The Most Beautiful Cafe Racer Yet?

[Scud]

I've had a few BMWs. I've also had a few refrigerators, and a few microwaves. They all did their jobs. My R100CS was lovely, but TBH I bought that because I needed to slow down (was at risk of losing license due to the intoxicating acceleration of a Yamaha FJ1100).

Not long ago, I parked my Griso next to a very nice R9T and talked the owner. Long story short, he wished he had seen a Griso before he bought his R9T. And while the R12T is neat, and has "dual clocks" I would not even consider giving up my 12 year old Griso for it.

If BMW want to interest me, they could bring back the K75s or K100RS. The flying bricks were uber-cool. That's a WKF.

[gstallons]

R100CS = A perfect airhead

FJ1100= not for me

R9T=  No

Griso = righteous

K75S= ok ( I assume that is what is in the picture)

 K100RS= I had one , LOVED it & will never understand why I sold it.

A (personalized) BMW cafe racer = NO. BMW has to be stock. 

Edited June 20 by gstallons
more info

[Weegie]

I really like the styling and yet to come across a negative review of the R12S.

If looking for retro/hipster/cafe machine with nods to an earlier era but updated then surely it would be worth consdering (if you could afford the hefty price tag)

Only criticisms were price and the throttle could be snatchy in Dynamic mode

Owning an older sibling to the R12S, an R9T Racer, perhaps the boy's from Bavaria listened to all the comments about the Racer. The biggest flaw was the bars set into the triple clamp coupled to a long tank.

I'm 5' 7" and it's a huge stretch, arms locked out most of the time.

Many owners installed Helibars, I eventually opted for raised clip ons, but even with these the position is still pretty extreme.

[Paradiso]

I like BMWs and have had a few; mainly airheads, though I have a R1100GS at the moment.   So many old airheads have been turned into cafe racers in the UK, and they are the opposite of quick shifting and quick accelerating.  Great for cruising, short shifting and riding the torque, but, by nature, chronically unsuited to being cafe racers.  BMW could make an attempt at reprising the styling of the R65LS.  I've not long since fixed one up.

Edited June 20 by Paradiso

[pete roper]

It’s a BMW. It’s as ugly as a hat full of farty arseholes and makes a noise like a parson farting in the bath.

The End.

Next…………..

[Paradiso]

10 minutes ago, pete roper said:

It’s a BMW. It’s as ugly as a hat full of farty arseholes and makes a noise like a parson farting in the bath.

The End.

Next…………..

That's  soft going from you Pete!  Are you trying to say you kinda like it?  😆

[Guzzijens]

9 hours ago, docc said:

"The Most Beautiful Café Racer, yet?"

Image courtesy of @Guzzijens

https://www.v11lemans.com/forums/gallery/image/3461-20250323_105143jpg/?context=new

I think so for sure 😀

[gstallons]

That is an extremely good picture . 

[LowRyter]

Not even the best looking Beemer by half a mile.  Not within 10 miles of Spineframe and 100 miles from a Greenie.

[Scud]

Since the original question was "the most beautiful cafe racer yet"? I'm going to assume we are comparing to the modern-retro offerings of other manufacturers.

And while this BMW is "semi-good-looking" (queue Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love by Van Halen), the first Ducati Sport Classic (monoposto) was better looking, and so is the end-of the line Triumph Thruxton RS. And obviously, the V11 is way better looking.

As for classic BMWs - a stock K75S is a surprisingly capable and versatile machine. I could imagine bringing home a stock, low-mile example one day. But have not had a K100RS. I really like the blue and white Special Edition. Agree with gstallons - the R100CS was the best of the modern airheads.

And FWIW, the FJ1100 was a great bike, but it attracted unwanted attention. (queue Bright Lights by Gary Clark Jr.)

[audiomick]

I reckon my V35 Imola is one of the most beautiful "cafe racers". I don't have a picture of mine to hand, but this one isn't bad

No power worth mentioning, but for my taste really one of the prettiest motorcycles ever built, and the seating position is pretty much perfect for me. 

 

If you want a bit more stick, get a Le Mans III. The same styling direction, but more power. And bigger and heavier.

Edited June 20 by audiomick

[billgreenman1]

I had a '91 K100RS 4-valve for a little over two years and, with nostalgia kicking in I could question why I got rid of it, but with reality kicking in I remember why. Now, if an R65 with twin front brakes came around.....

[TeeC]

[docc]

1 hour ago, TeeC said:

I do kinda love the interesting, oversize headlamp. 

This is not your "1100 cc tonti caferacer", @TeeC . . . let's have a look at that!

[TeeC]

14 hours ago, docc said:

I do kinda love the interesting, oversize headlamp. 

This is not your "1100 cc tonti caferacer", @TeeC . . . let's have a look at that!

Hi Docc, yea that headlamp ..people either love it or hate it. its 1930s/40s  bugatti  and massive haha i do like to stick old stuff on the bikes i build, gives them some sort of history. 

heres my 1100 cc tontis head lamp on this is from a 1950s mercedes