Watch This Custom BMW R80 Cruise Around South Africa

Custom build by Hutchbilt, this restomod cafe racer is hipster perfection.

byEric Brandt|
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Cafe racers have been on the rise in hipster culture lately and we may have just reached peak hipster. Santa Monica, California-based shop Hutchbilt run by Jeremy Hutch has created a drool-inducing restomod of an old BMW R80 they call the Skyway.

According to Designboom, Skyway is influenced by BMX bikes from the 1970’s and 1980’s with its white wheels with fat tires and stripped-down frame. The stripe pattern on the tank was inspired by a Mexican blanket with the BMW racing colors thrown in to leave no question of this bike’s original brand. One of the more striking features of this custom R80 is the napa suede seat and tank cover with hexagonal stitching.

Mechanical modifications include a front-end from a Yamaha R6, custom adjustable rear suspension, and custom brake rotors. Other than the yellow-lensed round headlight up front, the rest of the lights on this restomod are subtle and well-hidden. The front turn signals are tiny nodes sticking out of the headlight housing and the rear taillight and turn signals are integrated into the frame. In lieu of a traditional gauge cluster, there’s a small digital screen in the rudimentary handlebar to preserve a clean aesthetic. A lack of mirrors also contributes to the minimalistic look.

YouTube / Loud & Rowdy

To top it all off, the tank has custom “Hutchbilt” emblems that were CNC’d out of walnut. If that doesn’t scream “hipster”, we don’t know what does.

Here’s a long-haired, Vans-clad rider taking the Skyway for a spin on a scenic road in Cape Town, South Africa to the tune of “The Devil You Know” by X Ambassadors. They’re the same guys who made the “Renegades” song in the Jeep Renegade ads aimed squarely at the hipster market. Enjoy.

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