There’s a world of fun to be had on your computer, and if you’re looking to build a virtual ride then using an online bike configurator is a great place to start. However, if you’re seeking the most advanced 3D construction experience, you won’t find it on the websites of major manufacturers like Ducati, Honda, or BMW. Instead, it’s German master builder Marcus Walz who’s leading the way with his ultimate custom bike configurator free for all to use on the WalzWerk Motorcycles website. It’s here that bikes like this BMW SCHIZZO Cafe Racer can be crafted, with endless customisation options to bring your dream machine to life. One fortunate customer did just that, turning a concept on his screen into the stunning reality of this GT spec model, the ultimate incarnation of a WalzWerk production motorcycle.
If there has been a big trend in the last few years, it has been some of the biggest custom bike shops in the world, releasing their own limited-run production bikes. And they all seem to be selling very well, there is clearly a client base who want to know exactly what the end product will be and not walk the older path of trusting the creative instincts of a particular builder. Now, there are pros and cons of both approaches, but when you look at the WalzWerk website and have a play around with the incredible configurator, where you can take one of four base bikes and throw literally hundreds of options at it, and then know the exact build price; you can quickly see why Walz has long since surpassed a thousand custom builds.
And when you end up with results like this SCHIZZO Cafe Racer GT, delivered to your door, road legal and built to perfection, frankly, sign me up! As Marcus tells us, this client simply picked the top-spec model and then ticked every box. “Actually this SCHIZZO Cafe Racer, which we called “GT”, is the flagship of our Cafe Racer production bikes and includes all possible options.” Each and every one of the R series bikes to roll off the Hockenheim production line is based on either an R80 or an R100 and one of the first things you can do is select whether you want your bike setup as a mono or twin shock machine.
The bolt-on subframe, which was developed by Walz years ago, is simply a work of art and perfectly flows with the lines of the main chassis. That frame is prepared to perfection, you won’t see any poor welds, unused tabs or bent metal, it’s flawless. To achieve a factory-level finish, all coating is done in-house. “We have our own powder coating department. Here we work with different powder-coated finishes. While the chassis parts are powder-coated in a deep glossy black, the other parts such as wheels and front end are powder-coated in satin black with a very fine structure. The complete drive train is thermo coated in a matt structure.” And if you select another colour coating, exactly what you see on your screen will be the colour that you get.
And speaking of selections, the choice by this owner to go with the spoked wheel combination is one that is worth every cent. There is nothing wrong with the BMW wheels, but the tubeless, stainless spoked items look sensational and wrapped in 18-inch Continental rubber front and rear, you get serious road holding too. In that same section of the configurator, another excellent choice has been made, optioning the CNC-machined 4-piston brake kit. A small adapter is used to hold the twin calipers to the bottom of the fork legs, and these clamp a massive set of stainless steel floating discs, which provides unbelievable stopping power.
Of course, the suspension is all top of the line stuff, the traditional forks completely rebuilt and sporting CNC triple clamps and clip-ons for that neat cafe racer look. And the back end doesn’t miss out either, with this machine featuring the highest spec, fully adjustable remote res shock, which has been developed with leading industry partners. And part of the looks comes from the same thought process, “Our headlight fairing, which we offer as a complete kit includes a matching LED-headlight and a tinted windscreen made exclusively for us by MRA.”
The fit and finish is superb, and the same can be said for the front fender, which matches the profile of the tyre to perfection. And that same level of German precision flows over the gas tank, finished on this example in a timeless Porsche ‘GT-Silver Metallic’. The custom badging, Monza filler cap and neat pinstriping all add classic elements to the build. The Cafe styled seat is another aspect of the bike which is completed with precision and skill, and the padding has been designed to allow for two-up riding. This necessitated the need for two lots of pegs, but the clever design means you barely notice the fold-away pillion items until they’re deployed.
And then there is that engine, have you seen a better boxer? Opened up and rebuilt to be as new, from the parts used to the fit and finish, the thing is simply flawless. The Dell’Orto 38mm carbs featuring Walz’s own filters are held to the engine by the new for 2024 machined billet intakes, which means leaking rubbers and pressure loss are a thing of the past. You also get that stunning exhaust system developed by SC-Project, and with all modern electronics, it has the reliability of a brand-new rig.
The little details like the machined switchgear and tiny indicators all add to the class and appeal of this GT. And finished in that Porsche hue, with a 1000cc of tractor-like torque and weighing just 168kg, this is a production-level build that looks a million dollars and seriously hauls ass; a virtual sensation on and off the screen.
[ WalzWerk ]