BMW Silver Bullet MK2 by XTR Pepo x Revival of the Machine

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer

Updated:  The Silver Bullet becomes more racer, more XTR…more Pepo!

Last year, we saw the launch of the 1978 BMW R100RS “Silver Bullet,” the first-ever motorcycle designed by Revival of the Machine — one of the finest custom moto magazines in the world. The bike was built in collaboration with none other than Pepo Rosell of XTR Pepo — a living legend of a “bike constructor.”

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

After spending the past year on tour, visiting motoring Valhallas like the Bike Shed in London and Wheels and Waves in Biarritz, the Silver Bullet was ready for an overhaul. XTR Pepo helped steer the bike toward his signature racing aesthetic. Below, we get the full story straight from both XTR Pepo and Revival of the Machine.

Silver Bullet Mk2:  In the Words of Pepo Rosell

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

MK2 is an evolution of the Silver Bullet I made in 2017:  https://xtrpepo.blog/2017/05/31/silver-bullet-2017.

After the bike made the Tour all over Europe (Bike Shed, Wheel and Waves, Garmish BMW motordays and Berlin), the Silver Bullet returned home in a very bad condition because nobody take cares of the bike while on tour.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

The bike was full of humidity (because the rain), full of rust everywhere, the wood solo seat was damaged — even the inside of the carburetors and engine head was ruined by the humidity. So we decided to give Silver a second life, making a new bodywork design more racer, more XTR…more Pepo.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

For this I had the help of young Italian designer ALBERTO CAIMI that with the ideas and starting points (keeping the original aluminium fairing) I gave to him, designed and modeled a splendid fuel tank and solo seat really in the XTR philosophy!

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

The fuel tank and solo seat were designed to be mounted in all the “old” BMW frames. So MK2 fuel tank and solo seat will be available as separate parts for transforming BMW bikes!

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

 

Silver Bullet MK2:  “New Year New Life”

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

(Words by Revival of the Machine. Photos by Diego Bermúdez. Highlights by us.)

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to change or to fulfill those purposes that never get off the ground. This is what we have understood at Revival of the Machine, giving a brand new look to the aesthetics of our Silver Bullet.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

It seems like yesterday when we launched the first motorcycle designed by Revival of the Machine, the Silver Bullet, but it’s been a while since it left the XTR workshop.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

Its style was so popular that during these last months it has not stopped traveling, and its time spent in such important events as Bike Shed in London; Wheels and Waves in Biarritz, or Pure & Crafted in Berlin, although they were a great success, have ended up taking their toll on some elements of our beloved machine.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

On the other hand, the “bumper” of XTR had transmitted the enthusiasm to us to reconstruct its work to endow it with a one hundred percent Pepo style. And it seems like the stars aligned, because after the last BMW event in Formigal, we decided that the time had come to give it a facelift. The entire cycle part had endured perfectly, so its technical characteristics could remain the same, with the original chassis modified, to which a complete front train of R nine T was added and the rear of an R850 – powered by a custom-made Hagon shock absorber.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

The excellent work done on the boxer propeller from a 1978 R100 was spoiled in part, during one of its journeys, when the bike fell accidentally and ran for a time without proper lubrication. As what matters is that it is fully functional, the flaws have been repaired and it is already roaring powerfully again through the Akrapovič silent couple.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

The electrical system is still composed of an electronic ignition, with the possibility of choosing from sixteen different maps, and the innovative m-Unit Blue installation by Motogadget.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

And now we are going ahead with even more news… As I mentioned above, Pepo has a very particular vision of the world of the two wheels, and always tries to give his creations a certain “aura” for racing. The body of the Silver Bullet was spectacular, but, in this second version, it has been the great sacrifice. In its place, new elements with a lot of Bavarian DNA shine. For now, the tank has completely changed its physiognomy and, although it is still elongated, it is much higher on the back.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

Before we could say it was a long, flat bike, but now its line is definitely more aggressive. The MK2 has a tail of rounded shapes when viewed from the side, and is sharp when observed from behind, giving it a very curious optical effect.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

The worked piece of wood that served as a seat has given way to an element covered in beige leather that hugs the sides of the tank. And it is complemented by a “rubber damper” attached to the tail, where the lower part of the pilot’s back will be supported.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

The final decoration can make a first-line motorcycle go unnoticed, so it’s always a point worth thinking about. In this case, the success has been total, because a combination of black and grey has been chosen, inspired by the BMW R90S – one of the most legendary frames of the German brand. Finally, the “racing” touch is set by the small white dorsal located on the tail. A new life for our Silver Bullet, which will surely create quite a buzz during 2018.

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

BMW R100RS: Build Sheet

BMW R100RS Cafe Racer Silver Bullet

• Starting motorcycle: BMW R100RS 1978
• Modified and reinforced chassis
• BMW R850R swing arm
• Tailored Hagon shock absorber
• BMW R nine T fork
• BMW R850R rear wheel
• BMW R nine T front wheel
• Pirelli Diablo Corsa tires
• Radial brake callipers BMW R nine T
• Rizoma brake fluid reservoir
• XTR Pepo Footrest Supports
• Rizoma foot pegs
• Rizoma semi-sharps
• Rizoma handles and grips
• XTR Pepo collectors
• Silent Akrapovič
• Lectron Power Jet carburettors
• K & N air filters
• Racing camshafts
• High compression piston kit
• Nikasil cylinder liners
• Pipes of XTR Pepo cylinder heads
• Laser engraved caps
• Electronic ignition 16 maps
• Electrical installation m-Unit Blue Motogadget
• XTR Pepo spider
• XTR Pepo mudguards
• Deposit and col XTR Pepo in collaboration with Alberto Caimi
• Aluminium dome
• Pineapples and speedometer Motogadget
• Leather seat XTR Pepo

 

6 Comments

  1. james w. roberts

    A sweet ride for sure…but I gotta major complaint. WHY DO YOU NEVER SHOW US WHAT IT WEIGHS? all you custom builder/modifiers should include one of the most important numbers to consider when evaluating any type of performance vehicle. If I knew it weighed like 301 pounds, it’d be a lot more impressive. it is nice though.

  2. As an artist I responded to this machine immediately. Poised, aggressive, busy but strangely spare, this is a beautiful piece of work. Congratulations!

  3. Those staggered megaphones routed inside the frame with that tail piece, hot damn, love it!!

  4. Michael Ritzker

    Thanks for stealing my Lectrons for this build. They are ready for fitting on my R90S custom with the 1 litre Siebenrock kit. Beat me to it, so I should not whine too much about it. I would like to know how they fare on this bike, any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks.

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