Kind Follows Operate: K75 Redesigns from Revel Customs…
Whereas we see lots of four-cylinder BMW K100 customs, initiatives that make the most of the K75 triple appear a lot much less frequent. That’s too unhealthy, as a result of the K75 was the lighter, sportier member of the “Flying Brick” household:
“With the K75S additionally being 22 kilos lighter and subsequently nimbler than the K100, it’s not stunning it was designated the Ok-range’s sport bike.” –Bike Classics
Although the K75 was down one cylinder and 250cc as in comparison with the K100, it made 10% extra horsepower per cubic centimeter resulting from increased compression pistons and different tweaks. Mix that with the lighter weight and quicker-revving engine, and the K75 made an awesome sport-tourer.
“There’s one thing relatively engaging concerning the thought of getting a motorcycle you may soar on at a second’s discover and be in Marseilles in 48 hours.” –Basic Bike Information
One man who’s acknowledged the persevering with worth of the Ok-series machines is Andrei Kouznetsov of the UK’s Revel Customized. Andrei has spent most of his grownup life working as a design director for a London-based inside design agency, centered primarily on industrial initiatives, however his dedication to the two-wheeled life runs deep.
“No matter what or the place I used to be working I’ve been using bikes on a regular basis since I used to be 17.”
He started customizing smaller 125cc machines as a facet passion, however throughout the pandemic, the marketplace for his small-displacement initiatives exploded, as commuters might full a CBT (Obligatory Primary Coaching) to journey a 125cc motorbike with out the time and expense of shopping for a automotive. Quickly Andrei had stop his design job to satisfy the orders, constructing 30+ bikes in simply 18 months, with an emphasis on practicality, consolation, and aesthetics.
He’s at all times believed strongly within the “Kind Follows Operate” philosophy, which he readily utilized to his motorbike builds.
“I utilized my industrial design method early on and set about making templates, future-proofing components that might later turn out to be simpler to up-scale and simply usually a motorcycle that might be straightforward to reside with on a regular basis, together with the upkeep facet.”
Over time, he started experimenting with larger machines, resulting in the BMW K75 customs you see right here. Versus a single one-off construct, Andrei labored to create a template that might be reproduced:
“Our essential goal was to give attention to customising one essential aspect, which was to design a brand new subframe which might be seemingly fused onto the unique tubular house body. In different phrases, to revamp the K75/K100 with most impact…”
The brand new subframes home many essential particulars, equivalent to built-in LED lights, seat locking mechanisms, electrics, suspension, rear fender, and saddle. All the things is road-legal, so the house owners may have no points with MOT, and with just a few different customized particulars — bars, gauges, fenders, controls, and exhaust, and so on. — a fairly sensible customized bike is born. The identical subframe works for the K100 as effectively.
Andrei is most happy with the bikes’ mixture of consolation, aesthetics, and practicality:
“This additionally leads me on to the truth that I cannot solely construct a cool wanting customized motorbike, however many of the bikes I construct are additionally very snug and sensible too. Kind Follows Operate!”
Under, we speak to Andrei for extra particulars on his Ok bike customs.
BMW Ok Customs: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
My title is Andrei Kouznetsov and for many of my life I’ve been working as a Design Director for a London-based inside design agency working totally on industrial initiatives. No matter what or the place I used to be working I’ve been using bikes on a regular basis since I used to be 17. My background in structure led me to construct my first customized motorbike throughout the international pandemic, which was a Honda CBF125 2009 mannequin.
I at all times believed in Kind Following Operate all through my profession and this continued with bikes. Since I usually like sensible bikes, my preliminary method to customizing a motorcycle was to make it straightforward on the attention, sensible, and inexpensive. So even when it got here to designing my first bike, I utilized my industrial design method early on and set about making templates, future-proofing components that might later turn out to be simpler to up-scale and simply usually a motorcycle that might be straightforward to reside with on a regular basis, together with the upkeep facet.
I then realised this was truly an enormous activity, however since with the ability to provide my first customized bike on the market on eBay, the quantity of curiosity I had was past my preliminary expectations. In the course of the pandemic, individuals dwelling in London needed to keep away from public transport, and since getting a automotive had its personal restrictions in getting principle and sensible checks accomplished, the choice was to realize a CBT (a lightweight motorbike licence), which might enable using any motorbike as much as 125cc.
So yeah, the orders stored coming in. Quickly I stop my job, and began constructing extra of those 125cc bikes off the again of the identical template utilizing the unique bike (gray tank with black vertical stripe). Eighteen months later I constructed over 30 of those little 125cc bikes and clearly I began to strive different larger fashions such because the CBF250, the CB400SS, and so forth.
My workshop was initially a double automotive storage, which I used to be sharing with one other biker, however that shortly modified as me and him had completely different pursuits and ultimately I discovered a superb sized industrial unit in Surrey, Chertsey space, which is the place I’m right this moment.
Neatest thing I like about my workshop is that it has a personal street about half a mile lengthy, off the principle road and this turns into very helpful because it’s obtained all kinds of surfaces and bumps alongside it — making it superb for all these preliminary shake down take a look at rides! A lot of the 125cc fashions are on this web site right here: www.revelcustom.com/125cc-motorcycles
• Please inform us concerning the builds.
Our essential goal was to give attention to customising one essential aspect, which was to design a brand new subframe which might be seemingly fused onto the unique tubular house body. In different phrases, to revamp the K75/K100 with most impact however with minimal customisation. The result’s a Avenue Tracker with highly effective built-in LED back lights providing all gentle indicators required and inside the street authorized 185mm displacement.
The brand new body now celebrates and continues the unique tank line, and with the brand new 4mm-thick facet panels, they too cover the tank lugs and the radiator mess.
Cosmetically, all the bike has primarily bolt-on additions such because the Acerbis fenders, Fork Gaiters, Renthal Bars, gauges, and lights.
After all many small brackets have been all handmade and powder-coated to host all of those additions. I additionally needed to keep away from making the standard drop-down handlebar cafe racer Ok-bike, which is normally uncomfortable for lengthy rides. This, nonetheless, is as snug and sensible as the unique bike however loads lighter!
The exhaust is definitely from a RnineT — effectively one of many mufflers, that’s! We like to make use of BMW’s fancy unique tools such because the Akra pipe, as we predict it additional compliments the bike’s aesthetics.
• Do any of the bikes have nicknames?
Probably not, I wish to maintain issues formal and acceptable earlier than giving the bike to its new proprietor the place they’ll resolve on nicknames. Since 90% of the bikes I construct are designed for every particular person buyer, normally the title comes close to the tip of the construct.
For instance, I used to be as soon as requested to exchange an outdated 70’s 250cc engine with one other bike initially a 2007 mannequin and subsequently loads modifications had been concerned throughout that challenge — subsequently that bike was later named the Frankenstein.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s wish to journey the personalized bikes?
Primarily its the truth that many of the bikes have misplaced at the very least 25% of their weight and subsequently these bikes can’t cover the true character of getting an engine between your legs. So yeah, using these bikes reminds you that every one new bikes produced right this moment are very refined and too bland for my part — aside from the Moto Guzzi’s — as they at all times have loads of rock n roll due to their distinctive engine configuration!
• Was there something achieved throughout these builds that you’re notably happy with?
Fabricating and fusing the brand new subframes, as they host many essential particulars just like the built-in LED lights, seat locking mechanisms, electrics, suspension, fenders and seats. It’s actually essential to get that completely appropriate!
As this aspect must behave and obey not solely the Street Authorized necessities but in addition provide one of the best bodily benefits of getting a customized subframe — like consolation, for instance. This additionally leads me on to the truth that I cannot solely construct a cool wanting customized motorbike, however many of the bikes I construct are additionally very snug and sensible too. Kind Follows Operate!
Comply with the Builder
Internet: www.revelcustom.com
Instagram: @revelcustoms
