Have been given my late grandad's (Peter Ovenden - known to us as Pops) '85 K100RS in mint condition by my nan for my eighteenth. He was a very keen biker whose collection over the years included numerous British thoroughbreds. In the early nineties, unbeknown to us at the time, he was diagnosed with skin cancer and he opted for something a bit more comfortable that he could tour on with my nan (Janet Ovenden). I believe they toured the states on this bike with the BMW Club who all chartered a plane over there to take all of their bikes.

I gotthe bike out of her garage in Northolt, West London as soon as I could and set about getting it running again for the first time in 10 years. Unfortunately, as he was riding the bike until just days before he left us, fuel had been left in the tank.

We set about replacing the entire fuel system bar the injectors that fortunately cleaned up after a long soak in carb cleaner.We replaced the battery, full service, brakes were overhauled etc.

The bike sailed straight through an MOT although this could be down to the fact that it's only done 32,000 miles!

It rides like a dream although I have only taken it round the block a few times as I'm in the middle of doing my bike test and already have a pending court case for running a red light the day I passed my car test 6 months ago so the last thing I need is to be tugged on an uninsured, SORN'd bike with no license!

My plan for the bike was to turn it into a cafe racer/flat tracker as this British style was clearly my grandad's favourite looking back at his collection.

I have stripped the bike completely of all fairing and electrics and all are available on eBay (more items to come) - link at bottom

I then went on a shopping spree on eBay and at Reg Allen's, West Ealing. To style the bike I have bought:

Chrome 3" riser handlebars
Chrome 17" reverse cone muffler
Chrome cat eye front indicators
Chrome short stem rear indicators
Chrome headlamp brackets
Vincent N.O.S "STOP" brake light (with LED bulbs as existing ones were too dim)
Acewell 2856 speedo
1958 Triumph 3TA Lucas headlamp (7")
Lucas warning lights and ammeter
New chrome rim
Halogen bulb lens
Cafe racer fibreglass seat (I will be making an aluminium seat over the summer with the help of my rolls-Royce trained, metal worker dad - Romance of Rust - but for now need to try and focus on my A-Levels)

The bike is currently being wired up and everything test fitted as the tank, cut down mudguard, seat, headlamp shell and engine covers are going to be painted next Tuesday.

I have chosen the a new BMW Mini colour for all bar the engine covers (they will be done in original satin black) - "Mini Hot Chocolate Metallic". It's a gorgeous colour and I have just been waiting for the right car/bike to spray in this colour.

I am having a vinyl seat made by D-Class trimmers. It is going to be black with chocolate brown diamond stitching to compliment the bike colour.

I will start uploading photos soon but am only on my iPad at the mo so that will be a struggle. Have taken lots of pics along the way so that people can see what I'm doing. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions re anything I'm selling on eBay. The front fairing, headlight and exhaust will all be going up on eBay very shortly.

Would love to know what you think and if indeed anyone knew my grandad or the bike (reg. C123 TLL)

Cheers

MerlinMerlin's K100RS parts

good to have you aboard merlin .....well at least another "k" lives again ...thankyou ...

good luck and have fun with the chop job ....seems a few folks have taken a fancy for a k for a cafe racer ...

always good to look at ...

you might like to post in the "members introduction" thread ....and in a few days hense you will be able to post some pics ....would love to see them ...

cheers

G'day Merlin , had a peek at your ad in Ebay , your Pop's bike looks really great , as you said it's in great nic , love the Martini pin strips , it's not too late , pull the auctions down & put it back together !

JR

Melbourne Australia

Would love to here more about this mod you are doin.I also have an 85K100 but an RT.Would love to dump this heavy muffler and try a new speedo assembly,but it looks daunting trying to get all the electronics to work with non BMW equipment.And the muffler with the 4 pipes going directly into the muffler with no 4 to 1 adaptor used...very odd to me.

Enjoy your build,or unbuild:D

been a bit sloppy on here with updates but havent been quiyte as sloppy in the workshop...

bike was up and running like a dream until yesterday plugs are bone dry and pump is pumping so putting it down to the injectors but will check 'em tomorrow... anyway, enough with all the doom and gloom

on with the pics



after getting it out of the garage



stripping it down getting it running



stripping it down for good



front lucas 7" light from '57 Triumph 3TA, exhaust, 3" riser, glass seat, cut down rearsets



completely stripped down for paint



powder coated swing arm and stand



bits back from paint and everything powder coated bar front wheel



as it is now, front wheel and outer sleeves done.

all left to do now: wiring, weld up seat frame, upholster seat, make front mudguard and number plate and hey presto!

and battery box and powder coating of engine casings

Looks nicer than I had expected.
Do like that colour though.
Did you replace the fuel filter in the tank when re commissioning it? That may be your problem.

Yeah we did replace it but will check it. What was weird for me though is the fact it has run like a dream since beginning of April and ran fine about an hour before not starting although it was quite low on petrol...? (have obviously filled her up since though!)

I don't mind the look of that at all! Well done with the colour scheme and contrast. That 'S' style seat cowl is sweet and reminds me of the Airhead boxers. I'll be curious as to how you configure a tail light and indicators. With the new, sleek look, she's crying out for some much flatter 'bars, however.

I like the way it's coming along Merlin. That colour is really nice and suits the bike.

Marty.

Nice result.

I am anxious to see the pictures when the engine casing will be powder coated.
I am not a fan of cafe racers, but I really like the result of this project.

I don't know if you are planning to re-install the inner back mudguard, but something has to be made to protect the battery.

Here is your Grandad's fairing on my bike, which is hopefully just about to be MOT'd thought you would like to see it again.






Ali

Doing the same thing. I'm doing mine though one piece at a time using parts purchased on e-bay. We may have to see if it starts this Saturday!