With futuristic looks, bold colors, and more plastic than a Tupperware party, the BMW K1 was nothing if not memorable. Released in 1988 and based on the inline four-cylinder BMW K100, it was big, bold, and—depending on who you ask—beautiful.
Billed as a sport-touring motorcycle, the BMW K1’s brash aesthetic was decidedly non-BMW at the time and remains polarizing today. To those who loved it, it offered a decent amount of power and a low drag coefficient—but it was also heavy, expensive, and had issues with heat retention. It ultimately proved unpopular and faded from BMW’s line-up in just five years.
Some people would balk at the idea of cutting up an original K1, while others would consider it mandatory.…