Dark Matter: A blacked-out BMW R80 bobber from Untitled
Untitled Motorcycles is not your standard custom outfit. Output is hardly prolific, but the bikes invariably create ripples. And the founders operate in separate workshops, five thousand miles apart?in London and San Francisco.
This BMW comes from the London outpost, helmed by Adam Kay. And although he?s an experienced builder (with a Masters in sculpture from the Royal College of Art to boot), it was a challenge.
?The donor was one of the worst bikes we’ve ever seen,? says Adam. ?A full-on, rust bucket barn find. It took ages to strip down, because every bolt was a nightmare to undo!?
The owner, Matt, was looking for a dry-weather machine, and commissioned the BMW as a gift to himself for passing some exams.
Adam?s first job was to give the 1984-spec R80 more power. So he rebuilt and upgraded the boxer engine from 797 cc to 1000 cc, using Nikasil-plated alloy cylinders. He also used new stainless pushrod tubes and graphite-forged lightweight pistons?each weighing just 140 grams [less than 5 oz.]. These mods boost power from 49 to 59 hp. Adam also reports increased torque, from 57 Nm to 72 Nm [53 ft-lbs] and a much smoother spread throughout the rev range.
The compression ratio is up from 9.2:1 to 9.5:1, and to make sure there are no surprises down the track, Adam has rebuilt the gearbox too. (The battery is hidden underneath in a custom-made box.]
The outside of the engine is looking equally good: the engine block, barrels, heads and rocker covers have be...
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