BMW R 100 Rogue Has Off-Roading Prowess to Match Its Handsome Scrambled Looks

They’ll be more than happy to work with just about any marque you can think of, yet the one they keep coming back to is BMW. Enamored with the brand’s classic airheads, Side Rock Cycles (SRC) can really build something extraordinary with such entities acting as their starting point. Pete and his teammates have delivered countless R-based projects since the workshop’s founding, and the one pictured here goes by the name of Rogue.

In its past iteration, it used to be a stock BMW R 100 R from the model-year 1992. The idea was to turn it into a stylish scrambler capable of hanging with a contemporary GS off-road, but this conversion required a whole load of elbow grease to pull off. First things first, the old-school Beemer was taken apart and a great chunk of its factory hardware got taken out of the equation.

With a blank canvas sitting before them, the SRC crew kicked off the custom sorcery in the unsprung sector. They had done away with the original 18-inch front wheel during the initial teardown, so the first step was to source an aftermarket replacement measuring 19 inches in diameter. Both rims were then laced to the wheel hubs via stainless-steel spokes and wrapped in dual-purpose Heidenau K 60 tires.

The brakes and front forks were thoroughly revamped to perform as well as they did on day one, while the rear shock absorber has been taken out of the equation. In its stead, Side Rock fitted a fully-adjustable Bitubo module originally destined for the GS. This fresh suspension hardware connects to a custom loop-style subframe up top, and then you’ve got that stunning handmade saddle.

It features brown leather upholstery and elegant diamond pattern stitching, as well as some SRC lettering embroidered at the back. The seat is flanked by a pair of oval side covers which act as number boards, and a sizeable handmade fender lives right beneath it. This rear mudguard carries the license plate holder and a circular LED taillight.

On the other hand, Side Rock Cycles used the same mounting points for the fender and rear turn signals, further reducing any unsightly clutter in that area. Interestingly enough, the factory R 100 R fuel tank is still present center-stage, but it looks a lot better with a Monza-style filler cap and some fresh paint. We’ll get to the bike’s livery a bit later on, though, because there a more bodywork components for us to look at here.

One of them is a new front fender placed nice and close to the tire, while the other comes in the form of an alloy skid plate protecting the engine’s underside. Up in the cockpit area, you’ll come across a multi-function Acewell dial and a billet aluminum handlebar clamp with the creature’s nickname engraved into it. The latter holds a Renthal handlebar kitted with more premium goodies than you can shake a stick at.

Heated grips, Highsider bar-end mirrors, and Motogadget switches are among them, but so are adjustable Accossato levers and a Domino quick-action throttle. The ergonomic package is brought full circle by fresh off-roading foot pegs. A major overhaul was also planned for the illumination paraphernalia at the front, as none of the OEM bits made the cut.

Using CNC-machined mounting hardware, Pete and his squad fitted a high-end Koso Thunderbolt headlight and aftermarket LED blinkers. All the electronics were rewired though a Motogadget controller, both for the sake of reliability and to keep Rogue looking as clean as possible. Of course, an equal amount of attention was given to the R 100 R’s boxer-twin powerhouse.

Not only was the air-cooled mill refreshed, but it also gained several upgrades such as forged high-compression pistons, a modern electronic ignition, and a heavy-duty clutch. New Mikuni carbs were thrown into the mix, too, together with foam Ramair pod filters that replace the standard airbox. The cylinder blocks are now kept out of harm’s way thanks to protective crash bars.

Exhaust gases make their way out through a bespoke stainless-steel exhaust system, which runs a two-into-one configuration toward a reverse megaphone muffler. Finally, the bodywork was enveloped in a mixture of blue and silver for the most part, with the number nine done in black on the side covers. Items such as the frame and wheels have been finished in satin-black powder coating, as were the fork lowers, swingarm, and engine covers.