BMW R 100 R Ruhe Bears Snazzy Copper Plating and Scrambler Charm in Abundance

Oh, and of course, there was the R series’ unbelievable versatility, giving us machines like the trusty all-rounder that was the R75/5, the adventurous R 80 G/S, and the R100RT tourer with its wind tunnel-developed bodywork. Mind you, these are just the tip of the iceberg, as it would take ages for us to list all the great motorcycles employing BMW’s air-cooled boxer mill.

Every model we’ve mentioned above has a fair bit going for itself in terms of cult classic status, but people are far less excited about the later R 100 R. This makes sense in a way, because it just doesn’t hold the same allure as what came before and its looks are nothing to write home about, either. The R 100 R is, however, a lot more refined than older airheads when it comes down to performance.

Its 980cc boxer-twin engine can spawn a respectable 60 hp and 56 pound-feet (76 Nm) of torque at the crank, all while moving a curb weight of around 481 pounds (218 kg). What’s more, the bike is easy to work on and it's got heaps of that good old German reliability everyone digs. All things considered; these traits seem rather appropriate for customization, don’t they?

Countless bike-modding outfits around the world certainly think so, and the stunning R 100 R scrambler we’re about to inspect comes from Deus Australia. For the most part, the transformation was handled by shop boss Jeremy Tagand, who'd received the commission from a jeweler with great cosmetic taste. The project obviously needed a special touch, then – like, say, some swanky copper plating we can’t take our eyes off.

Interestingly enough, Deus Ex Machina’s frontman chose to keep the Beemer’s original gas tank in play, so you can still identify it as an R 100 R right away. Even the fuel chamber looks much fancier than it did before, though, and there are plenty of other upgrades aside from all the eye candy. As always, Jeremy kicked things off with a customary teardown, deciding where and how visual mass was to be trimmed away.

He got rid of the stock subframe to make way for a bespoke alternative, which tightens rear-end proportions up while providing just enough space for a passenger. There’s an aluminum seat pan placed above the new frame tubing, and the whole shebang is topped with black leather upholstery.

In addition, you’ll see an LED taillight integrated into the saddle’s rearmost portion, as well as aftermarket turn signals and a compact license plate holder attached to the subframe loop lower down. All this equipment is supported by a modern progressive shock absorber from Ikon’s range, but the forks have also been upgraded to match.

YSS internals were the perfect items for the job, and the motorcycle’s front Brembo brake also got a complete overhaul. Jeremy re-laced both wheels with fresh stainless-steel spokes, then he cloaked their rims in scrambler-worthy TKC 80 knobbies from Continental. A minimalistic custom fender made its way atop the front hoop, though the real party takes place a bit higher up.

Keeping the way ahead nice and lit is an LED headlamp supplied by Koso, while the cockpit area features Motogadget instrumentation and a Rizoma handlebar. In turn, the said handlebar comes equipped with Beringer control levers and a Messner Moto throttle, along with a myriad of Motogadget goodies. These include bar-end mirrors and blinkers, compact switches, and a pair of stealthy grips.

As for the R 100 R’’s fuel tank, it received a matte-black finish just like the front fender, pairing it with shiny Deus graphics and copper-plated BMW roundels cast in-house. Things stayed relatively simple in the powertrain department, where Jeremy swapped the factory airbox with less restrictive DNA pod filters.

A modern battery is now located where the airbox had once been, and there’s a handmade, heat-wrapped exhaust system replacing the stock pipes. To round out the engine upgrades, an all-new digital ignition module was added to the list of replacements, as well. Last but not least, we arrive at the most intriguing part of this entire build – the gorgeous copper plating that adorns its frame from head to toe.

For yet another beautiful touch, Sir Tagand fitted a copper radiator grille to echo the finish seen on the framework. Once the bike was complete and ready to be handed back to Deus’ customer, it got the nickname Ruhe from either him or Jeremy. That could mean “quiet” or “calm” in German, but the client’s reaction upon seeing this thing must’ve been quite the opposite, and we mean that in the best possible way.