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Stripped out and rebuilt, this BMW R100 RS sport-tourer transforms into a brawny scrambler with a classic Boxer-twin heart
BMW has been a forerunner in making radically designed functional motorcycles since the seventies. Back in the 80s, they presented the world of motorcycling with the R100RS as the top-of-the-line sports tourer designed in a wind tunnel to maximize long-distance comfort for the rider by enhancing aerodynamic shielding.
So, what happens when Corner.Custom from the Netherlands finds a crisp 53k KM run 1982 unit? Strip it done to the last bolt, rebuild it and change it to a roaring scrambler with minimalism as the centerpiece. The maestro posted a full build video on YouTube and gave a preview of the tasty exhaust note at the end to persuade you to get one done for yourself.
At its heart is a 2-cylinder 980cc Boxer engine that is completely rebuilt, down to its new valves, to revive that breathtaking rumble towards the end of the video. Also, its crude majesty comes from carburetor fueling, which has been rebuilt as well. Now, this is nothing close to that Custom BMW K1100 RS Cafe Racer we wrote about earlier, but a svelte appreciation of that awesome boxer engine.
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First and foremost you start with the engine for obvious reasons. The R100RS has a horizontally opposed boxer twin displacing 980cc producing 70hp and 56 ft-lb, which is impressive considering it could sit at 100mph easily on highways, in the 80s. Many moons past new you can be sure it isn’t producing the same output. So it was taken apart bit by bit to assess what aging did inside, note the single-plate dry clutch.
This engine was designed to produce a gradually increasing pace through its tallish geared transmission. Corner Custom has rebuilt the 5-speed gearbox completely, along with the cylinder head, the seals, the piping, basically everything. The shiny new valves should return the performance output like the original.
The original set was allegedly prone to valve seat recession, so a complete rebuild is a necessity. It is a shaft-driven motorcycle which means unlike replacing the chain, just a good cleanup will suffice. Fueling is done by two constant-vacuum Bing carburetors, both of which are taken apart, sand-blast cleaned and given a gorgeous coat of that graphite black paint.
Check out the finish on that vacuum chamber with a tiny Bing stamped on it. Another substantial change is the front suspension setup from a Ducati Monster, and a rebuild of the Brembo fixed caliper 260mm disc brakes. Look at that filthy old fork oil at 8:16. Additional parts have been sourced from Powerbrick Performance and electronics from Motogadget to complete the functional part of the build.
The great thing about a custom build on an old machine is that you can replace the electronics and wiring with a modern setup so that it works properly. So new ignition wires, cables all around, new lithium-ion batteries, and lighting have been sourced from the best the aftermarket can offer.
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The entire essence of this Scrambler implies minimalism and converting a BMW R100RS sound completely counter-intuitive. A sport tourer designed in the wind tunnel has to be stripped bare naked so that the entire grunt can be used to propel a ton-up racer. This is the reason you have to appreciate Corner Custom, this build is flawless.
Gone is the bulbous fairing and four-pot meter gauge, the speedometer, rev counter, voltmeter, and clock were all separate, all squeezed into a single pot instrument cluster and retro projector headlamp. The fairing mounted indicators have gone giving way to compact LED indicators. It’s a hardcore scrambler right, so there is no pillion seat or rear fender. The front fender though is a beautiful piece of design, especially the holder.
The granite gray tank color has been stripped to paint it in custom royal blue paint (no, it isn’t the Blue Monza from BMW), but what adds a profound evolution is the twin gold pin striping. That is a powerful choice of colors. Yes, the brake calipers have been painted black because they look great with the gold-colored 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels.
The alloy wheel design is just epic compared to the Honda CBR750 or Suzuki GSX1100 at the time. Giving them a gold finish just works wonders for the overall design. Not sure about the performance impact of those knobby tires, but they enhance the design massively. Also, good they removed the center stand, which just looks out of place on a scrambler.
The whole package is then bundled to ride on a wave of boxer thrum coming out of those small exhausts. It sounds lovely, and since it will be much lighter now will handle great too. Yes, this is no more a long-distance tourer, but then it wasn’t doing many miles sitting ideal.
Corner Customs has pumped new life in a somewhat obscure segment of old carburetted motorcycles. The retro outlook coupled with a shiny new engine, electronics, wiring, brakes, and suspension makes it a lot more desirable. Hope they soon find a 1980 Ducati Pantah to work on!
Source: Corner.Custom Via YouTube
Sarcastic, cynical and sometimes just comical, Abhijeet writes to titillate the reader's curiosity. He wants to make sure any vehicle you own swings between everyday practicality and dogmatic individualism. We're certain his pragmatism and humour will keep you engaged and informed about the past, present and future of the magnificent words of automobiles.