CAFÉ RACER 76: 02/15/14

The BMW airhead revival continues apace. This stripped-back R100 RT comes from London’s Untitled Motorcycles and it just oozes vintage charm.

It’s a classic barn find story. The BMW had been rotting away in a garage for years before Christian Smith saw it, bought it, and trailered it over to Untitled’s Camden Town workshop. “There are larger shops than Untitled, but I wanted a smaller and more personable company—where I felt like I was getting something unique and bespoke,” Christian says. His brief was simple: create a raw-looking BMW with no frills.

Untitled started by replacing the original forks with a pair from an R80 ST—which meant they could use 18” x 4” spoked rims. These were powdercoated black, laced up to contrasting stainless steel spokes, and shod with dual-sport Michelin M45 tires. New stainless steel fenders were hand-fabricated and sanded down for a grittier look.

The tank, frame and swingarm were all de-lugged and sanded back to bare metal, and the subframe has been shortened by 15cm and re-welded with a raised hoop. Then Untitled powdercoated the frame in a clear satin finish from Armourtex. A custom brat-style seat in rich brown leather was hand-made by Glenn Moger.

The contrasting gloss blue and brushed steel paint scheme reflects the bike’s dual on- and off-road nature. The top half of the R100 is painted and upholstered, while the bottom half (and engine) remains raw and functional. It’s a trick that also reduces the visual top-heaviness of the original bike.

A 1960s Brit headlight, modified to incorporate the stock BMW speedometer and warning lights, is attached via brackets from an R75/5, with everything painted a glossy blue to match the tank. Brushed aluminum bullet indicators from Roy at Online Parts Shop attach to the frame to complete the look.

The bike has been completely rewired by Untitled’s in-house electrics guru, Anita, with routing through scrambler-style handlebars to Brit switchgear and grips wrapped in Brooks leather. The ignition key and starter button have been re-positioned alongside the seat, the front brake reservoir is relocated under the fuel tank, and the battery is now hidden under the engine in a custom-made box.

After three years of sitting idle, the engine required a complete overhaul by Rex with new big end shells, piston rings, timing chain, exhaust valves and clutch. The cylinder heads and barrels were blasted and re-polished and all bolts, nuts and washers were replaced with stainless steel throughout. The header pipes were chopped, the rear balance pipe removed, and twin stubby silencers welded on.

The result is a considerably lightened and practical R-series with a split ‘town and country’ personality. And it perfectly matches Christian Smith’s real-world needs.

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting the MCN London Motorcycle Show that opens today, keep an eye out for this bike. Otherwise, visit the Untitled Motorcycles website to see more of their stylish builds. Images by Damian McFadden.

via BIKEEXIF

Little Red Riding Hood: Alfa Romeo Junior in the woods

Flush with passion rather than cash, 21-year-old Belgian student Wouter Martinot proves that you don’t need seven (or even five) figures in the bank to be a ‘classic driver’. He recently took his beloved Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior to the forests of La Roche-en-Ardenne, not far from Spa-Francorchamps…

With no need for a reliable daily driver, and a passion for classic cars instilled in him by his father early on, a 19-year-old Wouter chose to defy the usual tendencies of his generation. Rather than buy a cheap used hatchback for insurance and other reasons of economy, he instead opted to spend his limited budget on a car almost twice his own age – a 1975 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior – and embarked on a project with the sole intention of creating “a classic racing car for the road”.

All the better to see you with

As any Alfa enthusiast will have spotted, the Junior has the appearance of its more powerful sibling, the 2000 GTV. “It's actually original; during this era, Alfa sometimes took the leftover stock parts from other models such as the GTV, and fitted them to the later Juniors,” says Wouter. “Any modifications I've made beyond that are completely reversible.” That should satisfy the purists, then. Wouter admits that he’s the first to have reservations about the somewhat out-of-place aftermarket wheels, but explains: “I’d love to fit GTA-style wheels, but at the moment my budget doesn’t stretch that far. For the time being, I use these as they are the right fitment and very lightweight, which fits the road-racer theme of the car.”

While the additions to the to-do list might pour in at a faster rate than they’re crossed off, Wouter still makes time to enjoy the car between his studies. He recently took the Junior deep into the forests of La Roche-en-Ardenne – approximately 50km from the Spa-Francorchamps circuit – for a combined shakedown and photoshoot. “For me, the winding forest roads provide not only a beautiful backdrop for photos, but also the opportunity to enjoy the car in its natural environment. With around 90bhp, it’s not going to win any traffic-light duels, but it’s wonderful on the twisties. Your focus is concentrated on maintaining momentum, with the four-cylinder roar filling the sparse cabin and the Jaeger instruments feeling like they’re dancing to your heartbeat.”

A noisy new addition to the family

Though Wouter says his father’s influence was a major factor in his purchase, he admits that it hasn’t brought them any closer together: “The Alfas of this era are the quintessential definition of a driver’s car, and my father and I are both ‘drivers’. Because neither of us want to be only a passenger in the Junior, it means we can’t go on road trips together!”

Pictures: Ben Kwanten Photography

Gentlemanly Juniors: 10 cool, low-cost Italians

Starting small sounds dull and depressing? We simply don't agree - and to prove our point, we've selected 10 Italian 'starter' classics that you can buy right now for well under 30,000 U.S. dollars...