Photo: Heiwa Motorcycle via Pipeburn
One can hardly mistake a custom build from Heiwa Motorcycle for anyone else’s, as Kengo Kimura’s signature style is instantly recognizable to a seasoned aficionado. His work was brought into the spotlight on autoevolution countless times before, and it never failed to make one hell of an impression. Dubbed Salty Green, the specimen pictured here is just as intriguing as those we’ve seen in the past.
Kengo used a 1981-model BMW R 100 RS as his starting point, but the finished machine is unlike any other custom airhead out there. To get the ball rolling after the initial teardown, Kimura-san busied himself with some very intricate frame surgery at the back. He didn’t just remove the actual subframe, but also a large chunk of the center posts that were part of the main skeleton.
What came next was a nice bit of fabrication work, which saw Heiwa’s frontman building a custom tubular structure to replace the standard subframe. Once this part was welded in place, Kengo had it linked to the swingarm by way of adjustable Kayaba shock absorbers. Aftermarket turn signals are fitted in close proximity to the upper shock mounts, but there is another identical pair attached to the frame at the front.
They live on each side of a gorgeous handmade fuel tank, which was fabricated in-house and topped with a plain, chrome-plated filler cap. Moving rearward, we come across a slim tail section and seat pan combo, giving this R 100 a lean, elongated appearance. The tail’s rearmost tip houses a small LED taillight, and an elegant black leather saddle is present a bit further ahead.
Right beneath it sits a sizeable electronics box, which is the last bit of bodywork you’ll find here in the absence of any fenders. The original wheels have been retained, but they were cloaked in retro-looking Avon rubber fore and aft. Front-end illumination comes from a Bates-style headlight, tucked nice and close to the forks on bespoke mounting paraphernalia.
Minimalism is the name of the game in the cockpit, where you’ll notice a chromed handlebar sporting plain rubber grips. An offset speedometer is placed behind the handlebar on the left, and there are no unessential bits to speak of here. As far as the powertrain is concerned, the only big change comes in the form of a bespoke exhaust that’s sure to sound amazing.
Then you’ve got the superb color scheme which ties everything together, executed with the help of Hirokazu Kuboi. The bodywork was finished in a stunning green base, on top of which went some silver leaf detailing to form groovy pinstripes and Heiwa Motorcycle tank logos. Black was the chosen color for the frame, while the wheels got powder-coated in a nice shade of bronze.
What came next was a nice bit of fabrication work, which saw Heiwa’s frontman building a custom tubular structure to replace the standard subframe. Once this part was welded in place, Kengo had it linked to the swingarm by way of adjustable Kayaba shock absorbers. Aftermarket turn signals are fitted in close proximity to the upper shock mounts, but there is another identical pair attached to the frame at the front.
They live on each side of a gorgeous handmade fuel tank, which was fabricated in-house and topped with a plain, chrome-plated filler cap. Moving rearward, we come across a slim tail section and seat pan combo, giving this R 100 a lean, elongated appearance. The tail’s rearmost tip houses a small LED taillight, and an elegant black leather saddle is present a bit further ahead.
Right beneath it sits a sizeable electronics box, which is the last bit of bodywork you’ll find here in the absence of any fenders. The original wheels have been retained, but they were cloaked in retro-looking Avon rubber fore and aft. Front-end illumination comes from a Bates-style headlight, tucked nice and close to the forks on bespoke mounting paraphernalia.
Minimalism is the name of the game in the cockpit, where you’ll notice a chromed handlebar sporting plain rubber grips. An offset speedometer is placed behind the handlebar on the left, and there are no unessential bits to speak of here. As far as the powertrain is concerned, the only big change comes in the form of a bespoke exhaust that’s sure to sound amazing.
Then you’ve got the superb color scheme which ties everything together, executed with the help of Hirokazu Kuboi. The bodywork was finished in a stunning green base, on top of which went some silver leaf detailing to form groovy pinstripes and Heiwa Motorcycle tank logos. Black was the chosen color for the frame, while the wheels got powder-coated in a nice shade of bronze.
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