Licks Cycles: 1974 BMW R90S! BikeBound

A tribute to a misplaced pal guidelines Mount Jaizkibel…

For greater than a decade now, the annual Wheels and Waves Competition in Biarritz, France has provided one of the vital thrilling and fulfilling moto-centric experiences on the planet, the place numerous friendships and reminiscences are cast and strengthened each yr. Though primarily based within the attractive seaside city of Biarritz, day by day occasions are held throughout the countryside, from the mountainous Basque nation of Northern Spain to the woody Pyrénées-Atlantiques area of southwestern France.

A pattern of our favourite occasions embrace the next:

Deus Swank Rally: “It’s swank, nevertheless it’s a rally: the great thing about previous bikes and a muddy observe, the refinement of the knobbed specials, and the ignorance of the inappropriate.”
El Rollo Flat Observe: “On the burning observe reworked into enviornment, the riders kick up the earth in a fury of noise and dirt… Related to the DTRA European Championship calendar.”
Punk’s Peak: “Based in 2013 and homologated by the FIM…400-metre duels during which bikers from the 4 corners of the planet will probably be pitched towards one another on the legendary Mount Jaizkibel. A possibility to see these superb bikes ready over many months of their workshops. An actual adrenaline shot!”

Punk’s Peak is our private favourite, a sequence of 400-meter dash races alongside a winding sinew of asphalt excessive on Mount Jaizkibel within the Basque Nation, the westernmost mountain of the Pyrenees.

“On the prime of the Jaizkibel mountain, the fog has gone, a ribbon of asphalt lacerates the panorama. The air is electrical, the thrill begins to rise. The shot is fired, the mechanical duels can start…”

The occasion brings collectively one thing of the misty rugged roads of the Isle of Man, the drag-strip duels of the American Heartland, and the camaraderie of racers who spent months constructing and tuning their machines in unheated garages and sheds throughout Europe.

Immediately, we’re thrilled to characteristic the 2023 winner of the Punk’s Peak Pre-75 class, Marcos Granda Cañibano (@_m4rco5) of Animal Motor Firm, aka Tito, using a modified 1974 BMW R90S. As a lot of you already know, the 900cc / 67-bhp R90S was the flagship of the Slash 6 sequence and one of the vital particular Airheads ever produced; in truth, a pair of R90S race bikes positioned first and second within the first AMA Superbike race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway in 1976. Nonetheless, this R90S is especially particular, as Tito rebuilt the bike in honor of his pal Jorge:

“The development was for a very private cause. This bike belonged to a deceased pal and it was the perfect tribute I might give him.”

Tito constructed the bike to keep up the essence and magnificence of his pal, aiming for simplicity, concord, and a “tough contact.” The bike is now operating Motogadget electronics, wider tires, a customized subframe and two-up saddle, rearsets, and a brand new, modified engine.

Tito says Mount Jaizkibel was wrapped in a heavy fog once they arrived to race, and there have been occasions when it was onerous to see whereas racing down the moist street. Regardless of a tough begin, Tito and “La 107” started to make their manner by means of the warmth races, propelled by the rebuilt boxer engine…and probably extra:

“Within the first spherical we began badly, very badly, however we had been in a position to recuperate and get forward. From then on, all of the qualifying rounds had been spectacular, as if somebody pushed us.”

Within the finals, all the pieces got here collectively and Tito took the win by a large margin, securing a Punk’s Peak victory that can go down as one of the vital significant within the historical past of the race. Tito is pleased with the win and the painstaking work he did on the engine, however this R90S is extra a piece of affection than pleasure:

“Crucial factor is that each screw on this bike is a tribute to my pal, Jorge.”

We wish to assume that Jorge was there in spirit on Mount Jaizkibel, celebrating together with his mates. Under, Tito offers us extra particulars on the construct, and we share extra images courtesy of Angel Callebungato, Alberto Montero, La Mandarina Mecanica, and Secret Trip Society.

BMW R90S: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

I’ve been linked to the motor world all my life because of my father. Ten years in the past I modified my first bike, a BMW K100, and since then I’ve not stopped. However what I like most about bikes is racing.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and yr of the bike?

BMW R90S, 1974.

• Why was this bike constructed?

On this event the development was for a very private cause. This bike belonged to a deceased pal and it was the perfect tribute I might give him.

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

It was clear to me that I needed to keep the essence of my pal Jorge. I used to be searching for simplicity and concord linked to a tough contact.

• What customized work was executed to the bike?

Customized subframe, motogadget electronics, set up of wider tires, two-seater saddle, completely different footpegs, new engine, new handlebars, new exhaust pipes, and so on.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

La 107.

• Are you able to inform us what it was like racing at Punk’s Peak?

It was a novel expertise. The climate was much more epic than typical. There was fog, a moist street once we arrived…however there was one thing that advised us that it needed to be our day.

Within the first spherical we began badly, very badly, however we had been in a position to recuperate and get forward. From then on, all of the qualifying rounds had been spectacular, as if somebody pushed us.

There have been occasions if you couldn’t see something, however you needed to simply go, and the ultimate was getting nearer. Within the closing all the pieces was good. We began very nicely, we acquired forward, and reached the end line with a snug lead.