No motorcycle encapsulates the vibe of 90s BMW sport tourers quite like the BMW K1100RS. It had everything—three-spoke wheels, triangular bodywork, and a stonking inline-four block orientated horizontally in the frame. But behind all of that quirkiness lay a hella capable machine.
Although the venerable K is starting to show its age, it’s finding new life on the custom scene. And one outfit has consistently produced some of the raddest K-series café racers we’ve seen; the Dutch parts specialist and custom shop, Powerbrick.
Powerbrick’s star is sharply on the rise. Founder Tim Somers has wowed with every K-series café racer he’s released, refining his signature aesthetic each time. Powerbrick’s Ks are razor sharp and ooze performance from every pore.
Their latest project is their wildest yet. It takes cues from its predecessors but adds several details that elevate the formula to new levels.
One hallmark of Powerbrick’s work is their penchant for working around the K1100’s heavily scalloped OEM fuel tank. They’ve developed a subframe—machined from a solid 220-pound aluminum billet—that hosts the seat, tail cowl, and upper shock mount. Aggressively abbreviated and tapered, it aligns perfectly with the stock tank.
The subframe attaches to the bike by way of a pair of mounting brackets that are welded to the main frame. An LED taillight with integrated turn signals is embedded out back, while luxurious upholstery by Jeroen Bouwmeester at Silver Machine adorns the saddle.
A multi-faceted fairing sits at the opposite end of the K1100. The front of it resembles a traditional café racer headlight nacelle, but the rear half has a sportier bend, tucking effortlessly into the fuel tank’s flanks. It houses a Koso LED headlight, and LED turn signals that are embedded into flared bits on the sides.
“We tried to build the ultimate café racer and have been wanting to do the full fairing for a long time,” Tim tells us. “It’s fully 3D-printed in a carbon compound material. We CNC’ed a full bracket to hold the headlight, fairing, and the Motogadget Motoscope Pro speedo.”
Running through the fairing are the forks from a BMW S1000RR superbike, fitted with Öhlins NIX30 cartridges and anodized red. They’re held in place by a set of black-anodized aluminum Powerbrick yokes. A fully adjustable shock does duty at the back, custom-built with a red spring by TFX Suspension in The Netherlands.
Tim didn’t cheap out on the wheels either. This K rolls on a set of jaw-dropping forged carbon hoops from Rotobox, taking full advantage of the bike’s single-sided swingarm to create a striking visual effect. The braking system is all-Brembo, with Venhill hoses linking everything up.
Powerbrick paid a whole lot of attention to the BMW’s engine too. The big brick was overhauled and ported, and benefits from an NGK ignition system and new Bosch injectors. An aluminum radiator from RC Racing helps the K1100 run cooler, with Samco hoses offering another tasteful pop of red.
The intake features a row of custom-branded DNA filters. Gnarly four-into-one, hand-welded stainless steel headers expel gasses from the motor, exiting via a Powerbrick muffler. (We can only imagine how this thing must sound at full tilt.)
Powerbrick rewired the bike too, using a Motogadget control box and keyless ignition, a NOCO Lithium battery, and a CTEK battery management system. You’ll find backlit Motogadget switches in the cockpit, along with Brembo master cylinders, AEM reservoirs, a Domino throttle, and Biltwell Inc. grips. Powerbrick rear-sets sit lower down.
The K’s radical stance and tight proportions are matched by a tasteful metalflake grey paint job, executed by Royal Kustom Works. Final details include a smorgasbord of black finishes and a pair of custom-made monochrome BMW roundels.
Once again, Tim and Co. have impressed with their ability to extract the maximum potential from the BMW K1100RS. This K perfectly illustrates their evolution—and, with any luck, is a taste of things to come.
Powerbrick | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Paul van Mondfrans Lindén
