The BMW G/S was born out of success in the Paris-Dakar rally of the early 1980s. It has since gone on to be the best-selling adventure bike around the world. When the RnineT was launched in 2014, it was seen as a blank canvas for custom builders around the world and many have been turned into replicas of those early Paris-Dakar racers. None quite so well as this one, however.

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Isn’t it funny how some bikes are destined to remain the way they left the factory for their whole lives whereas others become canvasses for customisers to work their magic on?

When it first appeared, the BMW RnineT was one of those left-field diversions that some manufacturers are able to make against all their previous form. Despite the fact that BMW then produced variations on a theme with the Scrambler and Cafe Racer, many custom builders have taken the RnineT as a blank canvas and applied their own ideas to the platform.

One of the best we’ve seen for a while is this one posted on Facebook by Jörge Schwientek. It takes it inspiration not only from the 1980s Paris-Dakar R80 G/S rally bikes but also from the HP2 version of the GS that was produced between 2005 and 2008. That bike was relatively unsuccessful in terms of sales but has since become something of a cult bike, with examples selling for more now than they sold for originally. Using the engine from the R1200GS but substituting the Telelever front suspension with conventional forks, it weighed in at 53 lbs lighter than the GS on which it was based.

The RnineT you see in these pictures has been beautifully executed, with a stunning paint job on both the frame and the bodywork, echoing Marlboro cigarette sponsorship colours as well as incorporating the traditional BMW red/white/blue M-sport colours.

While the RnineT Scrambler was an off-road bike in name more than practicality, this one looks ready to take on the rough stuff with more than its fair share of ability. Whether it will ever see the dirt is another matter but it sure does turn heads.