72 Performance USA delivers a BMW R100 café racer with custom bodywork, upgraded running gear, and a stunning Gulf Blue livery.
They say lightning never strikes twice, but 72 Performance USA begs to differ. After the success of their debut BMW R100 café racer, they announced a limited run of just 10 builds based on the same template. The first is now complete—and it’s even better than the original.
Although 72 Performance USA is a relatively fresh face on the scene, the man behind it has been at this for a while. The workshop was opened last year by Antonio Schefle Rodriguez of 72 Cycles Performance, who moved from Spain to the USA to relaunch his brand with his new partners, Cole Munger and Brad Eicholz.
Antonio was pleased with the positive responses to 72 Performance USA’s previous BMW, but saw room for improvement. So, although this iteration seems to match the last, it’s sporting several enhancements.
72 started with a BMW R100/7, which was promptly stripped down to its nuts and bolts. The engine was rebuilt with a Siebenrock kit, before being treated to an electronic ignition from Euro Moto Electrics and a pair of Mikuni TM38 flatslide carbs. The wiring loom is all-new, with a Motogadget mo.unit blue and a Lithium battery in play.
BMW aficionados will note that the R100/7’s square valve covers have been traded for a set of classic peanut-style units, and that the area previously occupied by the airbox has been filled with an elegant cover. There’s a bigger change out back, where 72 mated the Paralever final drive and swingarm from a newer BMW R100R Mystic to the older R100 transmission.
Installing the Paralever arrangement created space for a wider rear tire, but it also meant that the R100/7 had to be converted from a dual- to a single-shock setup. 72 fabricated a new subframe for the build, using an asymmetrical design with an elegant frame rail sitting opposite the upper shock mount. A central brace offers additional support, while a custom-tuned Hagon shock completes the setup.
72 also reinforced the front of the frame, before adding custom yokes and Triumph Daytona 955 forks. The R100R Mystic’s 18F/17R tubeless laced tires were transplanted too, now shod with Michelin Road 6 rubber. Twin Brembo brake calipers, with 320 mm floating discs and braided steel lines, add modern stopping power to the front-end.
The BMW’s bodywork is a mix of repurposed and custom parts. The fuel tank was borrowed from an R65, but the fairing, tail section, and belly pan were made from scratch out of Kevlar-reinforced fiberglass. The overall design interprets classic café racer and sportbike elements to create one elegant silhouette, complemented by twin stainless steel exhausts that run through the bike.
Finer details include custom LED lights at both ends, a proprietary fairing mounting brace, and a dashboard that hosts a Daytona speedometer. The speedo’s face has been customized with the 72 logo and the name of the bike, ‘Noa.’
Clip-ons are clamped to the forks, fitted with new grips, a Brembo brake master cylinder, and modern push-button switchgear. 72 deleted the ignition barrel, opting for a keyless ignition from Motogadget instead. Custom rear-sets do duty lower down, bolted to the BMW’s typically ugly passenger peg brackets.
72 offers this made-to-order BMW café racer with a handful of tailoring options, including extensive control over the color palette. The client on this project wanted a Gulf Blue finish to match his Porsche, with the caveat that some parts should be finished in Old Gold—a dark gold powder coat with a matte metallic finish.
The crew went to town, carrying the Gulf Blue finish on the bodywork through to smaller parts like the fairing bolts, gas cap, brake calipers, and rear spring. Parts like the exhausts, wheels, fork lowers, yokes, foot controls, and engine covers got the Old Gold treatment, and the rest of the parts were done in black. Finally, the seat was upholstered by Senen Leatherworks in Spain, using off-white leather and Alcantara in a pattern inspired by Rolex watch bands.
Flawless from every angle, the only thing we don’t like about 72 Performance USA’s BMW R100 café racer is that it’s already spoken for. And although we’re eagerly anticipating the next nine builds, it’ll be hard to top this color scheme.
Will lightning strike a third time?
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