Donkatron
Based on a 1983 BMW R80
Perth, Australia was always going to be the destination for this build as Stuart, our client, lives and works there. However, while he was working over here on a two year exchange programme with his employer and being a big custom bike fan, we got chatting and a build was commissioned and a plan hatched.
Good performance, brakes, wire spoked wheels, modern reliable electrics and lots of detail were the criteria.
As the supplied donor bike had cast alloy wheels, these were junked and luckily we had a set of the correct hubs in stock to convert to spokes for the proper retro look. These were powder coated satin black and laced to new Morad black alloy rims with stainless spokes. Mitas Enduro dual purpose tyres were chosen to grace the new wheels and have good road and trail manners.
With the motor and transmission stripped, the performance upgrade parts could be fitted. A Siebenrock 1000cc Power Kit with high comp, short skirt pistons went on along with a sport camshaft, refreshed heads, Mikuni carbs with K&N filters, heavy duty clutch and a higher ratio fifth gear in the refreshed gearbox.
A new, lightweight, lower geared starter motor was also fitted and to give a boost to the ignition system, a new digital Boyer electronic system now supplies the fatter sparks.
The rest of the electronics are now taken care of by a full Motogadget setup with all LED lighting and super bright they are too. The new ultra light Lithium Iron battery has been relocated under the seat and plumbed into a new, much smaller bespoke wiring loom.
As they say, power is nothing without control, so the chassis had some upgrades too. EBC floating discs with sintered pads combined with a superbike spec brembo radial pump master cylinder now scrub the speed off much more efficiently. Road undulations are dealt with much better by the refreshed forks and fully adjustable remote gas reservoir shocks.
One of our SRC Scrambler subframes is now bolted to the rear of the main frame and as Stuart wanted some storage space, an alloy box was fabricated and covered in the same gorgeous leather as the new seat. It looks like two small saddle bags but is in fact a full width compartment with buckle down flaps on both sides.
A lovely deep exhaust tone now emits from the satin stainless headers and 'tulip' style mufflers, and with a combination of lighter weight and less restrictive baffles gives a bit more performance too.
To top off the bike, a quality paintjob was a must so a two tone pearlescent black and silver grey with gold pinstripes was applied.
It was a fine choice and ties in perfectly with the rest of the bike.
The bike has now just arrived in Aus. after six weeks of bobbing around on the worlds oceans and as the summer season is in full swing over there, it's the perfect time to get out and ride it.
Have fun, Stuart!
Side Rock Cycles