Some motorcycles look good. Others feel good. This one does both. Meet Black Manic, a custom 1981 BMW R100 built by the team at Kevils Speed Shop in the English Riviera. It is part bobber, part café racer, and all attitude.
Kevils has been building BMW boxer customs for more than twelve years, and their experience shows. They know these bikes inside out, and every year they refine their style a little more.
The result is machines that ride beautifully, look factory-fresh, and yet stand out as unique pieces of art. Black Manic is a perfect example.
The project started with a classic BMW R100. The team stripped it right down to the last nut and bolt and rebuilt it from scratch.
The 1000cc air-cooled boxer twin was given new life with rebuilt Bing carburetors, a Dyna coil, and a clean wiring system powered by a Motogadget M-Unit Blue.
This setup even connects to your phone via Bluetooth, which feels futuristic on a bike that’s more than forty years old.
The way the bike sits is one of its strongest features. Kevils lowered the front suspension and fitted heavy-duty adjustable shocks at the back.
Add chunky Continental tires, and the stance is low, muscular, and ready to ride. The sound matches the look thanks to a handmade cocktail shaker exhaust system, which gives the boxer motor a raw and throaty voice.
The details bring the whole bike together. A solo hand-stitched leather seat keeps the bobber style alive.
Small LED indicators are hidden neatly, and bullet-style rear lights combine brake and signal functions.
Up front you get clip-on bars with Motone micro switchgear, Motogadget-style grips, and billet mirrors.
The top yoke is Kevils’ own CNC billet part, while the starter cover has been smoothed for a clean finish. Even the battery has been moved out of sight to keep the lines tidy.
What makes Black Manic special is not just the list of parts, but how everything fits together. Nothing looks out of place. It feels like BMW themselves could have built it, if they had decided to go wild back in the 80s. That is the Kevils touch: clean, tough, and beautifully finished.
On the road, Black Manic feels as good as it looks. The rebuilt motor pulls strong, the suspension feels solid, and the whole bike rides with confidence. Park it anywhere and people will gather around, pointing at the stance, the pipes, and the details.
Wherever it goes, it sparks conversations. Riders know the Kevils style when they see it, and newcomers are quick to ask who built it.
Black Manic shows why Kevils has become one of the most trusted names in the custom BMW scene. It has the soul of a vintage BMW R100, but the style and finish of a modern custom. It is a motorcycle built to ride, to show, and to be proud of.
Black Manic was built by Kevils Speed Shop, specialists in custom BMW motorcycles. Based in the English Riviera, Kevils has spent over a decade perfecting their craft and building some of the most admired BMW café racers, bobbers, and scramblers on the scene.
