Custom BMW R 80 Has a Profound Story to Tell and the Patina to Back it Up

The bike is a 1987 model of the R 80 lineup from BMW Motorrad, which remained with the original owner’s family up until recently. It had been purchased brand-new back in 1987 from a Hamburg-based dealer, complete with a pair of Krauser touring panniers. The owner had big plans with his newly-acquired airhead and would go on to ride just north of 300,000 kilometers (over 186k miles) in its saddle.

Accompanied by his wife, the man embarked on several road trips across the Old Continent over the following three decades. Times were good and plenty of unforgettable memories have been made, but all great things must eventually come to an end. The R 80’s long-term owner had sadly passed away a few years ago, and so did his loving wife in 2023.

Their daughter inherited the old BMW, which had been locked away in storage since her father’s passing. In the end, she decided that selling the bike to WalzWerk was the best way to do it justice and let it live on in custom form. Parting ways with her parents’ trusty companion wasn’t easy, but she had confidence in Marcus and his crew to give it the overhaul it deserved.

Engrossed by the Beemer’s history, WalzWerk’s frontman ended up keeping it for himself once the project was complete. Thus, we can all rest assured that it continues to be in safe hands, and its new form is nothing short of breathtaking! Let’s go right ahead and see how the transformation process played out, because there are heaps of tasteful mods for us to examine here.

First things first, the R 80 was taken apart and then treated to an internal overhaul of its 797cc boxer-twin engine, five-speed gearbox, and driveshaft. By contrast, the drivetrain hardware was left unrestored on the outside, so as to retain the handsome patina nodding to this Beemer’s extensive time on the road. A dual stainless-steel exhaust system from SC-Project rounds out the powertrain-related work in style.

The main frame hasn’t been repainted, either, with the aim of keeping just a bit more of this BMW’s hard-earned patina. However, WalzWerk did get rid of its factory subframe, leaving room for a custom-made looped alternative built in-house. Marcus and his squad carried the worn-out effect onto this part, as well, which brought about visual continuity from front to back.

Multi-function LEDs are attached to the subframe tubing on the flanks, but the license plate lives nice and low on a swingarm-mounted bracket. Above the rear framework, the Germans placed a stylish handmade seat, with standard black leather on the sides and perforated upholstery on the top section. All this equipment is supported by a modern adjustable shock absorber from YSS, while the stock suspension hardware at the front has been kept.

It wasn’t left in its original state, though. The project’s authors had the forks rebuilt inside out, and they’ve also shortened them ever so slightly to get the bike’s stance just right. A small bespoke fender was fitted in between the fork tubes, visually unobtrusive but just large enough to carry out its purpose. For improved stopping power up north, WalzWerk installed a second brake caliper identical to the one that came with the motorcycle.

Both were then coupled with drilled aftermarket discs, and the OEM wheels got cloaked in Firestone Deluxe Champion rubber fore and aft. Much of the cockpit paraphernalia is still original, save for the snazzy translucent grips and Motogadget speedometer. There is a fresh LED headlamp a bit further ahead, flanked by a pair of custom fork sleeves with integrated blinkers.

All the electrical bits and pieces are hooked up to a new wiring harness, along with a Motogadget control module and a compact lithium-ion battery. The machine’s gas tank was too corroded to be restored, so the guys replaced it with the similar unit of a different BMW airhead. Look closely at those BMW roundels, and you’ll notice that they’re tailor-made interpretations containing the WalzWerk logo.

Last but not least, the stunning burgundy finish on the tank was borrowed from one of Marcus’ very own whips – a 1959 Porsche 356 near and dear to his heart. The car had a similar story to the modded Beemer, as it had been purchased from the original owner’s family in California some time ago. As such, it made perfect sense for the R 80 to get the same colorway as the 356, and it suits it like an absolute charm.