Licks Cycles: BMW K75 Customized Roadster

WiMoto’s BMW K75…

Launched in 1986, the BMW K75 was the triple-cylinder 750cc model of the Flying Brick, that includes twin chain-driven overhead camshafts, two-valves per cylinder, liquid cooling, and Bosch LE-Jetronic injection just like the four-cylinder K100:

“The K75 was primarily a K100 with the entrance cylinder lacking, and a pair of steadiness shafts within the engine to quell vibration from the rocking couple of the triple’s 120-degree crank. And like its liter-class brethren, what impressed testers on the time was how BMW had managed to protect the character of their boxer twins…’civility, simplicity and excellence.’” –Motorbike Classics

Regardless of the smaller displacement, the 750 triple turned the game bike of the Ok collection. The K75 truly made 10% extra horsepower-per-liter than the K100 because of hotter 11:1 pistons and different tweaks, and lots of riders got here to choose the K75 because of its lighter weight, quicker-revving engine, and sportier nature.

“It sharpens that particular BMW expertise, and, with higher management, elevates it to a better street pace.” –Cycle

Enter our new buddy Wido Veldkamp, who reduce his enamel as chief engineer of the Novabike Racing Workforce at Delft College of Applied sciences earlier than beginning his personal firm, WiMoto, ten years in the past. In that point, his store has earned a status for engineering excellence among the many motorbike group:

“More often than not we do engineering work, and plenty of structural welding work, like constructing frames, swingarms, subframes and so forth…every now and then we additionally do full customs.”

On this case, Wido’s buddy Kirsten had already purchased, dismantled, and sourced plenty of components for her 1990 BMW K75.

“She didn’t have the flexibility to weld so she got here to me. And this developed into us doing the complete construct.”

Your entire construct was completed on a good finances, and it was a comparatively easy construct when it comes to the WiMoto skillset — in spite of everything, Wido often builds elements just like the swingarm from scratch (see his Honda CBR600F2 Cafe Racer in our classifieds for an instance). Nonetheless, the WiMoto excellence shines by way of on this undertaking, particularly within the tail of the bike. Says Wido:

“I all the time dislike the unique traces of the Ok-frames, particularly the customs that simply put a hoop on the finish and make a customized seat that follows the traces of this unique body. We fully chopped down the rear body and construct it new to comply with the seat precisely! I personally actually like that the tail gentle is built-in within the body.”

Different highlights embrace the Aprilia Tuono forks with mammoth 320mm brake discs, customized fender and radiator covers, hidden digital elements, and many powder coat. This K75 appears to be like a deal with, and extra importantly, Wido says the bike handles extremely nicely contemplating its heft.

“The shopper didn’t acknowledge the bike in any respect after her first take a look at experience. ‘A lot better,’ she stated. ‘It feels 50kg lighter!’”

Beneath, we speak to Wido for extra particulars on the construct, with photographs courtesy of Mark Meisner.

BMW K75 Café Racer: Builder Interview

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

My identify is Wido Veldkamp, I studied Industrial Design Engineering at Delft College of Applied sciences. Been operating my firm WiMoto now for 10 years! I’ve been engaged on scooters, mopeds, and bikes since I used to be just a little boy.

However I began my firm after I used to be chief engineer on the Novabike Racing Workforce at TU Delft and acquired plenty of encouragement to begin my very own enterprise. We at the moment are 10 years in enterprise, and more often than not we do engineering work, and plenty of structural welding work, like constructing frames, swingarms, subframes and so forth. And so every now and then we additionally do full customs.

This was the case for this BMW K75. A buddy already began with dismantling this factor…however she didn’t have the flexibility to weld so she got here to me. And this developed into us doing the complete construct. In fact we had to do that on a finances, so there are issues we’d have usually completed completely different (for instance the controls on the handlebars are nonetheless unique), however yeah finances is all the time a problem….

• Please inform us a bit in regards to the bike.

As I stated, the proprietor “Kirsten” of this 1990 BMW K75 already began by dismantling the bike. She already purchased some components, the seat and headlight and a speedo indicator. However when it got here all the way down to welding the body she wanted some assist. One factor result in one other and finally we did the complete construct… Though it appears to be like like a fairly normal K75, plenty of modifications happened.

The body was modified to suit the rear finish she actually favored. Check out how the body is bent upwards in comparison with the unique body. We didn’t solely weld on a easy hoop — the complete rear-end was constituted of scratch, together with the built-in taillight that’s positioned contained in the body. With a recent new wonderful texture black powder coat this body is healthier than ever!

We modified and positioned an Aprilia Tuono entrance fork to provide it a extra sporty look and higher dealing with! Mixed with adapters for the huge 320mm brake discs, this bike feels wonderful! The brake calipers are powder coated a contrasting colour to the blue/inexperienced paint job. A customized entrance mudguard and a few radiator covers full the general look.

The electrical elements are all positioned contained in the rear body, so we’ve a pleasant open area the place usually the battery is. A customized license plate holder was made together with indicators to maintain a clear rear finish. Every part on the bike is freshly powder coated or painted, new tires, new brakes, brake traces, full serviced engine. This bike is prepared for the street.

• Are you able to inform us what the completed bike is prefer to experience?

As a result of we swapped the entrance finish for an the wrong way up unit that could be a little shorter than the unique forks, the geometry turned just a little bit extra sporty. With a castor of 25 diploma and a path of 100mm this factor now feels fairly nimble, though it’s nonetheless a heavy bike!

We made adapters for the huge 320mm discs, which improves the general feeling of management considerably. The shopper didn’t acknowledge the bike in any respect after her first take a look at experience. “A lot better,” she stated. “It feels 50kg lighter!”

• Was there something completed throughout this construct that you’re notably happy with?

I all the time dislike the unique traces of the Ok-frames, particularly the customs that simply put a hoop on the finish and make a customized seat that follows the traces of this unique body.

We fully chopped down the rear body and construct it new to comply with the seat precisely! I personally actually like that the tail gentle is built-in within the body.

For WiMoto, this was only a fairly easy rebuild when it comes to degree of issue; we usually construct the swingarm and so forth. ourselves. However we have already got plenty of good reactions on this construct, so I feel that is what mainstream customized lovers prefer to see.