Inspired by the British café racers of the late 1950s, customizers have begun reworking BMW’s air-cooled boxer twins along similar lines. For a greater challenge, Sean Mathis customized a K 100 RS to reveal the engine and other parts that BMW obscured with fairings and covers. “I really liked the single-sided swingarm and wanted to open up the back wheel from obstruction,” he says. He chopped the frame and added a lightweight exhaust, removing more than 100 pounds from the bike’s curb weight, then painted the bike Laguna Seca Blue. “I thought it was appropriate to give it a bright, original BMW color to go with the gold wheels,” he says.

For more pictures and information on this or any other vehicle in the Motorcycles exhibit, check out the exhibition book in our store!