As custom BMW martial arts go, the BMW R100R doesn’t get as much love as its siblings—but it should. BMW released it in the early 90s as a road-focused version of the popular dual-sport R100GS, but also a modern classic.
With an adventure bike saddle and tank, ‘classic’ chrome headlights and gauges, and vintage peanut-style valve caps, the visual fusion doesn’t quite work. But behind all that awkwardness is a sturdy bike. The 980 cc boxer engine has reached its peak, plus the R100R comes with tubeless spokes and the R100GS’s new Paralever swingarm.
This BMW R100R disturbance person from Deus ex Machina in Australia demonstrates the potential of the stout boxer. Deus’s French-born early wrench, Jeremy Tagandtweaked the R100R a lot while leaving just enough original parts to recall the original.
The finish of a custom bike is usually the last on the list, but they’re at the top of this project’s brief. God‘ the client is a jeweler; he is responsible for the copper plating on the frame and the hand-crafted BMW round bars. Once that’s settled, black is an obvious choice for almost everything else.
But this custom BMW R100R is more than just a flash. Jeremy dropped a set of YSS forks inside the forks to upgrade them and fitted Ikon shocks at the rear. The original 18F/17R wheels are wrapped in Continental TKC80 tires for little appeal on the go, and the OEM Brembo front brake has been refurbished.
The engine has been treated with a digital ignition and a pair of DNA shell filters. MotoRetro has provided a new cover to replace the original windbox, which houses the battery. The discreet twin exhausts complete the spec — and before you hate the muffler wrap, consider how well it complements the bike’s color palette.
Jeremy kept the thick tank of the R100R but reworked the rest of the body very well so that now the tank looks really nice. Sitting right behind it is a custom two-tiered bench, upholstered in black leather on an aluminum pedestal. An LED taillight gets French into its rear.
The subframe is also new, complete with an integrated license plate holder and turn signal light holder. Going lower, Deus upgraded the driver and passenger pegs, opting for attractive off-road items for the former.
Nothing in the BMW cockpit is original anymore. Deus swapped out the handlebars for a set from Rizoma, then added a scooter from Messner Moto in Germany. The brake lever and clutch are from Beringer, while the grips, micro switches, turn signals at the end of the bar and mirrors are from Motogadget.
A digital Motogadget dashboard sits further forward, just above the Koso LED headlights. To keep things super neat, Jeremy moved the ignition to a new mounting tab on the left side of the frame.
The car is finished with some well-regarded details and finishes. Deus moved the original oil cooler a little higher, then decorated it with a new copper grille and new plumbing. A set of anti-collision bars keep the cylinder heads safe, while BMW’s unique original gas cap adds a dash of vintage charm.
And while most of the primary finishes are black, they’ve been done with different textures. The fuel tank and front apron are custom painted in matte black, while the engine block is painted in matte black.
BMW designed the R100R as a nostalgic roadster, but Deus turned it into something much more interesting—and much more engaging. As for how the bronze highlights stand out against the black; Great!
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