The BMW R nineT is one of the most charming factory motorcycles you can buy, and much of that charm comes from its storied family history. It’s descended from a long line of iconic boxer motorcycles—and the fact that its motor is still air- and oil-cooled helps it maintain a connection to that heritage.
The numerous tasteful details on this custom BMW R nineT Scrambler pay homage to the iconic boxers that came before it. Its silhouette and geometry are a nod to the genre-defining BMW R80G/S, but its paint takes inspiration from the BMW R90S. And when you dig deeper, you’ll find an array of key performance upgrades too.
It’s the work of MFix Workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and was built at the request of a client. He wanted to add a dose of vintage BMW flavor to his R nineT, but he was also adamant that any changes be subtle and well-judged. Or, as he told MFix; “The details aren’t just details, but they’re what makes the design.”
Thanks to the R nineT’s popularity among custom bike enthusiasts, there are ample good-looking plug-and-play parts available for it. MFix put a list together that covered most of the bases—then built everything else they needed in-house.
The work started up front, where an ultra-powerful Rigid Adapt XP Pro light sits inside a custom-made headlight fairing. It mimics the shape of the classic BMW R80G/S Paris Dakar’s fairing—but where the original was made out of plastic, this one’s aluminum. It’s mounted to the front forks by way of CNC-machined brackets, with the R nineT’s OEM speedo tucked behind it.
The headlight itself sits on a custom-made bracket that bolts to the bike’s original attachment points. The enduro-style front fender is a transplant from an R nineT Urban G/S.
Moving further back, MFix installed a set of vintage scrambler-style handlebars from Unit Garage, lifted via CNC-machined risers. The switches are stock, but the clutch and brake controls are from Magura and Brembo, respectively. MFix also added Oxford grips and BMW R1250GS hand guards.
Peak just below the bars, and you’ll spot fork adjusters that belong to an Andreani cartridge kit. The R nineT also benefits from a steering damper and an upgraded rear shock, both from Öhlins’ ‘Blackline’ range.
MFix kept the BMW’s original fuel tank and rider’s seat, which now wears a new cover. Unit Garage supplied the side covers, and the luggage rack that’s replaced the pillion seat. (The bike still wears its passenger foot pegs, so that it can be reconfigured for two if necessary.)
The high-mounted rear fender and taillight assembly comes from Wunderlich, but there’s also a handmade inner fender hiding lower down. MFix added a license plate bracket to the setup, which includes a pair of Motogadget turn signals mounted on CNC-machined aluminum baseplates. The same turn signal design was employed up front, mounted just above a bespoke oil cooler grill.
Keen eyes will also notice that the distinctive silver air intake that traditionally sits on the right-hand side of the fuel tank has been replaced. A far more modern unit from Pier City Custom sits in its place, while a two-into-one air intake with a DNA filter hides behind the side covers. A Dynojet Power Commander tuning chip ensures optimal performance.
The R nineT Scrambler comes from the factory with a rather fetching (and decent sounding) pair of Akrapovič mufflers. MFix didn’t want to ditch those, so they simply removed their built-in baffles—then fabricated a full set of titanium headers to elevate the build.
Other improvements include a set of SW-Motech foot pegs, an Evotech sump guard, and aftermarket cylinder head covers from the BMW accessories catalog. The wheels are tubeless numbers from VMX, with Bridgestone Battlax AT41 tires wrapped around them.
The livery is a hat tip to the noteworthy paint jobs of the 1970s BMW R90S models. Originally available in ‘Smoke Black/Silver,’ the R90S later came out in a radical ‘Daytona Orange’ scheme, bucking BMW’s trend of mostly making black bikes. MFix riffed on this theme by picking a blue from later boxer models, but applying the ‘smoke’ effect made famous by the R90S.
Customizing a modern classic like the R nineT by making numerous subtle changes, rather than hacking it to pieces, is fast becoming a popular approach among builders. And we’re here for it—especially when it’s executed as well as this. Fresher-than-factory with performance to match, MFix’s custom BMW R nineT is just perfekt.
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