BMW’s Ok-series is legendary, however its legend was not made on racetracks or crossing deserts. No, the big block-shaped engines, lovingly generally known as ‘Flying Bricks,’ are shrouded in lore developed by way of hundreds of thousands of touring miles. There are tales of Ks reaching a whole bunch of hundreds of miles with out a rebuild, and even working with out oil.
BMW stopped manufacturing these bulletproof engines within the mid-90s, however they’re nonetheless simple to seek out as a result of, effectively, they simply by no means die. And whereas reliability could make an engine an icon, 72 HKG Efficiency wished to construct a machine that begs a extra visceral response.
“The most effective BMW Ok that may be manufactured,” as they put it. A stripped-down and aggressive BMW K75, with classic superbike flare and no stone left unturned. This was to be 72 HKG’s final Ok-model; “The Ok.”
72 HKG Efficiency is a collaboration between builders Antonio of 72 Cycles Efficiency and Jorge of Hell’s Kitchen Storage. Based mostly in Burgos, Spain, the duo has solely been working collectively beneath this title for a short while, however has managed to supply some unimaginable bikes. Engine efficiency and dealing with are clearly a precedence with sporty angles, aggressive ergonomics, and high-end elements displaying by way of as a typical thread.
To rework the relaxed, upright touring stance of the K75 into this sharp-handling café racer, the entire bodywork and the subframe was eliminated. A taller, narrower tail part was made out of tubular metal, cleansing up the bike’s traces and inserting the rider greater up above the rear wheel. Aluminum Tarozzi clip-on handlebars and rear-set foot controls now have the rider leaning ahead over the bike, balanced and simply able to shifting their weight.
A set of beefy Öhlins forks from an Aprilia RSV4 Manufacturing unit have been fitted with Brembo Serie Oro radial calipers on 320mm rotors. These forks are shorter than inventory, additional contributing to the forward-leaning, aggressive stance, and a customized wind-deflecting entrance fender exaggerates that much more. Through the use of the single-sided swingarm of a BMW R1100RS, and the shaft-drive system from an R850, the wheelbase was prolonged by 5 cm from inventory.
A construction was constructed to mount the Öhlins monoshock in probably the most vertical orientation and optimize its perform. The shock’s distant reservoir is mounted off of the subframe close by, for on-the-fly adjustment. Spoked wheels, 18” within the entrance and 17” within the rear, have been wrapped with Michelin Pilot tires.
A customized four-to-one exhaust system was fabricated, snaking up beneath the seat and popping out of the again like a rocket booster. That muffler on the tail goes by way of a cylinder housing inside LEDs, which function an auxiliary taillight—a refined however extremely dramatic element. A louvered carbon fiber rear fender covers the exhaust and ties the livery collectively properly.
The gasoline tank on a K75 has lodging for the inventory mannequin’s radiator shroud, which may look awkward as soon as eliminated. However 72 HKG constructed smaller carbon fiber panels that absolutely change the road of the entrance of the bike, whereas nonetheless overlaying the consumption and sides of the radiator.
Inventory wiring and electronics have been virtually fully eliminated and changed. A Motogadget mo.unit serves because the mind of the bike’s electrical system, with a Motoscope Professional speedo from the German model serving because the instrumentation. A minimal license plate mount extends from the rear axle, to which small three-in-one LED lights are mounted.
The staff at 72 HKG went all-out with the trendy really feel, too, putting in a full vary of monitoring techniques to work with the Motogadget controller. A keyless system, an alarm; there are even LED lights labored into the customized solo seat (masterfully upholstered by Senen Leather-based Works), controllable by way of the rider’s smartphone.
To complete all of it off, the construct was painted in a deep sweet inexperienced with a pointy orange stripe throughout the gasoline tank, down the carbon fiber facet panels, and onto the stomach pan. The top result’s a motorcycle with gorgeous particulars and clear traces. The inventory geometry has been refined, suspension and braking techniques are radically improved, and it’s all constructed round an iconically dependable and constant engine.
All that’s left now could be for its new proprietor, a prime sushi chef based mostly close to Madrid, to take pleasure in it. “He has boundless creativity,” Antonio tells us. “He’s a man who’s at all times on the lookout for the perfect for his clients, who enjoys watching from his kitchen how every dish provokes a response in his diners.”
“When he instructed me he wished a motorbike from us, it was clear to me that we needed to construct one thing glorious.”
Contemplating the brief time that the 72 HKG Efficiency collaboration has existed, and the caliber of bikes the model has produced, we will solely hope the duo continues—as a result of they’re onto one thing nice.
72 Cycles Efficiency | Hell’s Kitchen Storage
