The BMW R nineT City G/S is a tricky capsule to swallow. From a styling standpoint, we completely get it; the unique BMW R80G/S was iconic, and one of many few bikes to ever actually pull off a crimson seat. Many riders give it credit score for kickstarting the whole journey driving style—and whereas there’s some debate available there, there’s no denying the road cred of an unique Paris Dakar G/S.
Sadly, the trendy BMW R nineT City G/S is a G/S in title solely. Its 19” entrance wheel helps—but it surely has about as a lot enterprise off pavement as some other 500 pound road bike with extraordinarily restricted (and delicate) suspension. And that’s a disgrace, as a result of, as any BMW boxer fan will let you know, it’s constructed round one of the crucial satisfying engines within the historical past of motorcycling.
The oldsters at Monduke Moto perceive this higher than most. Because the customized construct division of the manufacturing firm, Monduke Productions, they’ve already transformed 4 City G/Ses into off-road-worthy scramblers. Their newest is dubbed ‘Candy Caroline,’ and it’s the sweetest one thus far.
“I traveled to Africa on a bike for the primary time again in 2003,” say founding associate, Dani Rodriguez. “It was a bunch of seven pals, all driving these large BMW R1150GSes, and we lined practically 2,000 km within the Atlas and Sahara. On that journey I fell in love with the Atlas mountain tracks, the silence and lightweight of the desert, and the way agile and versatile these large and heavy BMWs may be.”
Within the years that adopted, Dani’s obsession with Africa solely festered. He joined Gasoline Bikes on eight consecutive runs of their ‘Scram Africa’ journey—an journey tour for contemporary scramblers and customized builds solely. With every journey he realized extra about what made for a practical off-road customized, and the way to flip a heavy manufacturing unit ‘scrambler’ into a correct instrument for the open desert.
Then in 2019, lightning struck. Dani discovered himself with the chance to create his personal journey journey by the Sahara, and together with the challenge got here commissions to construct 5 off-road bikes for patrons on the experience. Of these 5 bikes, two of the donors occurred to be BMW’s R nineT City G/S—and thus Monduke Moto’s distinctive area of interest was born.
They’ve developed a profitable method for the platform at this level; swap out the lackluster entrance finish for a set of lengthy journey forks, rework the manufacturing unit Sachs rear shock, and lace up a set of correct 21F/18R enduro wheels that may take a beating off-road.
This specific construct makes use of a set of inverted Marzocchi forks, customized tuned by the oldsters at TNT Suspensiones out of Barcelona. They greater than double the unique suspension journey to a whopping 11” of fully-adjustable bliss. The wheels are additionally significantly fascinating—Monduke retained the unique BMW cross-spoke hubs, however laced them as much as a set of conventional Excel Takasago wheels.
This allowed the bike to retain its manufacturing unit ABS, but in addition gave ol’ Caroline a correct choice of off-road rubber to select from—together with the MotoZ Tractionator Journey tires (and heavy responsibility Michelin tubes) presently on the bike.
From there, this off-road construct actually took on a lifetime of its personal, with Monduke doubling down on the City G/S’s retro roots.
The 24 liter [6,34 gallon] tank, as an example, was pulled from an R75/5 police bike and modified to suit the nineT body. You’ll discover it nonetheless wears its tank-mounted utility field, which Monduke says is totally practical, and nonetheless makes use of the unique sq. key.
Apparently sufficient, Monduke additionally saved the unique twin petcock setup on the gas tank intact. This meant painstakingly relocating the manufacturing unit gas pump and filter to outdoors the tank—however contemplating how effectively the classic metallic pulls this construct collectively, we’re glad they put the additional work in. (That further gas additionally turns out to be useful for lengthy stretches of desert.)
The brilliant crimson seat was changed with a chunkier association, with white leather-based and tan Alcantara upholstery. An elastomeric gel topper was added as effectively, for lengthy days within the saddle. Further creature comforts embrace 40 mm bar risers from Wunderlich, much-improved Excessive Sider Montana mirrors, and Rallye low foot pegs.
If you happen to comply with Monduke’s staff on social media, you’ll additionally know that they don’t simply construct these bikes for off-road use, they really take them out and get them soiled. To that finish, Monduke added an additional contact of safety as effectively through an SW Motech skid plate, folding gear levers, and a set of crash guards from Unit Storage.
Additionally they changed the City G/S’s manufacturing unit air field with a customized made unit original after the unique R80G/S. Dani says that accessing the OEM filter requires disassembling half of the bike, which doesn’t bode effectively for the frequent cleanings required of desert rigs. This new unit merely requires eradicating two clips, which may be executed simply by hand with none instruments.
Ending touches right here embrace a set of Motogadget Blaze flip indicators (cleverly tucked into the radiator shrouds), customized made fenders and fender helps, and a classic NOS OSSA tail tidy, full with a license plate holder and taillight meeting.
And, as a result of no boxer could be full with out that trademark ‘offended chainsaw’ soundtrack, a full titanium Akrapovič exhaust system was bolted up as effectively. It’s been by a number of warmth cycles already and it appears completely magnificent—as does Candy Caroline’s white and orange livery.
A BMW R nineT City G/S constructed for the Sahara desert… the irony is simply too good. Who says you may’t train a brand new canine outdated tips?
Monduke Productions | Monduke Moto Instagram | Pictures by Andrea Caredda on location at Mud’n Sardinia
