
“Baidykle-2” (Scarecrow-2) by Vytautas Alekna…
When it was introduced in 1992, the BMW K1100LT boasted the largest engine ever available in a BMW motorcycle — 1092cc — combined with the 16-valve head from the fully-faired BMW K1. The big tourer made 100 hp and 79 lb-ft of torque, good for a quarter-mile time of 12.6 seconds — not bad for a bike that weighed 639 lbs wet!
As with all BMW K bikes, the DOHC engine was laid on its side in the frame, with the crank on the right and the head on the left — no wonder these “Flying Bricks” had a habit of smoking when left on their side stands!
While the K1100LT was a heavyweight tourer that competed with behemoths like the Honda Goldwing and Kawasaki Concours, modern builders have been stripping down these Bavarian fours for lighter weight and better performance, putting their big, boxy, industrial-chic engines on display…though no one has done it quite like our new friend Vytautas Alekna!
Hailing from Lithuania, Vytautas grew up working in his father’s garage. His old man was a big biker and bought his son a Latvian Karpat 50cc moped when he was 10 — Vytautas’s first bike.
Fast forward to 2020, and Vytautas had been spending his time off working in the shop of his friend and custom builder Mindaugas Silgalis when his father bought him a ’93 BMW K1100LT — a bike he’d always dreamed of — so they could ride together.
“I wanted to do a simple project and my dad wanted me to just leave it original so we could ride together. But I wanted him to be proud of me and see what you can do with engineering, so I started stripping down everything, starting the first ever project with help and correct direction from my friend.”
As you can clearly see, the transformation was nothing short of extreme. The tank alone took Vytautas more than a month. He made a model in cardboard, then cut out each piece from 2mm aluminum on a jigsaw to be welded up into the shape you see here.
The bike is rolling on two front wheels from an R18, with the rear one re-laced to an R1200C hub to mate with the original driveshaft. Front suspension is from an S1000R, with Brembo brakes all around and a hydraulic clutch conversion. The intake was enlarged for better performance, and the bike is running an ornate, completely bespoke 4-into-1 exhaust.
Then there are those custom engine covers, clear on both sides. Given the unique layout of the K-series engine, you can see the crank spinning on one side of the bike and the valve train on the other!
Nicknamed “Baidykle-2” (Lithuanian for “Scarecrow-2”), the bike is dedicated Vytautas’s father, who sadly passed away last year before they could ride together.
“The reason why this bike was built was to show people everything is possible when you dream and work hard to achieve that perfect thing on two wheels and what you have in your mind.”
We know your old man would be damn proud, Vytautas. What a unique, show-stopping creation, and a fitting tribute to your father!
Below, we talk to Vytautas for more details on the build. Photo credit goes to Donatas Budrikis (@budr1s / Bü watermark) and @moto4vs.
BMW K1100LT Custom: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
My full name is Vytautas Alekna; I am from the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda. I’m 34 years old and my hobby has been motorbikes since I was a little boy. My history with bikes is ever since. When I was little I grew up working in my dad’s garage helping him to fix cars and learning about mechanical parts and engines. I was 10 years old when my dad got the first 50cc moped made in Latvia — a Karpat — and that was the first ever bike I had. My dad always loved bikes. He was a biker, and he was in a big motorbike club named Asvine.
How I got into custom bikes was my friend Mindaugas Silgalis. He is a motorbike engineer, and on my time off I started working with him in the garage fixing Harley-Davidsons — and then it began. I always dreamed about a BMW K1100 bike, and my dad got it for me as a birthday present in 2020 — I was very excited about that. I wanted to do a simple project and my dad wanted me to just leave it original so we could ride together. But I wanted him to be proud of me and see what you can do with engineering, so I started stripping down everything, starting the first ever project with help and correct direction from my friend.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
BMW K1100LT 1993.
• Why was this bike built?
It is a personal project in memory of my dad. He passed away last year and he was waiting till we could ride together. The reason why this bike was built was to show people everything is possible when you dream and work hard to achieve that perfect thing on two wheels and what you have in your mind. I have never seen a bike where you can see the crank spinning and timing cover open too.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
My dream was to make café racer and copy something from online, but my friend Mindaugas pushed me to do something different. The ideas for the bike were just randomly made at first. I made models from from cardboard to see how it would look and it went from there.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
For the wheels, I wanted spokes and the same size front and rear, so we took two R18 front wheels R18, re-lacing one to a BMW R1200C wheel hub to mount the rear wheel to the original drive transfer case.
Front suspension was taken from a BMW S1000R for better performance and handling. The brakes are all Brembo for performance and good braking. Brembo levers and master cylinder were used for performance and quality purposes. A hydraulic clutch cylinder was made for this bike, because no hydraulic clutch was made for these bikes. Front triple clamp was made custom and designed for this bike. A sports clutch was installed for it to perform better. Rear suspension was redesigned with needle bearings instead of brass bushes.
Engine covers were designed to be clear and visible — not something we’ve seen before on a bike. When it’s running you can see through to the crankshaft spinning and the valve side, too. Custom exhaust has been made in larger diameter pipe for better performance, and it goes from 4 to 1. Air intake was made bigger for better performance.
All electrics have been changed to Motogadget. Rear mudguard and number plate were made custom, as was the front light bracket.
The fuel tank was made by hand. The design was made with cardboard and then transferred to 2mm aluminium and every part was cut out with a jigsaw. I worked on it all month. Casing between the gearbox and engine has been cut out for the starter and alternator, so it’s more open.
Fully rebuilt the engine, gearbox, and driveshaft with new parts, seals, and bearings. Fuel filter was moved outside of the tank so it’s easy to change out. Expansion tank was made custom so you can see clearly and attach it to the fuel tank. Coolant hoses have been made from aluminium to fit with the new engine covers…and a lot of other parts.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Yes, the bike have nickname is “Baidykle-2.” (Translation from Lithuanian: “Scarecrow-2.”) My friend Mindaugas, who helped me build the bike, he had “Baidykle-1” and I called my bike “Baidykle-2.”
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride the finished bike?
The bike performs very well; it’s very small and very light compared to how it was before. When it was original, I couldn’t move it by myself on the central stand, it was so heavy. Everything works very well now.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
The fuel tank is the biggest point of pride to me, and the whole bike — how it came out, it’s mind-blowing to me.
Wow 👍 Your father would be proud of you, well done.