Hello Pipeburn team-
I’m Rich Odlum, I head up a moto-collective called Interstellar Motors (www.interstellarmotors.com) out of Rochester, New York. On occasion, I’ve picked up a customer project to work on after I get out of my day job, I’m an industrial designer by trade.
This bike is one such project. It’s a BMW R100/7 and it’s gotten the nickname “Moon Buggy” on account of it’s monochrome palette, oversized rally tires and our shop’s name, Interstellar Motors. To go with that name, we painted the acronym ‘TANSTAAFL’ below the gas cap. It stands for “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” and was pulled from the classic Robert Heinlein novel ‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.’ It’s a reminder to my buddy, who we built this bike for, that I worked my ass off finishing this thing 🙂
Full specs here:
1978 BMW R100/7
Custom rear subframe
Custom 420mm(16.5″) YSS Shocks positioned 36° from vertical
Motogadget M-unit electrical system, controls, turn signals and Chronoclassic gauge
Handmade gauge mount integrated into headlight bucket
Handmade Stainless-steel 2-into-2 G/S-inspired exhaust system with integrated perforated metal heat shields inspired by Gutsche’s prototype G/S bikes
Motoren-Israel oil pan ring with oil filter
Laser-cut perforated stainless side-covers to match heat-shield
Custom-made seat
Refinished stock wheels with oversize Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires
Peg mounts modified to accept dirt-bike style footpegs
LED Bates-style Taillight
Antigravity Battery mounted under seat in custom electronics tray
Domino/Brembo Brake Master Cylinder, Clutch Perch, Domino Rally throttle
Custom Stainless front brake lines
Vintage K&N Motocross Handlebars
Vintage custom modified fork brace
Custom front fender
OEM-style crash bars fitted with period GE fog lamp
Rebuilt and rejetted Bing Carburetors
Refreshed engine custom-painted in dark graphite
Frame and swingarm powdercoated in alpine white
Standard R100/7 Tank repainted to match frame; “TANSTAAFL” painted around gas cap