Speed Read barrels towards the end of the year with a brooding Sportster street tracker that has one heck of a backstory. We also feature two very different adventure-oriented BMWs—a custom BMW R 12 nineT from Australia, and a beastly BMW R 1300 GS Adventure from Switzerland.
Harley-Davidson Sportster by FXR Division
We love a good redemption arc, and this 2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 has a backstory filled with both tragedy and triumph. The owner, Brad, bought the bike when he was 20 years old, before his life was rocked by drug addiction and the slow downward spiral that inevitably catches up with that lifestyle. The Harley was eventually impounded and repossessed before it disappeared altogether.
Brad spent the next few years digging himself out of that hole, slowly rebuilding his life to where it was before. He never forgot about his Sportster, and clung to the idea of one day getting it back—until, one day, he was invited to a friend’s house, only to find it sitting there in the garage.
It turns out that Brad’s friends and a retired detective had decided to track down the bike. A woman had owned the Sporty for the last 15 years and had agreed to sell it. It was in its original condition, which meant it was probably looking a little tired, so Brad decided to do something special with his old hog.
Through a mutual friend, Brad found Big Chris Staab and Justin Coleman at FXR Division, who agreed to take on this project. Being a fan of dirt bikes and off-road riding, Brad wanted to give his Sporty a street tracker vibe that would put the ‘sport’ back in Sportster.
First up was the suspension, with Öhlins FF523 inverted forks suspending the front end and all-black Öhlins shocks propping up the rear. Brad opted for cast wheels and flat track rubber, so custom wheel spacers were fabricated to get everything to fit. Braking was done by Rebuffini calipers and Lyndall discs, with the rear brake setup designed and built in collaboration with TPJ Concepts.
A Motogadget mo.unit now runs the electronics, piping information through to a Motogadget motoscope mini speedo, mounted on the handlebar clamps. High bend bars were installed, along with new controls, switches, and a fresh set of ODI Vans grips. A flat track-inspired front number plate houses a pair of rectangular LED projector headlights.
An aftermarket Sporty peanut tank was fitted with a flush-mount fuel cap, with Brad giving a piece of the original tank to the lady who owned the bike before he got it back. A flat track seat unit was installed and covered in black leather, sitting above a fully rebuilt rear end.
The engine was torn down and rebuilt with a 1,200 cc S&S Cycle kit, which included a balanced flywheel and a list of goodies installed by Danny Wilson at MotorWitch Industries. A sinuous, high-mount stainless steel exhaust was made by Gallop, adding a nice contrast to the otherwise muted theme.
This Sportster’s backstory is outshone only by its finishes. The bodywork was painted by Andy Meeh at Flying Iron Designs, who absolutely nailed it. The black is set off spectacularly against the heavy metallic silver flake accents, which highlight the lines of the bike.
Bravo, Brad. Bravo. [Source]
BMW R 12 nineT by Ellaspede
The team at Ellaspede was hard at work in their Brisbane workshop when an email from BMW Motorrad Australia landed in their inbox. Along with heavy hitters Deus ex Machina and Engineered to Slide, Ellaspede had been invited to create their interpretation of the then-upcoming BMW R 12 G/S, using the R 12 nineT as a donor.
With a brand new BMW R 12 nineT delivered to the workshop, the gang quickly decided that the build should be capable on- and off-road, be able to carry luggage for weekend trips, and still be able to function as a perfect daily commuter. For simplicity’s sake, the OEM TFT display, key, and fuel cap remained in place, but a heavy dose of Ellaspede, Dakar rally, and traditional BMW GS style was applied around them.
The centerpiece of the bike is the custom-made aluminum tank. It took a ton of work, including re-routing the electronics and redesigning the airbox to house a new battery, as the OEM battery was located under the tank. The new tank sits lower, with the factory filler cap nestled in a race-inspired, CNC-machined aluminum surround bearing the Ellaspede logo.
Stainless steel fork covers were fabricated and powder-coated black, protecting the forks from the dirt thrown around by the Metzeler Karoo 4 tires. The short front fender was assembled from laser-cut steel, as was the small bikini fairing.
New CNC-machined side covers and a custom-made tail section and seat were added too. An Ellaspede badge at the back doubles as a taillight, and there are luggage tie downs on either side, ready to accept panniers. Ingeniously, the mounting plate on the top of the tail can also be swapped out for a larger one when more luggage is required.
From the new tank to the practical tail section and everything in-between, Ellaspede nailed the brief. The color scheme—a white wrinkle coat with retina-searing red details—is brilliantly loud in a subtle way, and the overall design is exactly what we’ve come to expect from one of Australia’s best custom shops.
If you like what you see and have an R 12 nineT of your own, then you’ll be pleased to know that Ellaspede is currently working on a kit. Tempted? [Ellaspede]
BMW R 1300 GS Adventure by VTR Motorrad
The BMW R 1300 GS is a rather large motorcycle, which makes the range-topping R 1300 GS Adventure variant downright huge. Its 7.9-gallon fuel tank is almost as wide as its handlebars, with the flat top and slab-like sides cutting a silhouette more akin to an SUV than an off-road motorcycle.
The team at VTR Customs knew all of this, but they still set their sights on creating a stripped-down version of BMW’s newest GS Adventure.
Starting at the back, the Swiss powerhouse began by stripping the back end down to the bare essentials. Complete with Kellermann Atto three-in-one taillights, VTR is developing this prototype rear end specifically for the R 1300 GS.
Heidenau K60 Ranger off-road tires were spooned onto the gorgeous GS wheels, and a blacked-out muffler from SC-Project was fitted. The seat was recovered in Alcantara and leather, with the central section inspired by the hexagonal stitching pattern found in the Lamborghini Urus.
Up front, VTR fitted a shortened front fender and a tiny tinted windscreen, but the factory windscreen’s electronic height adjuster was left in place. The OEM mirrors, crash bars, bash plate, and cantilevered rear fender were all deleted to save weight. The hand-guards were removed to reduce visual bulk, and the upper and lower fork clamps and fuel cap were powder-coated black.
All the plastic parts were refinished in satin matte black—not a quick job on a bike with acres of the stuff. The radiator covers were painted to match, and then the bodywork was dusted in Sahara green and yellow, with a smattering of sponsor decals.
While the stock BMW R 1300 GS isn’t in any danger of being called beautiful, VTR’s interpretation of it has a different sort of presence. It leans into the bike’s inherent pseudo-futuristic styling and utilitarian build, amplifying its best bits while slimming it down a smidgen.
It’s a little mad and very unapologetic, and we dig it. [VTR Customs]
