Vineyard Chaser: BMW R100 by Seb’s Atelier

BMW R100 Scrambler

From Blue Racer to Black Scrambler… 

Back in 2020, we featured a 1979 BMW R100RT “Blue Racer” from Sebastien Ledis of France’s Seb’s Atelier. Though Sebastien is a bit of a Ducati aficionado, the iconic German boxer seduced him with its simplicity and character:

“It’s the myth of riding a flat twin BMW. It’s an icon… Engine noise, vibrations, the smell of exhaust and petrol — a real motorcycle. No need to have fifty assistances, fifteen thousand information points, as there are on new motorcycles today.”

The “Blue Racer”

The blue cafe racer was a personal project, but Seb ended up selling it to an existing customer:

“I’d already made him a BMW R80 G/S, and he wanted a second motorbike for his country house. One for the city and the other for the countryside.”

BMW R100 Scrambler

However, as the customer has back issues, he quickly realized that he needed an upright riding position more reminiscent of a an enduro motorcycle, not a cafe racer. So the decision was made to rebuild the Blue Racer from the ground up, transforming it into a 70s-style enduro / scrambler. Besides the riding position, knobby tires, and motocross-style bars, Sebastien was given carte blanche to do what he wanted.

“In my workshop, I found an old Suzuki GT 125 fuel tank and an AMF 125 SXT handlebar lying around, as well as two aluminum mudguards — the project was launched!”

BMW R100 Scrambler

Rarely do we see a well-sorted custom of one kind wholly transformed into a different style, but Sebastien says it didn’t bother him to give the bike such a substantial revision — he’d ridden the Blue Racer for years, and he can always build another one.

“I had no problem disassembling my motorcycle to completely redo it. The customer pays? I redo what he wants.”

BMW R100 Scrambler

Below, we talk to Seb for the full details on this 70s-style BMW scrambler.

BMW R100 Scrambler: Builder Interview

BMW R100 Scrambler

• Did you have any design inspirations for the build?

I was inspired by enduro / cross motorcycles from the 70s. The project was focused on a scrambler style motorcycle with knobby tires, cross handlebars, and the customer wanted to be upright on the motorcycle because he has back problems. For the rest, “carte blanche” — I do what I want to do.

BMW R100 Scrambler

• What custom work was done to the bike?

We started off with my old motorbike, the blue BMW cafe racer, and almost the whole bike has been changed. BMW R100RT suspension, fork, brake, tires, original rear loop modified, seat, fuel tank from a Suzuki GT 125cc, handlebars from AMF 125 SXT, aluminium mudguard, lighting…etc.

BMW R100 Scrambler

• What’s it like to ride the completed bike ?

Well, having completely revised the bike, first as a cafe racer and now as a scrambler — the same bike and two different styles. Riding it is completely different!

BMW R100 Scrambler

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of ?

“Recycling.” Take a motorbike, redo it entirely, and the customer is happy with the result. Also, I’m proud that people often think that this motorcycle could have existed in the 70s. The satisfaction of a job well done.

BMW R100 Scrambler

Follow the Builder

More Seb’s Atelier Builds

Bernardet Scooter Custom Bernhonda: Bernardet x NX125 Hybrid Scooter! - Patina Perfection: Franco-Japanese Commuter Scooter from Seb’s Atelier x Objet Marcant…   In the late 1920s, three brothers — René, Robert, and Roger Bernardet — began manufacturing sidecars in a small workshop in Bourg-la-Reine south of […]
BMW R100 Scrambler Vineyard Chaser: BMW R100 by Seb’s Atelier - From Blue Racer to Black Scrambler…  Back in 2020, we featured a 1979 BMW R100RT “Blue Racer” from Sebastien Ledis of France’s Seb’s Atelier. Though Sebastien is a bit of a Ducati aficionado, the iconic […]
Honda CX500 Scrambler Dune Runner: Honda CX400 Scrambler - LE VAN VAN énervé — The Pissed-off Van Van… The Honda CX500, once derided as the “Plastic Maggot,” would go on to achieve cult status as a nearly unbreakable instrument of the two-wheeled professional: “It […]
Suzuki DR650 Street Tracker COCO: Suzuki DR650 Street Tracker by Seb’s Atelier - Introduced in 1990, the Suzuki DR650 has now been in production for more than 30 years, developing a reputation for bulletproof reliability and toughness in a range of climates and terrain.  The air/oil-cooled single-cylinder engine […]
BMW R100RT Cafe Racer Blue Racer: BMW R100 by Seb’s Atelier - The BMW R100 was the last of the airheads, with nearly 1000cc of flat-twin punch on tap and all the history of the legendary boxer engine concentrated into a single machine.  When Sebastien Ledis of […]
BMW R65 Restomod Modernized Boxer: BMW R65 “La Monolever” by Seb’s Atelier - The BMW R65 was the company’s middleweight airhead, built both in twin-shock format (1978-1984) and monolever (1985-1993). While it had the same-sized frame as the larger airheads, many of the supporting components were downsized — […]
Honda CX500 Cafe Racer The Low Rider: Honda CX500 by Seb’s Atelier - The Honda CX500 was a strange bird when introduced in 1978, sporting a host of innovative technology for the era. The most obvious feature was the transverse 80° V-twin that led some enthusiasts to term […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*