Photo: Niks Motorcycles
It’s always interesting to see builders who stray away from the usual airhead customization formula, and Niks Motorcycles did just that on the project we’re about to examine. Dubbed Nightmare (for some unknown reason), this stylish one-off had been an unmodified BMW R 80 in its previous incarnation. Niks' makeover blurs the lines between different styles, primarily merging bobber and street tracker design elements.
The build was put together for Xavi, one of the workshop’s talented crew members, so there were no constraints when it came to the budget or stylistic approach. Nicos Marques and his squad envisioned a much slimmer profile for Motorrad’s airhead up top, which would highlight the visual heft of its boxer-twin powerplant.
With this objective in mind, the custom sorcery got underway. Niks began by deleting all the factory bodywork, then they sourced a considerably smaller fuel tank from an old Honda. The said module was revised to fit on the R 80 frame like a glove, and most of the electronics are now stored beneath it.
Right behind this tiny Honda tank is a loop-style subframe that’s been fabricated from scratch, supporting an elegant solo seat upholstered by a local craftsman. Rear-end suspension duties are now managed by an adjustable aftermarket monoshock, which originates from the TFX catalog.
At the other end, Niks’ specialists fitted the larger forks and triple clamps of a BMW R 100 R, but the tubes received progressive internals and replacement caps prior to installation. The R 100 donated its front braking system, as well, and the calipers have been connected to a Brembo master cylinder via fresh hoses. Bespoke fenders complete the Nightmare’s attire fore and aft, both manufactured in-house using steel.
In the cockpit, you’ll spot an LSL handlebar outfitted with heaps of Motogadget hardware, including billet aluminum grips, glassless mirrors, and bar-end turn signals. The renowned German electronics brand also supplied a Motoscope Tiny dial, along with their tried-and-true mo.Unit controller. A small, retro-looking headlamp finishes off the motorcycle’s front end, while an unobtrusive taillight lives inside the subframe’s looped rear section.
One may find a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket lower down, and it comes equipped with LED blinkers to keep things road-legal. This modded R 80 is a visual treat, for sure, but Niks’ powertrain upgrades are equally enticing. The air-cooled boxer was rebuilt with a myriad of higher-spec components, such as high-compression pistons, youthful connecting rods, and a Silent Hektik electronic ignition.
Replacement rockers and crankshaft bearings are also present, along with an additional spark plug for each cylinder. Now displacing a very healthy 1,000cc, the engine inhales via custom intake manifolds and a single Weber carb. Lastly, that gorgeous exhaust was put together by Christoffer Martensson, the same guy who made the Nightmare’s saddle.
With this objective in mind, the custom sorcery got underway. Niks began by deleting all the factory bodywork, then they sourced a considerably smaller fuel tank from an old Honda. The said module was revised to fit on the R 80 frame like a glove, and most of the electronics are now stored beneath it.
Right behind this tiny Honda tank is a loop-style subframe that’s been fabricated from scratch, supporting an elegant solo seat upholstered by a local craftsman. Rear-end suspension duties are now managed by an adjustable aftermarket monoshock, which originates from the TFX catalog.
At the other end, Niks’ specialists fitted the larger forks and triple clamps of a BMW R 100 R, but the tubes received progressive internals and replacement caps prior to installation. The R 100 donated its front braking system, as well, and the calipers have been connected to a Brembo master cylinder via fresh hoses. Bespoke fenders complete the Nightmare’s attire fore and aft, both manufactured in-house using steel.
In the cockpit, you’ll spot an LSL handlebar outfitted with heaps of Motogadget hardware, including billet aluminum grips, glassless mirrors, and bar-end turn signals. The renowned German electronics brand also supplied a Motoscope Tiny dial, along with their tried-and-true mo.Unit controller. A small, retro-looking headlamp finishes off the motorcycle’s front end, while an unobtrusive taillight lives inside the subframe’s looped rear section.
One may find a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket lower down, and it comes equipped with LED blinkers to keep things road-legal. This modded R 80 is a visual treat, for sure, but Niks’ powertrain upgrades are equally enticing. The air-cooled boxer was rebuilt with a myriad of higher-spec components, such as high-compression pistons, youthful connecting rods, and a Silent Hektik electronic ignition.
Replacement rockers and crankshaft bearings are also present, along with an additional spark plug for each cylinder. Now displacing a very healthy 1,000cc, the engine inhales via custom intake manifolds and a single Weber carb. Lastly, that gorgeous exhaust was put together by Christoffer Martensson, the same guy who made the Nightmare’s saddle.
Google News