Many of the best projects start as hobbies, and things like this happen Ben Norton, who was born in Zimbabwe but now lives in England. By thinking of the dirt roads of the southern African country, he was inspired to do so making a dirt bike that’s as light for racing across desert landscapes as it is practicalbut also fun to use.

Ben explained that this motorbike is a mix between the old and the new, the best technology from the latest and the old, but still maintains the character of a trail bike and respecting BMW’s off-road heritage. The motorcycle has the name BMW R100X, where the X is a nod to other BMW models, ie G450X, and this is because the model is packed with new technologies, such as R100X.

Personalization and re-engineering are the hallmarks of the R100X

The materials used and the processes used give a vintage impression to each of its components which makes this bike a unique product. The secret to the result is Ben’s call, which by day he is the chief engineer of a Formula 1 team and then in the evening you can relax in your garage doing what you love most.

Ben used the BMW R80R as a base to build his own model, he kept the engine block, transmission chassis and frame parts but looked at the rest, these were taken from different models and even modified so that they fit the R100X perfectly.

Ben thought of starting with something simpler, but things got more complex as time went on, he used the 1,000cc kit from siebenrock and added the ignition system and alternator Silent hectic programmable drive and starter motor originating from the Toyota Denso, from which Ben decided to design his own aluminum timing and front cowl.

He gets help from his best friend Fredrick Larsson, thanks to his intervention he was able to reduce the weight of the machine to almost 4 kg and was able to make room for the front wheels. Those who are fans of motorbikes and BMWs will surely know the engine from the photos it has an upward slanted designthe reason is to increase wheel travel and increase ground clearance.

In this section we talk about reengineering, and that is, Ben has modified or created unique early pieces for this reason, such as the oil pan and bash plate, which thanks to the new design offer more ground clearance and fit perfectly into the design. Speaking of more new parts, the transmission inside is also new, as are the K&N filters, which are on a special mounting plate.

We can say that This BMW R100X dirt bike is perfect for adventuring on dirt roads and having fun every Sunday. It has bodywork that is of course common, but what matters is the operation, and it’s done so well, giving it an impression of absolute solidity.