Dirk Oehlerking’s name has become synonymous with cosmic art deco machines that wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery. But the German custom bike maestro also knows how to build everyday motorcycles that stun with their simple elegance. He’s just used that approach on a classic BMW R80 boxer, turning it into an ISDT-inspired scrambler for the streets.
Dirk cooked up the idea while attending the uber-popular BMW Motorrad Days event. BMW was exhibiting a collection of factory race bikes that were successful in the International Six Days Trial in the late 70s, and Dirk fell in love with the aesthetic. But rather than build a dedicated enduro machine, he fancied the idea of a daily runner with vintage ISDT style.

As it so happens, Dirk had the perfect donor bike sitting in storage; a 1976 BMW R80/7. So he hauled it into the Kingston Custom workshop, stripped it down to just its frame and engine, and started visualizing the final product. The R80/7’s 18? spoked rear wheel fit the bill, but Dirk needed a taller arrangement up front. So he grafted on the forks and 21? front wheel from a 1984 BMW R80G/S, then slapped on a set of Continental TKC80 dual-sport tires. A pair of new YSS shocks prop up the rear.

Since the idea was to maintain the donor bike’s vintage appeal, Dirk shied away from modding the frame and subframe in any way. He even kept the original tool compartment?along with the OEM tire pump that lives inside the main frame tube...