There’s something special about taking a vintage motorcycle and transforming it for a purpose completely different from what it was originally created for. That’s the difference between customization and re-engineering; Modern materials and processes add to the classic style, and every nut and last pin is carefully considered. And that’s exactly how Ben Norton likes to do it.
His latest project started in 1995 BMW R80R, but ended up becoming a very different animal. It’s the radical approach to custom bike building we saw on his last build—a marvel. turbocharger BMW R100.
The secret to Ben’s approach lies in his vocation. By day, he is the chief engineer of a working Formula 1 team where the pressure to make things work better is immense. After hours of work, he relaxes by tinkering in his garage, under the workshop name 10′ til 12.
So while the rest of us are sleeping or binge-watching Netflix, Ben is figuring out how to build crazy machines like these. He calls it the ‘BMW R100X’, and its off-road inspiration isn’t just for show.
Ben currently lives in the UK, but he was born in Zimbabwe, in the south of Africa, where there are lots of dirt roads and the terrain is a big deal. His goal in this project was to build a light race car in the desert with an emphasis on practicality and fun. “And to go back to my African topographical heritage,” he added.
“It is a mixture of old and new technology, while trying to retain the airhead character and off-road heritage of BMW. The ‘X’ is a nod to the BMW G450X enduro bike, which is packed with technical innovations — just like I feel the R100X.
The original car of the sponsor BMW R80R is very little left. Ben kept the engine block, gearbox housing and some frames – but the rest is a combination of implanted, upgraded or bolted parts.
The work done to the engine alone can fill the mass. It started out pretty simple, with a 1,000 cc kit from Siebenrock, running a 9.5:1 compression ratio. Ben also added a Silent Hektik programmable ignition and generator, and a starter motor from a Toyota Denso… and then things escalated.
Ben designed his own billet aluminum front case and timing regulator for the boxer engine, CNC machined by a good friend, Fredrik Larsson at Aximech in Sweden (having good contacts helps). Shave 3.5 kg [7.7 lbs] reduce the weight of the engine and increase the ground clearance for the front wheels. The engine block has also been cut down to save even more weight.
Classic BMW fans will notice that the engine has been raised nose, to improve ground clearance and front wheel travel. The oil reservoir and shield are also disposable parts, again designed to provide a higher ground clearance but also fit perfectly into the frame and exhaust. The inside of the gearbox is also completely new with a revised gear ratio.
Going higher, the oversized K&N filter sits on a custom mounting plate, with quick-change fastening straps for cool services. Hanging to the left side of the bike is a robust SC-Project titanium silencer, joined by mandrel-shaped bent stainless steel tips.
To say that the powertrain looks like it came out of the factory would be an understatement. It has a purpose-built look, along with a generous helping of Cerakote finishes.
Moving to the frame, Ben begins to remove anything that doesn’t fit the purpose. A new subframe, built around laser-cut braces to increase rigidity and reduce weight. What’s not clear are the other places the frame has been reinforced and the places where the additional brackets have been welded to hold the multitude of add-ons to this sport bike.
Out the rear is the side swingarm and final drive from the BMW R100RT. It is extended by 100 mm and is linked with custom Penske shock absorbers, giving the rear wheel a huge 225 mm of travel. A set of WP Suspension forks, taken from the KTM 690 Enduro R and Cerakoted to match the build, provide 250 mm of front travel.
R100X rolls on 21F/18R wheels, perfect for crazy off-road trips. They use Excel axes, with a custom shaft (designed by Ben and machined by Aximech) in the back, allowing Ben to run fewer spokes and larger than the stock.
Front brakes use Brembo brake calipers and 320 mm discs. The rear still uses a drum brake, but it has been converted to a hydraulic brake by an AP Racing master cylinder and a Willwood auxiliary, and set up so that there is no change in braking performance when the suspension travel increases. go up. All brake lines are custom, using Atec sports car accessories.
By comparison, the bodywork is pretty ordinary — but it performs beautifully. Plastic fenders from Acerbis do the front and rear duties, while the BMW R65 fuel tank, chosen for its smaller capacity and slender, angular lines, is centrally located. Pro-Kustom does a minimal paint job, contrasted with the satin black powder coated finish on the frame.
To get the perfect chair down to the centimeter, Ben first designed it with CAD software, then made a laser mold. Tom Hurley Custom Seats is responsible for the final product. It uses an alloy saddle, with a synthetic upper to give it the modern look and feel of a mountain bike.
The cockpit features burly Renthal handlebars, equipped with Acerbis handguards, a Domino racing throttle and a Rebelmoto switch. The switches are exceptionally smart—they include a color-coded LED backlight that acts as the bike’s warning light, so there’s no need to wire separate warning lights.
Pair of Baja Designs headlights at the front. There’s also the full range of Motogadget features—from the sports car wiring controls, to the dashboard, keyless ignition and turn signals.
And then there’s all the ‘small’ things—like the custom aluminum bracket for the main electronics module, billet aluminum and fully adjustable gearshift, and the ‘cookie cutter’ style fuel cap ‘. The Antigravity battery is hidden under the saddle, all of the bike’s airways are fed directly to the central air filter for maximum protection… the list goes on.
And if you’re wondering if all that weight loss worked, it worked. Ben’s BMW R100X Watch weighs 160 pounds [353 lbs]—a whopping 40 g [88 lbs] save more than stock bike.
It’s rare to see a custom bike where engineering is allowed to shine at this level and where the bike’s performance certainly matches its wild looks. But that’s what we’ve learned to expect from Ben—and that’s what he’s expected of himself, too.
Ben Norton’s Instagram | Image of Christopher Bailey
