Scrambled BMW K 1100 LT Lucy Takes the Bavarian Touring Formula Off-Road

Nonetheless, what we can say for sure is that Jacek knows how to build an incredible bike excelling in both form and function. He’s also rather perseverant, facing the many challenges associated with running a customization outfit all on his own. Even though the ride hasn’t always been smooth, our protagonist never lost his determination to make a name for himself in the bike-modding world.

With projects like this scrambled BMW K 1100 LT (aka Lucy) under his belt, we’d say it’s only a matter of time before he gets there! Now, you might not think of the Bavarian tourer as an ideal basis for a nimble scrambler, mostly due to its weight. A fair chunk of this mass can easily be eliminated by removing some of its stock bodywork, though, and you’ll be left with a much leaner machine as soon as you get rid of that massive front fairing.

Sir Mulak knew he could drop a few pounds by deleting the K 1100 LT’s factory attire, so he did away with just about everything aside from the gas tank. With the donor dismantled, Cardsharper’s solo mastermind kicked things off with some structural changes. He revised the Beemer’s subframe to achieve the desired geometry at the back, but the next job on his list was even more intricate.

It involved building some new tubular steel crash bars from scratch, so as to keep Lucy’s inline-four somewhat protected when going off-road. The upper section of the tubing follows the edge of the fuel tank seamlessly, thus filling the unsightly gap revealed when the front fairing had been removed. As for the rear subframe, it bears all the purposeful luggage racks that an adventure rider could ever ask for.

These can easily be removed when necessary, and the top rack is fully capable of supporting a pillion seat on demand. The main saddle is a genuine head-turner in and of itself, with its red cladding being a breath of fresh air in a world full of black and brown upholsteries. All the electronics are stashed well out of sight in a handmade box beneath the seat.

Jacek got pretty creative with the fenders, too, taking a suitable steel unit from his parts bin and adapting it for Lucy’s rear end. At the front, you will now find two separate fenders: a handmade lower module and a high-mounted one shaped out of the original K 1100 LT part. Down in the unsprung sector, the Beemer comes equipped with the repurposed hoops of an R 1150 GS, measuring 19 inches up north and 17 inches out back.

The new wheels are laced to fresh stainless-steel spokes, and their rims wear dual-purpose Tourance rubber from Metzeler’s range. Along with the replacement footgear, the aforementioned GS also donated its rear braking system to Cardsharper’s cause. On the other hand, the standard K-series front brake was retained and refurbished, then fitted with modern hoses just like the rear item.

Although Jacek kept the four-cylinder engine internally unchanged, he did install some custom pipework better suited for Lucy’s off-roading purpose. The stainless-steel exhaust was built in a four-into-one layout, terminating in a high-mounted silencer right below the subframe on the left. A bit further back in that same area, we see a bare-bones license plate bracket, LED turn signals, and a small yet bright aftermarket taillight.

There’s a lot to take in at the front, as well. The project’s author fitted a tubular structure that holds a multi-piece wind deflector, an offset LED headlamp, and a drilled plate to fill the remaining space. In addition, the blinkers are identical to those installed at the rear, while the trimmed K 1100 fender attaches to the same tubes as the headlight and surrounding components.

A bit further back in the cockpit, there is a cross-braced handlebar sporting most of the stock controls and a pair of aftermarket mirrors. Instrumentation comes by way of a multi-function Koso dial, which incorporates a speedo, rev-counter, and fuel gauge, among other readings. All the electronics were hooked up to a BEP 3.0 controller from Maru Labs, and Motogadget supplied a keyless ignition setup to top things off.

Last but not least, the Polish artisan at Cardsharper really went to town on Lucy’s paint job, finishing the handmade tubes in red and the rest of the framework in black. A three-tone livery covers the bike’s outfit, mixing white, yellow, and a blueish grey hue. There’s something of a Moto Guzzi V85TT vibe here, but Jacek Mulak tells us this was completely unintentional.