As custom BMW boxers go, the BMW R100R doesn’t get nearly as much love as its older siblings—but it should. BMW released it in the early 90s as a road-focused version of the popular R100GS dual-sport, but also as a modern classic of sorts.
With an adventure bike fuel tank and seat, ‘retro’ chrome on the headlight and dials, and classic peanut-style valve covers, the visual mash-up didn’t quite work. But under all that awkwardness lay a rock-solid bike. The 980 cc boxer motor had reached its zenith, plus the R100R came with tubeless wire-spoke wheels and the R100GS’ new-style Paralever swingarm.
This BMW R100R scrambler from Deus ex Machina in Australia proves the stout boxer’s potential. Deus’ French-born head wrench, Jeremy Tagand, has heavily tweaked the R100R while leaving just enough original parts intact to recall the original.
A custom bike’s finishes are usually the last thing on the list, but they sat at the top of the brief on this project. Deus‘ client is a jeweler; he was responsible for the copper plating on the frame and the hand-smelted BMW roundels. With that settled, black was an obvious choice for almost everything else.
But this custom BMW R100R is not just about flash. Jeremy dropped a set of YSS internals into the forks to upgrade them and installed an Ikon shock at the back. The stock 18F/17R wheels were wrapped in Continental TKC80 tires for a little go-anywhere appeal, and the OEM Brembo front brake was refurbished.
The engine was treated to a digital ignition and a pair of DNA pod filters. MotoRRetro supplied a new cover to replace the original airbox, which now houses the battery. Discreet twin exhausts round out the spec—and before you heap hate onto the pipe wrap, consider how well it complements the bike’s color scheme.
Jeremy kept the R100R’s chunky fuel tank but reworked the rest of the bodywork so well that the tank actually looks good now. Sitting just behind it is a custom two-up seat, upholstered in black leather on top of an aluminum base. An LED taillight is Frenched into the back of it.
The subframe is new too, finished off with an integrated plate mount and turn signal brackets. Lower down, Deus upgraded the rider and passenger pegs, opting for grippy off-road items for the former.
Nothing in the BMW’s cockpit is original anymore. Deus swapped the bars out for a set from Rizoma, then added a throttle from Messner Moto in Germany. The brake and clutch levers are Beringer items, and the grips, micro-switches, bar-end turn signals, and mirrors are from Motogadget.
A digital Motogadget dash sits further forward, just above a Koso LED headlight. To keep things super neat, Jeremy moved the ignition to a new mounting tab on the left side of the frame.
The bike’s finished off with a handful of well-judged details and finishes. Deus moved the stock oil cooler slightly higher up, then adorned it with a new copper grill and fresh plumbing. A set of crash bars keep the cylinder heads safe, while the BMW’s unique original gas cap adds a little vintage charm.
And while most of the primary finishes are black, they’ve been executed with varying textures. The fuel tank and custom front fairing wear matte black paint, while the engine block’s been done in wrinkle black.
BMW designed the R100R as a retro roadster, but Deus has turned it into something far more fun—and far more attractive. As for how those copper highlights pop against the black; superbe!
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