Love ’em or hate ’em, BMW?s GS behemoths have dominated the ADV market for almost four decades now. Five years ago, the 500,000th GS rolled off the Berlin production line, and we?re betting it won?t be long before the go-anywhere boxer hits the million mark.
We don?t see many GS customs, though. These machines are a triumph of function over form, and most owners like it that way.

So this R100GS is something of a rarity?and its backstory is rather strange too.
It belongs to Hasselblad Master photographer and bike builder Gregor Halenda, who is best known for an amazing KTM 2-wheel-drive motorcycle he collaborated on for the apparel brand REV?IT!

It some respects this is a cautionary tale about buying a project bike started by someone else. When the R100 GS arrived in Gregor?s workshop in Portland, Oregon, it didn?t take long for problems to surface. ?While the fabrication was great on the tanks, the overall mechanical condition was horrible,? says Gregor.

?The bike burned a quart of oil every 100 miles. It was down on power, and it wouldn?t run in the mornings because the petcocks were plumbing parts that let water and debris into the carbs.?
?I don?t know why the engine was in such bad shape, and maybe the previous owner didn?t either.?

Gregor didn?t complain because he considered this bike to be a test bed for his next build. He?s replaced everything except the three custom tanks?the rear is in a monocoque subframe?the frame, and the exhaust.
Wh...