Despite its historical significance and commercial success, the K lineup from BMW Motorrad was never the prettiest thing out there. The K 100’s angular looks were a far cry from classy aesthetics which defined the R series, but few could argue with this model’s performance and reliability. By these metrics, the four-cylinder offerings from Bavaria were a notable step up from their boxer-twin predecessors.
Dubbed The Konig, it is arguably among the raddest BMW K 100 cafe racers we’ve seen in recent years. The transformation process was carried out by Saint Joshua over in Los Angeles, and the outcome looks absolutely delicious from every angle. We don’t know whether Saint Joshua is an alias or the builder’s real name, but what we can say for sure is that his bike-modding skills are absolutely top-notch.
The man was born in New York and has spent several years in the German capital of Berlin, which is where he grew so fond of BMW motorcycles. Nowadays, Joshua finds great satisfaction in taking a beat-up classic and giving it a new chance at life in custom form. With the old K 100 delivered to his shop in Cali, he had it taken apart and placed on the workbench for the real fun to begin.
Kicking things off with some structural mods, Saint Joshua ditched the factory subframe to make way for a bespoke alternative built in-house. The new rear section is much shorter than the stock item, and it contains a couple of storage trays for the Beemer’s electronics. Lower down on the right-hand side, we also spot a custom-built suspension linkage fabricated in the same manner as the subframe.
Photo: Nikita Stsiapushyn
It makes use of a premium YSS shock absorber, which sits parallel to the K 100’s swingarm and driveshaft. The suspension upgrades performed at the front are no less intriguing, because the standard forks have been deleted altogether. With the help of bespoke triple clamps, Joshua fitted a modern pair of upside-down Showa forks boasting full adjustability.
Ample front-end stopping power is the product of radial Brembo calipers and aftermarket wave rotors, but The Konig still employs the stock braking system at the rear. In any case, the upgraded suspension and front brake will make a huge difference in the handling department. We’re not done talking about the unsprung sector just yet, though, as the project’s author also did away with the factory hoops.
He replaced them with a set of laced aftermarket wheels that look as classy as it gets, and their rims were ultimately wrapped in Pirelli MT 60 RS tires. Moving on to the bodywork, the only bit of OEM hardware left on this machine is the unmistakable fuel tank. There are no fenders to speak of, which might raise some eyebrows from those who value practicality above all else.
Photo: Nikita Stsiapushyn
Still, the lack of any mudguards makes for a delightfully clean aesthetic down low. Right behind the factory gas tank lies a stunning custom saddle, featuring brown leather upholstery, diamond pattern stitching, and room for one. It fronts a cafe racer tail unit that’s been put together in-house, and we’re particularly fond of the grilled LED taillight adorning its underside. The stylish neo-retro vibe continues at the front end.
There we find a potent LED headlight held in place via tailor-made mounting hardware, and you simply can’t miss that thoroughly reworked cockpit area. Center-stage, we see a digital Motogadget dial neatly recessed into the billet aluminum top clamp. It’s flanked by a pair of clip-on handlebars equipped with brown leather grips, plain switchgear, and bar-end turn signals.
Of course, Saint Joshua hasn’t overlooked the specimen’s inline-four powerplant. He first gave the engine internals a once-over and had them rebuilt wherever necessary, then it came time to throw some fresh breathing equipment into the mix. On the intake side of things, you’ll notice a quartet of bespoke velocity stacks that look like a million bucks. The new exhaust system worn by The Konig is even more enticing, though.
It is a pie-cut affair built from scratch using stainless-steel, and it runs a four-into-one configuration before ending on the left side of the rear wheel. For his closing act, Joshua wrapped this K 100 cafe racer in a glossy coat of black, along with copper highlights in various places. Most notably, these are present on the rims and velocity stacks, matching the brown leather seat and grips beautifully.
