{"id":1679,"date":"2025-07-17T23:51:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T23:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/1679\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T23:51:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T23:51:03","slug":"true-to-the-craft-a-bmw-r80-cafe-racer-by-46works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/1679\/","title":{"rendered":"True to the Craft: A BMW R80 Caf\u00e9 Racer by 46Works"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BMW
There\u2019s no template for running a custom motorcycle workshop. Some are full-on emporiums; mechanics and fabricators tinker away at the back, while the front of house serves up merchandise and single-origin coffee. But others are secluded havens where lone artisans quietly hone their craft.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the path taken by master builder Shiro Nakajima. The former founder of the legendary Japanese outfit Ritmo Sereno, he now operates as 46Works<\/a> from his home workshop\u2014a rustic wooden building tucked into the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains. Nakajima-san entertains visitors by appointment only, devoting his time to crafting beautiful furniture, bikes, and cars.<\/p>\n

\"BMW
Come the weekend, Shiro can be found tearing up the Tsukuba racing circuit or sashaying his way along the countless twisty mountain roads that surround his home. The machines he builds are highly functional, drawing on his extensive experience racing classic motorcycles, but also effortlessly cool.<\/p>\n

His latest creation, a 1987 BMW R80 caf\u00e9 racer<\/a>, was built for a client with tastes as discerning as Shiro\u2019s. \u201cHe is a prominent architect in Japan,\u201d he tells us. \u201cHis order was for a black, simple, and beautiful caf\u00e9 racer. He does a lot of riding in the city of Tokyo, so I designed this bike to be both fun on winding roads and easy to use in everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BMW
The client\u2019s needs called for more than the BMW R80\u2019s<\/a> 797 cc motor could deliver, so Shiro pushed the capacity to 1,000 cc with Siebenrock cylinders and pistons. The carbs were swapped for a pair of Keihin FCR items with K&N filters, and the space left behind by the airbox was filled with a custom-made battery tray. The motor looks brand new, thanks to fresh black finishes with subtle polished highlights.<\/p>\n

The exhaust system boasts a 46Works signature: sand-bent titanium headers. The pipes swoop down from the boxer\u2019s opposed heads, connect below the engine, and exit via a burly oval titanium muffler.<\/p>\n

\"BMW
Next, Shiro dragged the BMW R80 into the modern age with upgraded suspension components. The upside-down forks are \u00d6hlins units from a Ducati Multistrada 1000DS, and were shortened, re-sprung, and anodized black. They\u2019re held in place by the Multistrada\u2019s yokes, which were matched to a custom steering stem.<\/p>\n

An off-the-shelf \u00d6hlins shock was bolted on out back, with its remote reservoir held in a custom-made aluminum bracket. The R80\u2019s stock 18\u201d wheels were retained and treated to new Dunlop Roadmaster TT100 GP tires. Shiro also fitted a pair of Brembo brake calipers and Sunstar discs to the front, with the OEM drum brake doing duty out back.<\/p>\n

\"BMW
Up top, Shiro modified the tank\u2019s mounting brackets to adjust its angle, and then built a new tail section out of fiber-reinforced plastic. A tubular aluminum subframe supports the tail, while also accommodating a bespoke inner fender. The seat, which was upholstered by Razzle Dazzle, pops off to reveal a storage compartment inside the rear hump.<\/p>\n

A handmade aluminum fender sits above the front wheel, with a contemporary design that adds a modern edge to the overall vibe. Drops Design Works treated the bodywork to a classic gloss black paint job, punctuated only by the traditional BMW roundels.<\/p>\n

\"BMW
Shiro\u2019s obsessive attention to detail is reflected in the BMW\u2019s redesigned cockpit. First, he filled in the holes on the top yoke that were left behind by the original bar clamps. Then he added a slim curved recess to its top edge, to create a tight fit with the bike\u2019s new Motogadget speedo.<\/p>\n

Clip-on handlebars are fitted with Brembo controls, OEM-style switches, new grips, and a pair of 46Works mirrors. The lighting is all-LED, and the wiring is all-new, complete with an updated charging system and coils from Euro MotoElectrics. Elegant handmade foot controls show more of Shiro\u2019s handiwork, with the left-hand side arrangement doubling up as an exhaust hanger.<\/p>\n

\"BMW
This BMW R80 caf\u00e9 racer not only cuts a flawless silhouette, but the juxtaposition of polished and raw metal finishes against the minimalist black paint job is spot on. \u201cI created this bike with a focus on overall balance and detail,\u201d says Shiro, adding that he\u2019s also managed to shave 40 kg [88 lbs] off of the BMW.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt also has a large turning circle and a low seat height, making it very easy to use in town\u2014but very fun to ride on winding roads.\u201d<\/p>\n

46Works<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

\"BMW<\/p>\n

\t\t