In a break from their usual programming, Germany’s WalzWerk delivers a BMW R80 with an intriguing mash-up of styles. Over in the USA, SMCO modifies the LiveWire S2 Del Mar electric street tracker, while Moto Borgotaro unearths an almost-zero-mile Ducati 900 SS.
BMW R80 by WalzWerk We can usually spot a Marcus Walz special a mile away, but this BMW R80 initially threw us off. That’s because while it boasts the German custom builder’s typical build quality, the aesthetic breaks from his usual vintage BMW boxer template.
The look is an amalgam of styles, guided by one particular inspiration: vintage board track racers. Marcus had always loved the board trackers of the 1920s, and wondered what an air-cooled BMW board tracker would look like if the sport was still prevalent in the 70s and 80s.
Marcus started with a 1987 BMW R80, treating it to a smorgasbord of chassis mods befitting a WalzWerk build. The front forks were lowered and rebuilt with upgraded internals, before being remounted in a set of custom-made yokes. An adjustable piggyback shock does duty at the back.
The stock BMW wheels are wrapped in Shinko whitewall tires—a deliberate choice to nail the vintage board track vibe. The brake calipers are proprietary WalzWerk items.
The BMW’s engine didn’t go neglected either—hiding inside it are the pistons from a Porsche 911 3.0 RSR. The cylinders and heads underwent a hefty amount of machine work to accommodate the Porsche parts, which also included titanium valves. WalzWerk performed a host of other engine mods, from lightening and balancing the crank to executing a twin-spark conversion.
The R80 now runs with a fully adjustable electronic ignition system, and breathes through a pair of 38 mm Dell’Orto carbs on WalzWerk intakes. The brawny exhausts, which were developed in collaboration with Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde, have electronically-controlled ‘flaps’ to adjust their noise levels.
Moving to the bodywork, WalzWerk did something they’ve never done on a BMW boxer (despite having built over 700 of them). Instead of using the stock tank, they picked the slimmer unit from a BMW R65. Modified mounts have it sitting closer to the frame, while a Porsche badge hints at the engine mods lurking below.
Underneath the tank is an obsessively tidy wiring setup, built around a full complement of Motogadget parts. Clip-on bars adorn the cockpit, fitted with adjustable levers and Daytona grips. Out front, a modified KTM headlight nacelle adds a hint of modern dirt bike style.
A monochromatic livery finishes this BMW R80 off with panache, while small WalzWerk-branded parts give it a high-end feel. Weighing just 165 kilos [364 pounds] and outputting a stonking 85 hp, its looks are matched by its rowdiness.
Considering the minimalistic seat and the committed riding position offered by the controls, you’d better hold on tight. [Source]
LiveWire S2 Del Mar by SMCO Built primarily for urban shenanigans, the S2 Del Mar from LiveWire sports a flat track-inspired look that embraces its electric drivetrain and amplifies its agile nature. It’s also a machine that doesn’t really beg for customization, but that didn’t stop brothers Shaun and Aaron Guardado.
The Guardado siblings run Suicide Machine Co. in Long Beach, California, which is famous for turning muscular V-twins into fire-breathing flat trackers. Although this custom LiveWire only ticks two of the boxes laid out by their motto—’Fast Loud Deathproof’—it’s a SMCO build through and through.
SMCO’s S2 Del Mar trades its plastic body panels for an all-aluminum build, with graphics that are embossed rather than painted on. There are shades of retro BMX and hot rod aesthetics in the details, but the process used to create the new panels was thoroughly modern.
SMCO started by rendering the full bike digitally, before running their files through a 3D printer and producing a full set of prototype parts. Once they knew everything fitted (and looked good), they fabricated the aluminum parts.
Even though the new parts replicate the originals, the gleaming polished aluminum and subtle details give the S2 Del Mar a very different vibe. The generous leather saddle was produced by Saddlemen for SMCO, with paneling that recalls vintage dirt track bikes and embroidered logos.
The brothers also switched out the LiveWire’s original 19” wheels for a 19F/18R set from Performance Machine, adding a cheeky nod to 90s style. There’s a Dunlop DT3 tire on the front, a Dunlop K180 on the rear, and a Galfer rear brake rotor to add a little more stopping power.
SMCO also trimmed a little visual weight by replacing the bulky turn signals with slick LEDs from Denali. The rear units double up as auxiliary taillights. Slim bar-end mirrors from CRG are mounted to the bars, while red powder-coating on the shock spring adds a finishing touch.
While this isn’t a radical redesign of the LiveWire S2 Del Mar, it is a cracking showcase for the bike’s potential. And now that SMCO has laid the groundwork, we’re keen to see what they come up with next. [Source | Images by Jose Gallina]
For Sale: A 1976 Ducati 900 SS Any one of us would jump at the chance to put an original Ducati 900 SS in our garage. But how about bagging one with just 4 km [2.5 miles] on the clock? That’s worth the price of admission.
It didn’t surprise us to learn that this ultra-low-mileage 1976 Ducati 900 SS is being sold by Moto Borgotaro in Brooklyn, New York. Shop owner Peter Boggia has a knack for sniffing out rare and exotic European machines, and never disappoints.
Although the 900 SS is currently Stateside, it was originally shipped to Ducati distributor Ron Angel Holdings in Victoria, Australia. It was sold new to a collector in Adelaide, who held onto it for over three decades. It changed hands at least once more, before being picked up by the current owner.
It’s a crying shame that this fine machine has never stretched its legs—and given the mileage and condition, it’s unlikely that it ever will.
This particular example matches the legendary 864 cc square-case L-twin motor to 40 mm Dell’Orto carbs and Conti mufflers; aftermarket upgrades that were shipped to Ron Angel Holdings by Ducati and fitted upon arrival. The rest of the spec sheet includes Marzocchi suspension, Brembo disc brakes, Borrani rims, clip-ons, a Tomaselli throttle, Verlicchi grips, and a Veglia Borletti speedo. Also included in the sale is an original Ducati tool roll and a certificate of authentication from prominent motorcycle historian Ian Falloon.
The Ducati 900 SS is currently being auctioned through Bring a Trailer, but interested parties should come prepared to do battle. At the time of writing this, bids have already crested the $30,000 mark, with seven days to go. Not bad for a bike that, according to its records, originally sold for less than $2,500. [More]
