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Author Topic: Kafe Kronicles  (Read 5746 times)

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Kafe Kronicles
« on: October 09, 2018, 09:06:25 AM »
Greetings all from South Africa!

I hope you'll enjoy my recollection of my BMW K75 build project.

The project began in late 2015 and is still incomplete!
Most of the final touches are being completed now so hopefully, it will allow this build thread to proceed at a steady pace.

Your comments and input will be much appreciated, as the build is certainly not finalised yet!

Part 1 coming soon.
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2018, 09:46:56 AM »
It all began when I stumbled across a for-sale advertisement on the local classifieds - Gumtree South Africa.

The advertisement was titled: "BMW K75 Cafe Racer" and was accompanied by the following image.

* The tease.JPG (97.79 kB . 675x450 - viewed 510 times)

The following image illustrated that the item being sold was far from the breathtakingly beautiful BMW Cafe Racer seen in the picture above - it was simply a teaser!

Behold, the beginning of a project!


* The start.JPG (67.07 kB . 768x576 - viewed 572 times)

So enveloped by the beauty of what it could be, and my unhealthy desire to continuously burden myself with another project; I quickly performed my due diligence with the briefest of research and concluded that it was a lucrative opportunity and it was just waiting to be snatched up!

So I made the necessary arrangements and found myself the proud owner of a BMW motorcycle.
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2018, 11:15:35 AM »
As you can see from the markings on the fuel tank, this bike was previously a Police motorcycle for the South African Police Force. An ex "spietkop" bike.

The immediate list of missing components:
1. Front shocks
2. Rear shock
3. Driveshaft
4. Exhaust/muffler
5. Fuel tank cap
6. Instrument cluster
7. Handle control gear
8. EFI/ECU
9. Fuel injectors
10. Fuel pump

Just to name a few...

Some problems with the purchased collection of parts:
1. Dent in fuel tank
2. No registration papers for the frame
3. Rear rim more than likely not salvageable

It was clear that another donor bike would need to be found or an extensive parts hunt for the remaining components would need to be conducted!
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2018, 03:40:40 PM »
So here she is after being delivered home:

* DSC_1009.JPG (52.49 kB . 768x432 - viewed 534 times)

* DSC_1011.JPG (50.1 kB . 768x432 - viewed 541 times)

And on to the disassembly!

* DSC_1012.JPG (56.87 kB . 768x432 - viewed 529 times)

Really just a bunch of parts and far from a custom BMW K75!

* DSC_0008.JPG (45.66 kB . 768x432 - viewed 543 times)
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2018, 03:47:06 PM »
Not really knowing where to start, I decided to simply strip easily accessible engine components and begin the cleaning/restoration process.

That coolant stub seems accessible...

* DSC_1020.JPG (41.97 kB . 768x432 - viewed 532 times)

Let's clean it!

* DSC_1022.JPG (68.47 kB . 768x432 - viewed 539 times)

And so it continues...

* DSC_0005.JPG (43.03 kB . 768x432 - viewed 557 times)

* DSC_0021.JPG (50.53 kB . 768x432 - viewed 515 times)


* DSC_0002.JPG (53.38 kB . 768x432 - viewed 527 times)

* DSC_0004.JPG (41.07 kB . 768x432 - viewed 527 times)

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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline DJEwen

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 392
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2018, 02:54:19 AM »
 :2thumbup:
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  • Scotland
  • 1985 K100 'Revive', 1987 K100 LT

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2018, 03:47:07 AM »
A little bit of spray work to the valve covers...


* IMG_20160123_153736.jpg (40.6 kB . 768x431 - viewed 526 times)

* IMG_20160123_165153.jpg (23.81 kB . 323x576 - viewed 500 times)

* IMG_20160123_165805.jpg (52.84 kB . 768x431 - viewed 521 times)


* IMG_20160125_163605.jpg (30.85 kB . 768x431 - viewed 527 times)

* IMG_20160125_185228.jpg (38.21 kB . 768x431 - viewed 504 times)


* IMG_20160128_133119.jpg (54.34 kB . 768x431 - viewed 539 times)

* IMG_20160128_161321.jpg (45.65 kB . 768x431 - viewed 552 times)


The engine is looking a whole lot better!


* IMG_20160129_153627.jpg (59.03 kB . 768x431 - viewed 488 times)

* IMG_20160129_153638.jpg (50.8 kB . 768x431 - viewed 514 times)

Used an aerosol can in Matt Black, for those who were interested.

Very happy with the results, think it has a very natural/factory look to it.
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10154
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2018, 08:10:49 AM »
Good photos! Thanks for providing some details. Are you going to design a barrier to prevent road grit and water from being flung by the rear tire onto your back and your moto's tidy engine?
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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.

Offline natalena

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 613
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2018, 09:58:43 AM »
Inspiring work, thanks for sharing. Seeing your progression gives me the courage to start bringing parts into the kitchen for cleaning. If I don't post for a while, it's because the wife got to the rolling pin. :)
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  • MST
  • 1987 K75s #0919, '05 Sportster 1200C, '21 ARGO 8x8, '24 KLR650
Texas catheters ROCK!

Offline DJEwen

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 392
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2018, 03:59:46 AM »
Is this real time live? Your speed is outstanding!

I though I was quick at 284 hours over 76 Days but this is rapid!
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  • Scotland
  • 1985 K100 'Revive', 1987 K100 LT

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2018, 09:11:36 AM »
Quote from: DJEwen on October 12, 2018, 03:59:46 AM
Is this real time live? Your speed is outstanding!

I though I was quick at 284 hours over 76 Days but this is rapid!

Absolutely not. I started the project in late 2015... I'm just documenting for the first time now.
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2018, 09:13:17 AM »
Quote from: Laitch on October 11, 2018, 08:10:49 AM
Good photos! Thanks for providing some details. Are you going to design a barrier to prevent road grit and water from being flung by the rear tire onto your back and your moto's tidy engine?

No plan for any protection/barrier yet...
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2018, 09:19:03 AM »
You guys get the picture... I like my Matt black aerosol paint...

* IMG_20160309_102120.jpg (46.85 kB . 768x431 - viewed 479 times)

* IMG_20160309_105509.jpg (26.07 kB . 768x431 - viewed 490 times)

* IMG_20160325_112330.jpg (72.88 kB . 768x431 - viewed 479 times)

* IMG_20160325_135307.jpg (36.29 kB . 323x576 - viewed 468 times)
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #13 on: October 12, 2018, 09:42:56 AM »
New spark plugs and cleaned up the leads and coils. Assembled a bit of the intake system as well.


* IMG_20160215_172936.jpg (49.31 kB . 768x431 - viewed 492 times)

Have bought another donor bike (Another old SA police force bike) as well as some loose parts here and there.


* IMG_20160408_113425.jpg (81.29 kB . 768x431 - viewed 512 times)

* IMG_20160408_152754.jpg (64.06 kB . 768x431 - viewed 517 times)
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #14 on: October 12, 2018, 09:48:00 AM »
Polishing and installing the BMW spark plug cover plate - mighty important!


* IMG_20160425_091718.jpg (41.74 kB . 768x431 - viewed 481 times)

* IMG_20160425_092039.jpg (44.88 kB . 768x431 - viewed 472 times)
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer

Offline nicholasherbst

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
Re: Kafe Kronicles
« Reply #15 on: October 12, 2018, 09:50:48 AM »
Shocks and Calipers painted.


* IMG_20160504_075909.jpg (25.56 kB . 323x576 - viewed 474 times)

* IMG_20160504_075852.jpg (47.18 kB . 768x431 - viewed 458 times)
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  • South Africa
  • BMW K75 Cafe Racer
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