Elemental Custom Cycles BMW R80 Project #4

Some guy named Andi is really happy right now. As a new client for German bike shop Elemental Custom Cycles, he gave the shop his list of wants and this is what he got in return. The donor was a low-mileage BMW R80 Monolever from 1985. They left the engine stock, with those unmistakable flat twin cylinders and 59 Nm of torque. As cafe racer was the desired build, the team lowered the front fork, lifted the back of the fuel tank for that cafe racer bone line, then got rid of all the excess — pared down the faring, lost the back fender and streamlined the seat and rear cowl.

They couldn’t find an exhaust that looked exactly right so they fashioned their own, along with a stainless muffler to go under the engine. Electronics were updated with Motogadget push button controls and the rear monoshock was replaced with one from YSS. Better brake rotors from Brembo went up front while 17 inch spoked rims replaced the donor’s alloy wheels. The final touch was the sleek and liquid grey/teal paint job, finished off with seven layers of clear coat.

The client’s final demand was that the whole thing be street legal — a slightly harder request for ECC given Germany’s particularly strict TUV regulations. But road registered it is, and now Andi has everything he asked for. We imagine it’s even better than he expected. Read more at Elemental Custom Cycles.

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