Boss Level: A BMW R100 Café Racer with carbon leaf suspension

Jeremy Duchampt is a master at building stylish café racers – a fact that he has proven time and again. However, the owner of the French manufacturer Jerem Motorcycles has taken a big step forward with his latest project. This carbon-clad BMW R100 Café Racer not only looks razor-sharp, but also features a host of modern components and a completely unique rear suspension system.

Jérémie knew from the start that he had to pull out all the stops on this build. His client was French boutique race car manufacturer Quarkus Automobiles, so anything he came up with had to be haute couture rather than ready-to-wear.

Jerem Motorcycles completely redesigned the boxer engine and carburetors of the 1982 BMW R100RT, replacing the airbox with a carbon fiber battery box and installing carbon fiber cylinder head covers. The air head now inhales through a pair of DNA pod filters and exhales through custom exhaust manifolds that flow into a Yoshimura muffler under the seat.

All wiring is fresh and now runs through a Motogadget ECU with keyless ignition. A Solise lithium battery powers the system.

Next, Jérémie turned his attention to the chassis, where things got a little crazy. This classic boxer now sports a smorgasbord of modern R nineT parts at both ends – starting with the upside-down fork, 17-inch front wheel and dual Brembo disc brakes. A sturdy, CNC-machined triple clamp sits on top of the fork, while a steering damper provides control.

The nineT’s swingarm and final drive operate at the rear, are wrapped in a layer of carbon fiber and connected to the classic drivetrain via a tailor-made linkage. Jérémie also transplanted the nineT’s 17-inch rear wheel and single disc brake, then added a rear wheel cover and swingarm-mounted license plate bracket.

Careful eyes will notice that there is no traditional rear shock absorber. Instead, the rear of the R100 is suspended from the bottom of the bike via a springless shock with a series of carbon fiber leaf springs. The system was developed by Quarkus using carbon components from Motion Engineering and machined parts from USV Racing

The carbon fiber theme continues with unwavering commitment in the body. The slim front fascia is a work of art, perfectly enclosing an LED headlight at the front and flanking the fuel tank to create a cohesive design at the rear. It even has the aero wings from a Ducati Panigale V4 – which, while ineffective at the speeds a 1980s boxer is capable of, look pretty darn cool.

In order not to lose the classic shape of the R-Series fuel tank, Jérémie simply wrapped the OEM unit in a layer of carbon fiber. The tail section is made of full carbon and is perfectly shaped to enclose the Yoshi silencer at the rear. The seat pad is more padded than most café racers and features luxurious upholstery from Yaya Brush Celery, Jerem Motorcycles’ preferred upholsterer.

Subtle frame modifications tie everything together; The subframe has been trimmed and the tabs removed, and the fuel tank now sits slightly higher than before. A handcrafted carbon fiber belly cup adds a further sporty touch.

Behind the fairing are new clip-ons, equipped with Rizoma grips and Motogadget indicators at the end of the handlebars. Also present are Brembo master cylinders, push-button switches and a custom dashboard that includes a pair of Daytona dials. Other add-ons include a Monza fuel cap, Tarozzi rear controls, and Motogadget indicators and taillights.

Too much carbon fiber can quickly look gaudy, but the BMW R100 Café Racer from Jerem Motorcycles manages to avoid that label with a variety of tasteful finishes.

The carbon parts feature delicate gold pinstripes that cleverly run from the fairing over the tank to the rear. White accents provide contrast, with everything covered in a sturdy, glossy clear layer. Jérémie chose gold for the rims, black for the wheel hubs and chrome for the spokes.

But the cleverest detail is the color Jérémie chose for the frame. Instead of opting for a traditional black option, he opted for a metallic gray epoxy paint. It’s a subtle detail, but it sets off the rest of the paint beautifully.

The gold accents earned the BMW the nickname “GoldenEye”, named after the 1995 James Bond film. This gives us an unusual John Player Special atmosphere – especially with the JMQ motif on the fairing (which is for Jerem Motorcycles Quarkus is available).

Whatever the case, this immaculate BMW R100 Café Racer is solid proof that Jerem Motorcycles is at the top of its game.

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