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UMC-053 SILVER CITY
1973 BMW R80

The owner wanted this bike to have the look of the GS with a single-sided swingarm, but with a classic feel – hence the ‘toaster’ tank. We sourced that from the States and it cost a grand! They are rare, even there. Those chrome panels are just so hard to find.

The owner wanted a rack on the back too – and a single seat, which Glenn Moger made. The owner also wanted to be able to fit a pillion pad where the rear mudguard bolts on. He wanted a 2-1 pipe too. We got the header pipes from Armours then made the muffler, incorporating silencing discs (a la Supertrapp).

It’s got full Motogadget bluetooth system with a Chronoclassic speedo and M-pin indicators. Switchgear is Motogadet three button switches with the wiring through the bars. Steve Hallam did all the electrics on this bike – he’s a genius.

Bars are low-rise off-roaders. It’s got a new master cylinder for the brake and a new clutch unit. We made the headlight in house. We modified the subframe then added that rack. On this model the exhaust came up the left side of the bike and the rear peg mounted to the exhaust pipe so we needed to create a new peg mount to match the other side of the bike. The shock is stock, powder-coated black.

The engine has been totally rebuilt. New big end shells, rings, guides all came from Motoworks. Middlesex Rebore fitted the valves and guides. The heads and barrels were sandblasted.