Shawnee, Oklahoma is a long way from London, England, but for two men at the top of their respective fields, their paths led them to LA, where they share a passion for two wheels. One is Robert Sabel, a Brit who left behind a successful Porsche restoration business to become a renowned custom bike builder. The other is Brad Pitt, an American actor and producer who, when not working on blockbuster films, loves to ride custom motorcycles. Brad sought out Robert’s business, Roughchild Moto, and commissioned a stunning LA road ripper, built from the bones of a 1985 BMW R80.
Robert grew up with a father who rebuilt vintage Porsches in their back shed and raced them at the local track. Cars and bikes were familiar themes early in his life. In his early 20s, he pursued a BA in Design at Southampton University while restoring and selling classic cars, then met and fell in love with his now-wife, who was LA-based. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, he took a job writing for the auction catalogues of Gooding & Company. Life was great, but he needed to be hands-on. And when he acquired an early Porsche 911 to restore, Robert was offered a 1970 air-cooled BMW R75/5 motorcycle as part of the deal.
The rest, as they say, is history. He sold his modest car collection and started Roughchild Moto in 2014, where he builds some of the best Airheads in the world. Word has spread, Ryan Reynolds is another client, along with many celebrities and CEOs, who come to him for BMW builds that are simply brilliant to ride. “This bike was built for Brad Pitt in 2022 and has covered 2,000 miles since completion. In 2024, it came back to us for revisions.” Brad is a discerning client, owning a Shinya Kimura-created CB750, a Zero Engineering Type 9, a beautiful Bobber by the late Indian Larry, and a host of other super cool machines.
The first incarnation of the build was made to Robert’s specifications, as Brad had seen his builds and given him free rein. That first edition of the bike featured a black tank with neatly laid white pinstripes. Fast forward a few years, and Robert sent an R100RS tank to have its fuel liner stripped. To remove it, his liner guy submerged the tank in muriatic acid for three weeks. What emerged was a tank with no liner, but amazingly, much of the original BMW paint and graphics had survived. Robert sent Brad a picture to show him, ‘How cool is this,’ and Brad responded, ‘fit that to my motorcycle!’
The ‘patina’ tank has been enhanced with a black machined filler and a beautiful Roughchild badge. Apart from that, it has a character you just couldn’t create if you tried. The chassis has been customised in Robert’s bobber style to accommodate the solo seat, which was modified to match the tank. “To complement the tank, we’ve reupholstered the solo seat in Denim Blue Alcantara, replacing the foam with a gel insert for a more comfortable ride.”
To give the BMW a significant boost, “the engine was swapped out for a late-model R100RS, undergoing a crank-out rebuild with new bearings throughout, refreshed cylinder heads, and a new pair of 1000cc pistons and cylinders.” A Silent Hektik 12-volt kit brings the bike into the 21st century, and the exhaust is seriously loud, with the stock system retained and tiny end cans in cerakote producing an almighty sound! Fueling is provided by a set of 38mm SmartCarbs finished in obsidian black. The bike had previously run a set of velocity stacks, but since Brad keeps the bike in his carport ready to ride, it wasn’t worth the risk of getting condensation in the motor.
“In order to preserve the engine, we had to remove the velocity stacks and install the 70’s R90S drilled clamshell airbox.” If he misses the intake roar, Brad can always comfort himself with the smooth ride provided by the high-end Ohlins suspension. The USD forks at the front end are beautifully integrated into the classic bike, and the braking system gets a significant upgrade with Brembo GP4 calipers clamping big discs. Robert has also found a clever way to retain the factory wheels, now wrapped in super sticky Metzeler RaceTec tyres. The single-sided swingarm is perfect for the build, and the remote-res Ohlins shock keeps things planted.
Some clever touches on this build deserve a closer look too. The handmade bars hide a secret: the throttle mechanism is concealed inside the tube and runs on a bearing for a super smooth action. The clutch-side grip incorporates the switchgear, with all of the wiring perfectly hidden, and the Motoscope Pro details the vital signs. The lighting, at first glance, might appear standard for an Airhead build, but the Marchal running lights feature amber bulbs and serve as turn signals, with mini units for the rear. So what does Mr. Pitt think? “It’s incredibly charming, my new favourite motorcycle.” And he’s probably riding it as we speak.
[ Roughchild Moto ]