The hit-making German custom shop WalzWerk enters the vintage enduro scene with their new X-Plorer series, based on the BMW R100GS.
WalzWerk is one of the most prolific custom shops on the scene. They’ve been in business for 35 years with over 1,000 builds to their name—including countless classic BMW boxers from their uber-popular Schizzo series. In fact, it would be more accurate to call them a boutique motorcycle manufacturer at this point.
WalzWerk’s latest offering breaks new ground while still retaining all the hallmarks that put the German outfit on the map. Based on the BMW R100GS, it marks the company’s foray into the world of bespoke neo-retro adventure bikes and the launch of another built-to-order range.
“Many of our Schizzo customers already have one, two, or even more bikes in their garages,” explains shop boss Marcus Walz, “and you can be sure that one of those bikes is a modern BMW GS. For years, these customers have been asking us to build an old GS from the 80s—ideally inspired by the famous Paris Dakar racers from that era—but with modern, or at least updated, techniques.”
“So for those who find the new BMW GS models too modern and not quite purist enough, but consider the older GS models too outdated from a technical standpoint, we’ve created the perfect motorcycle: the all-new WalzWerk X-Plorer. The X-Plorer blends the classic style of vintage BMW GS bikes with modern, high-quality components, without sacrificing the timeless charm that defines these iconic motorcycles.”
Marcus adds that WalzWerk chose the R100GS as a platform to build on because it’s the newest old GS that you can get (BMW offered it from 1987 to 1994). It also has a bigger motor than the older R80G/S, and it uses BMW’s more refined Paralever swingarm and final drive. Regardless, each X-Plorer build receives a full rebuild of the engine, transmission, suspension, and braking system.
WalzWerk offers the X-Plorer in two base configurations. The ‘Rally’ spec features a smaller headlight nacelle, while the ‘Raid’ spec retains the stock bike’s larger fairing, 26-liter fuel tank, and crash bars. From there, both versions are adorned with a smorgasbord of proprietary parts.
The BMW R100GS pictured here is the first X-Plorer Raid to roll out of WalzWerk’s workshop. Working from the inside out, the team rebuilt the motor with new cylinders, pistons, and cylinder heads, treating it to a ceramic-coated two-into-one exhaust system. Although they retained the stock capacity, the bike now makes 10 extra horses, bringing its output to a respectable 70 hp.
The transmission and final drive were overhauled, too, while the clutch was upgraded to a reinforced sport setup from Sachs.
Moving to the chassis, WalzWerk reinforced the main frame before bolting on one of their signature subframes. “It’s inspired by the rear frame of our Schizzo model, but it’s around 80 mm longer and 20 mm wider for a bit more comfort,” says Marcus.
“The seat height is also double the size of our Schizzo seat. With a unique gel-core technology, it’s absolutely suitable for long-distance rides. The seat is a two-piece unit, so you can take off the passenger pad to replace it with a luggage rack in just 10 seconds.”
The front and rear fenders are durable plastic items from the Italian off-road parts specialist Acerbis, but they’re not simple off-the-shelf items. Acerbis is manufacturing them specifically for the WalzWerk X-Plorer series, working from prototypes designed by Marcus and his crew. The rear fender accommodates a classically-styled rectangular taillight, giving the whole package a distinctly OEM vibe.
Long-time WalzWerk collaborator Touratech came to the party with a tailor-made suspension setup for the R100GS. The front forks are heavily upgraded with a special cartridge system and progressive springs, offering 200 mm of travel. A custom-built rear shock adds 180 mm of travel at the tail end of the bike, with a full range of adjustability that includes the ride height.
This X-Plorer keeps its 21” front wheel, but the 17” rear wheel has been swapped for a wider version. Both use BMW’s traditional spoked tubeless design. Potential clients can also spec the X-Plorer with an 18” rear wheel, and WalzWerk is currently working on a special drive shaft that can accommodate 200 mm of rear wheel travel.
Keen eyes will also notice that the front wheel now sports twin disc brakes—though Marcus warns that this is no easy modification, since the R100GS’s left fork lower doesn’t have tabs to bolt a brake caliper to. “You need to take a right-hand fork tube, machine it around the axle area to make it fit the left side, and modify the caliper bracket to make it fit. But the effort is worth the hours that go into it.”
The R100GS still uses a drum brake at the back, but WalzWerk offers the option to upgrade this to the rear disc brake from an R1150GS.
As we’ve come to expect from WalzWerk, this machine is an exercise in subtlety. Note how the stock square headlight has made way for a rally-esque twin light setup, augmented by a pair of PIAA fog-lights that sit on the crash bars. Tiny rubber-mounted LED turn signals sit at both ends.
A peek behind the tinted windshield reveals an exceptionally well-thought-out cockpit. A custom dash panel hosts a Daytona speedo with an integrated tacho, the ignition, and a smattering of well-labeled buttons. A Quad Lock smartphone mount sits dead center, complete with a vibration dampener and a wireless charging head.
Further back, burly enduro bars are fitted with Biltwell grips, Synto brake and clutch levers, and WalzWerk’s own aluminum switch blocks. The bike is finished off with a host of well-engineered details, including a clever left-hand side passenger peg bracket that also holds the muffler, and a burly bash plate.
The color scheme is a riff on classic BMW GS liveries, with a gentian blue frame and a mostly-black drivetrain. Best of all, the X-Plorer Raid weighs just 188 kilos [414.5 pounds] wet—a weight reduction of over 20 percent.
Prices for a hand-built WalzWerk X-Plorer start at €28,990 [about $33,659] for the Rally version and €29,990 [about $34,823] in Raid trim. That’s a fair amount more than the base price of a BMW R 1300 GS Adventure—but we know which one we’d pick.
WalzWerk Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram
