The Netherlands isn’t just home to the reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen but is a country with a thriving custom culture and a rich motorsport history. The likes of Moto Adonis and designer and builder Arjan van den Boom have made a huge impact on our scene, and there is a long list of Dutch choppers that have wowed the crowds at the AMD World Championships. All of which has served as huge inspiration for Erwin Dijkstra of Motor Braap as he continues to push himself to be amongst the nation’s elite. And if there is one bike the Dutch adore, it’s the all-conquering BMW R100, and Erwin has given his a true scrambler vibe, very much in the style of the best builders in The Netherlands.
We’ve featured a hell of a lot of custom bikes built by Dutch workshops over the years, and the trend that always shines through is that no matter how wild the aesthetic, it still has to be a rider. They’re also heavily into their BMWs, with their German neighbours dominating the number one spot in new bike sales for years now. All of which seems to have conspired to produce this look now known around the world, of single-saddled R series scramblers, with beautiful fit and finish and genuine all-purpose rubber.
Erwin is quick to name his fellow countryman Arjan van den Boom as an inspiration, and there is no doubt the latter helped to give the Dutch scene a huge shot in the arm. But Erwin has also dabbled with a host of Japanese bikes and built some sweet cruisers, but the call of the R100 was strong, and a big part of this build was ensuring that every part of the bike was restored flawlessly. So, the bike that came as a silver stocker had the engine and gearbox out to be rebuilt, and every last part pulled from the frame. The stock subframe is the first piece to be replaced, with a new single post coming off the backbone.
The stock subframe hosts the upper shock mounts on the RT model, and with these gone, new mounts are now welded to the hooped section of the chassis. It’s at this point that a builder can set the ride height, and the low look definitely works here! That final height is then set by the shocks, with a new set of adjustable YSS units, with threaded bodies to dial in preload, bolted on. The swingarm and its final drive unit are all completely overhauled and then, like the frame that it bolts to, have been hit with a gloss black powder coat, all laid down by Dennie Benes from Made Bo Veld.
The front end is given the same sort of love, with the forks overhauled and fitted with new seals, before being properly shortened to match the rear ride height. Using the stock forks means that the rectangular location for the factory reflectors sits bare, so to fill the space, Erwin had a set of neat BMW badges CNC-machined, a much nicer look than the big bits of orange plastic. At the bottom of the legs, there are BMW OEM brakes, that were supplied at the time by Brembo and have been thoroughly rebuilt and fitted out with new lines.
Turning to the bodywork, and it’s all been kept nice and simple, with clean lines and a solid colour. The front fender has been shortened, while still providing the necessary coverage. But it’s the tank that steals the show, having been massaged to ensure each panel is dead straight before the Porsche Jet Green was applied. Topped with a classic race filler in chrome and finished with custom badges, it simply looks a million dollars. That same green is used for the stitching on the uber-neat solo seat, and just to show how serious he was about this overhaul, Erwin has replaced every nut and bolt with quality stainless steel.
Being a man who performs major and minor maintenance work on all motorcycles, Erwin gave the engine a full rebuild to ensure the ever-reliable boxer twin would run like a champ for years to come. Before bolting it back in the frame, he avoided the urge to give the engine a rattle can coat of paint and instead had it professionally done with a heatproof finish. The carbs have been given the same treatment, with a set of pod filters for better breathing and a rebuild with new jets to match the pipes. The exhaust itself is finished in that very Dutch style, with the header pipes running back to the footrests before barking out of a set of slash-cut mini mufflers.
To get things legal and keep the look clean, the rear end sports a 3-in-1 Kellermann light setup, while up front there’s a classic headlight and more Kellermann indicators. The bars run Motogadget buttons and grips, with all of the wiring hidden, and a Daytona gauge and Highsider mirrors ensure it’s an easy pass for road registration. To complete the build, the Dutch style only ever calls for one set of tyres, and the all-conquering TKC80s are exceptional on any surface and sure add a tough look. And to show just how proud he is of his nation’s automotive offerings, Erwin was allowed by the guys from Rico Customs, one of the kings of perfect Porsches, to use their facility for this photoshoot. The Dutch really are firing on all cylinders.
[ Motor Braap ]