1979 BMW Motorcycle Inspired by Vintage BMX Bicycle Style
Motorcycles & ATVs
Motorcycles
The worlds of BMX bicycles and motorcycles are intertwined. BMX kids take what they learn from pulling wheelies and greasing bearings and use it when they start riding and wrenching. Likewise, custom motorcycle builders often use BMX bikes for inspiration, and this immaculate 1979 BMW R80 Skyway café racer - opens in new window or tab. is a prime example.
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White on White
Back in the day, BMX Skyway Tuff Wheels on your bike gave you instant street cred. Kids in the 1980s dreamed about owning a 1985 Skyway Street Beat - opens in new window or tab.. Bike builder and designer Jeremy Hutch drew upon the BMX Skyway for his custom R80’s distinctive white wheels. The white frame and colorways also show reflections of the Skyway.
Like the Skyway, Hutch made this old Beemer a motorcycle that really rides. First, he completely modified the frame—the only original remaining part is the engine cradle. Next, Hutch made a new rear subframe, cutting the rear swingarm to fit the big whitewalls, and added a set of Progressive shocks - opens in new window or tab.. For the front end, he swapped out the old fork for one from a Yamaha R6 sportbike - opens in new window or tab.. He also handmade the discs on both the front and rear.
Hutch said:
I changed the back drum brake to a disc and then ran the twist clutch through the frame using a double-pulley system. The exhaust is a performance exhaust, internally baffled, and the pipes crossover in the collector. It’s a good bike to ride. It handles so well.
It’s a striking motorcycle filled with nuances that slowly reveal themselves—from the near absence of cables and wires to the unique exhaust tips made by computer numerical control (CNC).
Hutch explains:
I’m running a 1979 BMW R80 engine. The fin work houses the anti-gravity battery, the M-unit, and all the electronics. I wanted to try and keep it in the same vein as the rest of the motor, and that’s why each fin—there are 13 of them with five lateral ones—is drilled and tapped with a 4mm cap screw and then hand-shaped to hug the motor and line up with all the linear accents of the bike.
Colors Inspired by a Mexican Blanket
Hutch also indicated that there are no cables. Everything is chased into the frame. He added a twist clutch and throttle. The end buttons run the turn signals, hi and low beam, start/stop, horn, and the mode for the Motogadget digital speedo.
Eric Groenewald, a skilled upholsterer, hand-stitched the slick seat and tank cover using Napa suede. The inspiration for fantastic graphics on the tank came from a Mexican blanket that Hutch provided to his painter. He also asked the painter if he could incorporate BMW racing colors into the design.
The “Hutchbilt” tank badge was cut out of walnut. Hutch’s eye for sparse and symmetrical design shines in this one-of-a-kind 1979 BMW R80. Of course, having the talent to turn ideas into form and function helps, too. Custom builds with this extraordinary attention to detail - opens in new window or tab. don’t pop up every day.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.