BMW R80 mutant custom café racer by ironwood motorcycles

ironwood motorcycles is a relative newcomer to the custom bike world, having created twelve impressive BMW builds sice its formation in 2012. the amsterdam-based garage’s take on the classic ‘R80’ is something the bavarian-manufacturer would adore with its unique, aggressive design. the studio pays homage to street fighter motorcycles from ten years ago with raw metals and vintage colors.

all images © ironwood motorcycles / paul van ML

based on a 1985 BMW R80, ironwood motorcycles’ ‘mutant’ bike retains its unique mono-shock and single-sided swingarm. to create the motorcycle’s extreme stance and pitch the rider forward, it has shortened the front forks by 60 mm, and installed a longer, bespoke hyperpro suspension coil. the garage’s owner, arjan van den boom, handpicked a vintage zündapp tank, and also gave it a lean-forward look.

the custom exhaust snakes from the boxer engine to beneath the seat where it meets an akrapovič muffler taken from a honda ‘CBR600RR’. the rest of the area underneath the seat remains pretty sparse, with a set of DNA filters and a clean re-wire. the soft leather and alcantara seat is equally sleek, and sits atop the extremely short subframe. the ‘mutant’ also boasts a monza gas cap, new roundels, and a leather tank strap with a bespoke pouch for a leatherman multi-tool.

ironwood has given the ‘mutant’ a classic color palette with the tank painted in a vintage porsche ‘356’ tone, inspired by singer vehicle design, plus a black subframe and wheels wrapped in shinko ‘270 super classic’ tires. at the front sits a bates-style headlight, plus a pair of motogadget turn signals and black leather hand grips. there’s an LED tail light at the back, and the rear signals are embedded discretely into the frame rails.