It’s the biggest automotive show on the planet, with thousands of vehicles and exhibitor booths to check out, but as has been the case for years now, the crowds at last weekend’s SEMA Show made a beeline for the Ring Brothers display. They simply build the cleanest custom street machines on the planet, and it’s that clean look, with absolutely nothing out of place, and every detail picture-perfect, that has become the standard for being at the top of the custom game. And in the world of two wheels, few did it better than Ales and Vlad, from Slovakia’s Earth Motorcycles. They were back with ‘Richtar’, another beautiful BMW, and this 1991 R100RT is as perfect and pristine as they come.
That ultra clean and yet custom look is something we’ve been seeing a lot around here of late, and the key to making it work seems to be creating a machine that could have been built by one of the major manufacturers; had they let their design and engineering team go all out on a prototype of perfection. And that’s exactly what Earth delivers with each and every one of their builds, you never see a slightly compromised piece or part, there’s never an area of the build that’s been forgotten, and the workmanship is simply first class. So, despite the great number of brilliant bike builders in The Netherlands, one dreamy Dutchman had to have an Earth creation.
And this is what Ales and Vlad pitched to him: “Imagine a motorcycle that captures your attention at first glance, a masterpiece where flawless lines and clean design merge seamlessly to create an icon of perfection.” And just from the first photo, you know they nailed it! To deliver on the promise, required a frame-off rebuild, and the subframe was removed, with the rest of the chassis detabbed and smoothed out to perfection. The factory centre stand had been ditched, and a new side stand was created to suit the BMW’s new ride height, as well as being an excellent way to save weight. Then, an all-new subframe was made, not your typical hooped pipe, but a carefully shaped solid section.
To ensure the foundation is flawless, the whole thing was hit with a glossy black powder coat, and the build-up utilises brand-new nuts and bolts across the entire bike. Over the top of the fresh subframe, an all-new seat is of a generous size for a solo rider, and the diamond-stitched pattern has been perfectly sewn up by the team at Milita Seats. This gave the guys time to work on the bodywork: “The fuel tank has been skillfully reshaped to eliminate the stock folds, resulting in a cleaner, more refined appearance. This modification not only improved the bike’s visual appeal but also enhanced its sleek profile.”
Speaking of sleek, the fender combo is exactly that, with the front fender a simple blade-style unit that has been shaped to match the tyre size to perfection. At the rear, fans will be happy to see a solo-seated R series get full coverage, but it’s the hidden mounting system that steals the show. It allows the single-sided swingarm rear to be shown off, with that flowing fender offering zero obstructions to the side-on view. The paint is another shining example of precision and perfection, the tins flawlessly finished in a custom blue mix, with black graphics, and the headlight bucket hit with a gloss black to help it tie into the frame.
But as good as ‘Richtar’ looks, and she’s a stunner, this bike has been built to ride, and it starts with a full suspension overhaul. The front forks have been completely rebuilt, shortened externally by 50mm, and then built up with new internals to match. A custom upper triple clamp from Rebel Moto adds stiffness and feel, while the rear end swings a custom-built shock from YSS. The braking system was next on the list, and the new twin discs for the front end are clamped by the stock calipers, which have been completely overhauled and then hit with ceramic heat-proof paint. A set of Venhill hoses has been added, and the master is upgraded with a high-end 1” Discacciati unit.
Of course, the famous Boxer twin sits at the heart of any R series build, and just like the rest of the bike, you could eat off this flat twin. The whole thing was pulled apart, with the case and barrels vapour blasted for a flawless finish, while the paint and filed fins ensure it looks better than new. As part of the rebuild, the crank now sits on a fresh set of bearings, and every last gasket and seal has been replaced too. The carbs got the same level of treatment, stripped, blasted, and refinished in black, before being rebuilt with all new components and allowed to breathe via K&N pod filters. The exhaust is subtle, but those hand-built mufflers are a treat, and the stainless baffles keep the roar to 91.5 dB at idle to pass testing.
As for the electrics, well, you basically couldn’t see any of them, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been perfectly done. A Motogadget m-unit Blue is the brains of the operation and includes a keyless start and an alarm, while a 14AH LiFePO battery and corresponding regulator means there is always power on hand. “The unique placement of the fog light switch, integrated into the centre stem of the triple yoke, highlighted our attention to detail.” And then, it’s all CE-certified lighting for the rest of the bike, matched up with a tiny Motogadget speedo to provide the rider with the vital info. The simply flawless finish just might make it the cleanest custom BMW on the planet, a fitting result from the masters at Earth Motorcycles.
[ Earth Motorcycles | Photography by Marian Svitek ]