The best custom motorcycles aren’t always the ones that scream the loudest. Some captivate with simplicity, inviting a closer look that reveals a visually enticing, perfectly proportioned, and tastefully upgraded machine. Mastering all of these elements takes years.
This frosty BMW R80 scrambler ticks all of those boxes. Remarkably, it’s Tomas Janicek’s first custom motorcycle—but it took him a decade to create, giving him time to hone every detail.
“I’ve always been more of a car guy, and was never really interested in motorcycles,” Tomas tells us. “But back in 2014, while studying at the Art Academy in the Netherlands, I felt a strong urge to create something with my hands.”
“Since I couldn’t find a car shop that excited me, I decided to take a chance. In December, I walked into the Wang Motorcycles garage. I asked if I could do a one-day-a-week internship—despite having zero mechanical knowledge or a motorcycle license.”
“Mr. Wang kindly agreed, and I started working there every Saturday. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with old BMWs. Four weeks later, I bought a running 1987 BMW R80 with a vision of turning it into my project—the ultimate exploration machine.”
“Since I didn’t yet have a motorcycle license, I immediately began taking the bike apart without ever riding it. Yep, I definitely bit off more than I could chew. Fortunately, my naivety, combined with Mr. Wang’s expertise, worked quite well.”
Based in The Hague, Wang Motorcycles shop boss Wang Choy is well-versed in the art of classic BMW maintenance (and customization). Under his tutelage, Tomas had the confidence to push the project much further than he had originally planned—starting with a total nuts-and-bolts rebuild of the motor.
“With his guidance, I completely overhauled the engine,” Tomas adds. “I added a hot camshaft and transformed it into a ‘zero-mile’ unit. Literally every engine component was checked, refreshed, or replaced.”
The motor’s been blasted clean on the outside and left unpainted. The original airbox is gone too, replaced by a hand-made system that utilizes an oversized K&N filter. For the exhaust, Tomas matched a set of two-into-one Zach headers to a Laser muffler.
Traditional BMW crash bars protect the precious ‘peanut’ valve covers. Under the hood, the old boxer features a simplified wiring loom, with a small battery hidden under the seat.
The R80’s cast wheels didn’t fit Tomas’ vision for his scrambler, so they had to go. A custom 17” laced wheel sits up front, hooked up to the forks from a KTM 650 LC4. A single Brembo caliper handles stopping duties.
At the other end of the bike, Tomas ditched the R80’s monolever swingarm and final drive, in favor of the paralever setup from a newer R-series BMW. A matching BMW rear wheel was installed too, with a Wilbers shock propping up the rear. Chunky Michelin Sirac tires offer decent grip on both asphalt and gravel.
CNC-machined yokes form the basis of the R80’s new cockpit, matched to upsized risers that grip tapered bars. The layout is super sano, featuring only the brake and clutch levers, new throttle and grips, micro-switches, and a tiny Motogadget speedo. The bold headlight arrangement uses a set of Triumph Speed Triple lights, a handmade guard that doubles as a luggage rack, and a tinted screen that’s been shaped to look like it’s melting.
Further back, you’ll find a svelte BMW R65 fuel tank, followed by a custom three-quarter seat. Polished trials-style fenders float high about the front and rear wheels.
Although the subframe on Tomas’ airhead looks like standard fare from afar, it sports a unique design. Its lower members form an ‘X,’ crossing over precisely where the rear fender sits. And its tail culminates in an integrated luggage rack, with threaded bungs on each side to attach pannier racks to.
Clever details abound—like the handmade license plate and taillight bracket, and the way Tomas has judiciously trimmed the frame’s uglier bits away.
With the project nearing completion, Tomas put the bike together (sans its crisp arctic white paint job) and rode it for three weeks through the Alps. “This allowed me to uncover a few major hidden issues,” he admits.
“I learned that the frames of the monolever models differ much more from the paralever models. I had to adjust the position of the foot pegs, modify the frame’s horizontal brace to create space for the swingarm to move freely, and reposition the shock mount to allow full suspension travel. All these little adjustments took much more time than I initially anticipated, resulting in various periods of lack of motivation.”
Ten years after he first walked into Wang Motorcycles, Tomas’ first custom motorcycle has finally made its debut—and what a debut it is. If ever there was proof of a successful internship, this BMW R80 scrambler is it.
Tomas Janicek Instagram | Images by Jakub Frey
