Custom-Built BMW K 100 Cafe Racer Looks as if it Came From the Year 2050

A vintage airhead from the R lineup would undoubtedly be a lot more suitable for such an endeavor, but a machine like the K 100 still serves its purpose in the custom motorcycle realm. Namely, it is perhaps the most appropriate old-school BMW model for a project that leans toward the futuristic side of things cosmetically.

Ben Ott of Motoism seems to be well aware of this, because he took full advantage of this creature’s traits to build something that looks the part from every angle. The German craftsman wasn’t alone on this venture, though; the makeover was actually performed in collaboration with another prolific outfit named Impuls. Both shops operate in Munich, so you could say their radical K 100 cafe racer is just about as Bavarian as it gets!

Starting with a 1983 variant of Motorrad’s lineup, they looked to create some of the parts in such a way that would allow for them to be replicated in the future. A couple of the things you see here can now be ordered from the official Motoism website as bolt-on components, but we’ll get to that a bit later on. The first step for Ben and the Impuls squad involved taking precise measurements by 3D-scanning the Beemer from head to toe.

A detailed CAD rendering was thus created, serving as the digital canvas on which the new hardware could be conceptualized. When all these items had been designed, the Germans got them 3D-printed in a mixture of premium copolymers. The K 100’s fuel tank is the sole piece of stock bodywork that remains, and it is now joined by a trio of translucent winglets on each side.

LED lighting is hidden behind these plates, offering a mesmerizing effect as it shines through them when switched on. At the front end, Impuls and Motoism fitted a gorgeous headlight housing complete with top-shelf LED componentry from Koso’s range. Besides the headlamp itself, this module also carries the specimen’s instrumentation up top, in the form of a flush-mounted digital speedometer supplied by Motogadget.

You will notice a tiny, blacked-out fender a little lower down, and all these custom body parts are secured in place through stainless-steel brackets. Custom fork covers with integrated turn signals also make an appearance, while the bike’s rear end features a revised subframe topped with a solo black leather saddle.

Behind the seat, we notice a slender tail section equipped with LED lighting. That mesmerizing, finned taillight lens has also been 3D-printed, but we’re not finished talking about the modifications performed at the front end. Tailor-made triple clamps sit behind the headlight assembly, and the top one bears decorative LEDs forming a couple of circles.

The cockpit is also home to a pair of clip-on handlebars from ABM, sporting Brembo control levers, discreet switchgear, and aftermarket grips. In addition, an RFID keyless ignition setup keeps the rider’s view as clean as possible. Not only did the K 100’s forks receive some fresh covers, but they’ve also been shortened ever so slightly and rebuilt with modern springs.

At the back, suspension duties are now carried out by an adjustable shock absorber from Ohlins' inventory. The factory brake discs and calipers are still in play, as are the motorcycle’s unmistakable alloy wheels. Motoism simply cleaned them up, painted them black, and wrapped their rims in Pirelli Sport Demon tires for ample grip.

Completing the machine’s ergonomic package are ABM foot pegs attached to custom brackets. The guys added a bespoke cooler expansion chamber, as well, along with a 3D-printed electronics tray encasing twin lithium iron phosphate batteries. A new intake manifold was installed and it, too, had been fashioned from scratch on the three-dimensional printer.

The standard exhaust system was obviously not an appropriate fit for the futuristic aesthetic now characterizing this K 100. As such, Impuls built a four-into-one exhaust system out of stainless-steel, topped it off with a titanium GPR muffler, and painted the whole thing black. On the other hand, the bodywork was finished in a layer of Alpine White from BMW’s color palette, as well as red pinstripes.

Now, we said that one could visit the Motoism website to buy some of the 3D-printed goodies showcased here. The lateral wings are priced at €299, equivalent to just under $330 as per current exchange rates. You’ll be set back €220 ($241) for the headlight nacelle itself, while the bracket holding it in place will cost and additional €169 ($185).