holder, LED tail light, modification of the ignition cylinder, etc.

BMW K100 RACE: the unique urban Cafe Racer

15 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Fran Manen (owner of Lord Drake Kustoms) told us about this BMW K100 RACER: “Perhaps it’s one of the least attractive models for LDK, when it comes to doing a work of customization; That is why it was a small challenge to make the final result aesthetically pleasing for both the client and the entire LDK team.”

Currently the BMW K are one of the most demanded motorcycles to customize. Specifically, this model is a K100 from 1984 and arrived in excellent conditions at the mechanical and aesthetic level, so basically we didn’t have to worry much about updating the motorcycle mechanically, as is often the case with motorcycles of this type. He practically went into action and immediately began to disassemble it to see how something aesthetically beautiful and sporty and something Racing could be done.

Perhaps it’s one of the least attractive models for LDK, when it comes to doing a work of customization; That is why it was a small challenge to make the final result aesthetically pleasing

How was made this BMW K100 RACER

Once naked, the first thing that Fran Manen did was modify the front suspension to lower it and give it a more aggressive touch with the installation of semi-handlebars and an oval-type headlamp.

The entire rear part has been trimmed and modified to install a tailor-made tail, making the back part slightly raised. This position could be accentuated a little more thanks to the new air bottle damper, which is somewhat longer than the standard one.

The exhaust has become a 4: 1 with supertrapp tail, which has given it a very powerful sound.

Finally, the entire motorcycle was dismantled to paint the chassis, engine, tires and practically the rest of the pieces with black tones or a combination of red, gray and silver in the case of the tank and the rear tail.

All this was decorated with numerous details, among which stand out the flashers and led’s pilot, seat with hand-made upholstery, details on the rear wheel, speedometers and rev counter, license plate support, etc …

This motorcycle has been transformed into the workshop that Lord Drake Kustoms has in Malaga (Spain); and in a few days you can see it rolling through the streets of Marbella from its owner.

Photos: Álvaro Manén

BMW R100 Black, the beast Scrambler

9 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Fran Manen, told us that there was always someone who asked them why in Lord Drake Kustoms, they only made sportster models, scrambler … Well, the answer is this: “If you have to do sportster, you do sportster, but if you have to do BMW … what better way to start than with one like this?

This model of motorcycle has been one of the most used lately in the work of customization and transformation of motorcycles, and is that despite the years these classic BMW R, have not lost their charm and continue to interest the public, in addition to offering many possibilities of lucidity if you work with taste.

Specifically, -Fran told us-, this bike was sent to us by a customer practically in boxes, it lacked a quantity of parts and the bike was in a condition not to use it or for scrap.

“THE CUSTOMER WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELEGANT WITH A PREDOMINANCE OF BLACK, BUT I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE DOING THE CLASSIC, TOPICAL CAFE-RACER, BUT RATHER SOMETHING MORE SCRAMBLER OR BRAT…”

The transformation took place in our workshop in Malaga, and the first thing we had to do when we arrived at the workshop was to finish disassembling it and start stripping, blasting and powder painting all the parts and parts that were still salvageable, such as the chassis, tires, engine, etc..

The client was looking for something elegant with a predominance of black, but I didn’t feel like doing the classic and topical Cafe-Racer, but rather something more like scrambler or brat … I admit that it didn’t take long to decide to make a scrambler very old school, a bike that in addition to the size of scrambler, had something of those old BMWs of yesteryear. Although maybe a mix of bobber and scrambler but all very vintage… and here’s the result.

Gloss black, matte black and textured black have been combined to give this sober and elegant look to the bike, which we have placed a single-seater armchair and some custom-made fenders, which give the old school and vintage touch that we were looking for.

All hand controls are new and are accompanied by a street handlebar, although the original headlight and fork (somewhat modified) have been preserved to respect the spirit of this BMW R100.

We are currently working on two other BMW R100 that you will see very soon, which will give continuity to this first.