Photo: Marian Svitek
The talented Slovaks at Earth Motorcycles have worked their custom magic on bikes from several brands, but the one they keep coming back to is BMW. More specifically, Vlado Dinga and Ales Tomis are very fond of classic Bavarian airheads, so a good chunk of their build archive is taken up by such machines. The latest among them can be seen in this article’s photo gallery.
It goes by the name of Richtar and is based on a BMW R 100 RT from 1991, now weighing just 171 kilograms (377 pounds) on an empty stomach. That’s a huge drop from the original dry weight of 229 kg (505 lbs), and it all started with a complete teardown. Next up, the Beemer’s main frame was stripped of any unnecessary tabs, while its rear subframe got deleted altogether.
In its stead, Ales and Vlado fitted a custom seat base, which was then topped with a stylish brown leather saddle upholstered by Milita Seats. The stock fuel tank is still present further ahead, but it’s been refurbished inside out and modded ever so slightly to achieve a cleaner look. A pair of handmade fenders round out the motorcycle’s bodywork, with the rear one being a large swingarm-mounted item.
In terms of suspension upgrades, the factory R 100 forks were rebuilt, lowered by about 50 mm (two inches), and ultimately reinstalled with new Rebel Moto triple clamps. Down south, there is an adjustable YSS shock absorber whose top end connects to a tailor-made mount. The brakes were thoroughly revamped and fitted with Venhill hoses, while the wheels got wrapped in Michelin rubber front and back.
Moving on to the electronics, the Earth duo came up with a fresh wiring harness that runs through Motogadget’s Bluetooth-enabled controller. An Aliant LiFePo4 battery was thrown into the mix, as well, and then you’ve got all the snazzy lighting hardware installed at both ends. There is a trio of Highsider LEDs recessed into the seat base at the back, and the same brand supplied a premium seven-inch headlight.
Furthermore, an auxiliary fog lamp is attached to the frame tubing on the left-hand side, while the front turn signals are bar-end units from Motogadget. The German aftermarket firm also supplied the new grips and a Motoscope Tiny dial, but the front brake master cylinder came from Discacciati. It’s worn by a replacement handlebar that sits nice and low, with billet aluminum foot pegs accompanying it further back on the flanks.
Of course, the powertrain department hasn’t been overlooked, either. Earth Motorcycles had the boxer-twin engine completely revamped, then they added twin K&N pod filters for improved airflow. Richtar features a custom-made exhaust on the other end of the combustion cycle, which is said to provide an incredible soundtrack besides some extra ponies. Finally, the bodywork was covered in a glossy blue base, and just about everything else was finished in black.
In its stead, Ales and Vlado fitted a custom seat base, which was then topped with a stylish brown leather saddle upholstered by Milita Seats. The stock fuel tank is still present further ahead, but it’s been refurbished inside out and modded ever so slightly to achieve a cleaner look. A pair of handmade fenders round out the motorcycle’s bodywork, with the rear one being a large swingarm-mounted item.
In terms of suspension upgrades, the factory R 100 forks were rebuilt, lowered by about 50 mm (two inches), and ultimately reinstalled with new Rebel Moto triple clamps. Down south, there is an adjustable YSS shock absorber whose top end connects to a tailor-made mount. The brakes were thoroughly revamped and fitted with Venhill hoses, while the wheels got wrapped in Michelin rubber front and back.
Moving on to the electronics, the Earth duo came up with a fresh wiring harness that runs through Motogadget’s Bluetooth-enabled controller. An Aliant LiFePo4 battery was thrown into the mix, as well, and then you’ve got all the snazzy lighting hardware installed at both ends. There is a trio of Highsider LEDs recessed into the seat base at the back, and the same brand supplied a premium seven-inch headlight.
Furthermore, an auxiliary fog lamp is attached to the frame tubing on the left-hand side, while the front turn signals are bar-end units from Motogadget. The German aftermarket firm also supplied the new grips and a Motoscope Tiny dial, but the front brake master cylinder came from Discacciati. It’s worn by a replacement handlebar that sits nice and low, with billet aluminum foot pegs accompanying it further back on the flanks.
Of course, the powertrain department hasn’t been overlooked, either. Earth Motorcycles had the boxer-twin engine completely revamped, then they added twin K&N pod filters for improved airflow. Richtar features a custom-made exhaust on the other end of the combustion cycle, which is said to provide an incredible soundtrack besides some extra ponies. Finally, the bodywork was covered in a glossy blue base, and just about everything else was finished in black.
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