Warsaw-based 86 Gear reimagined the iconic 1982 BMW R100 RT.
The founder and chief customizer of 86 Gear, Christian Boosen, has been tinkering with motorcycles since his teenage years and has since found his calling in the custom build scene, restoring old bikes back to their original glory. The custom bike house specializes in creating bike builds from the early 1950s to the 1990s.
The R100 RT was brought by an owner from Berlin with less than 80,000 km and the original service manual. With the inspiration taken from the owner’s acquaintance and a few reference points from the web, free rein was given to 86 Gear.
First, elements such as the front suspension, snowflake alloy wheels, the front brake system, and the rear brake rotor were retained to maintain a timeless appearance. The bike’s tail was substituted by an in-house rear cowl, complete with horizontal LED strips and indicator lights.
Staying true to the café racer body style, the stock fuel tank was raised to fit the custom subframe and match the rear cowl. Topping off the look is a custom-made all-black leather seat with BMW Rennsport stripes on the tank and the cowl.
As awe-inspiring as the exterior design is, the mechanical changes to this BMW’s beating heart follow the theme. The classic twin boxer case has been preserved but was given new pistons, rings, clutch packs, and cam chains. If that wasn’t enough, the custom house featured Siebenrock Velocity stacks and a modified exhaust system to improve performance and give the café racer a unique sound.
The R100 RT’s stock oil pump gave way to an aftermarket deep sump oil pan. At the same time, wires and electrical equipment were cleverly hidden with the aid of Motogadget’s custom-designed wiring harnesses and gizmos. All these changes bumped the power from 65hp to 70hp.
The world always needs more builds like 86 Gear’s R100 RT, featuring timeless design combined with modern technology!
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