Photo: Mandrill Garage via Pipeburn
As one of the most prolific custom motorcycle shops in China, Mandrill Garage has gained worldwide recognition over the years. That’s because Luo Hao and his team know what it takes to build a world-class custom bike, something we’ve seen them do on countless occasions. For the project shown above, they took the venerated R nineT platform and transformed it into a capable dual-sport.
It all started with a Pure variant of the BMW range, which was put on the workbench and promptly stripped of all the elements that would no longer be needed. The subframe was rebuilt and reinforced, now supporting an aluminum rack and a bespoke seat with room for one. We see a small tail unit under the alloy rack, complete with powerful LEDs to brightly illuminate the rear.
A swingarm-mounted trellis bracket keeps the license plate low, while the boxer-twin engine is kept safe thanks to a custom skid plate and beefy crash bars. The R nineT’s stock fuel tank has been retained, but there’s more custom goodness to admire up front. On one side, you’ve got that new fairing and its yellow windshield.
The front fairing houses a high-quality LED headlight from Baja Designs, which is aided in its lighting duties by two auxiliary lights. One of these is located on the left crash bar and the other occupies the cockpit area on the right. We notice a tall, sharp fender under the new fairing, but there is also a secondary fender further down.
Stepping back into the cockpit for a moment, you’ll find a cross-braced handlebar paired with protective handguards. A beefy pair of custom-made radiator covers were thrown in just for good measure. Luo and his team wanted this Beemer to rip through the dirt like its appearance suggested, so they had to do something about its road-focused suspension.
Where once there were OEM forks, we now see retro-styled aftermarket alternatives from Gears Racing. These bad boys offer up to 100 millimeters (four inches) of additional travel, allowing the R nineT to handle rough terrain without much effort. In the footwear department, there are custom billet wheel hubs, stainless steel spokes, and new rims wrapped in Michelin Anakee Wild knobbies.
Mandrill Garage left the champ’s engine untouched inside, only replacing the standard exhaust with a high-quality titanium unit. CNC-milled serrated footpegs were also added for added off-road prowess. Last but not least, this dual-sport nineT features a bold color scheme that’s sure to get you noticed wherever you go, combining yellow, black, and white in the coolest way possible.