James lives on the island of Jersey, where his days are usually filled with work and building projects. But when he’s not running his groundwork company, he’s dreaming about riding across mountain roads.
In 2022, he signed up for the Malle Great Rally, a long and beautiful ride from Innsbruck to Monaco. For that kind of journey, he needed a bike that could handle the distance, the weather, and everything in between.
He wanted something powerful and modern but still with the look and soul of a custom build. The older BMW boxers didn’t have the rider aids or power he needed, so he started with a 2016 BMW R nineT Scrambler.
He bought the bike from Southampton, brought it back to Jersey to register, and then sent it to Poole so the team at Kevils Speed Shop could work their magic.
Kevils have built many R nineTs over the years, and each one carries a bit of their style. For this project, they aimed to create a simple, clean, and easy-to-ride bobber with a touch of café racer spirit.
They stripped the bike down, removed the airbox, and fitted DNA filters to help the engine breathe better. The battery was moved to a box under the tank to keep the middle of the bike open and tidy.
A Racefit titanium exhaust was added, one silencer on each side. It gives the bike a raw, deep sound that matches its look.
A Rapid Bike system fine-tunes the fuel delivery, while the servo unit for the exhaust was removed to keep things smooth and direct. The setup not only improves performance but also keeps the build light and responsive.
The R nineT Graphite rides on tubeless rims with Bridgestone tyres. The rear suspension was upgraded with a Wilbers shock for better handling and comfort. The bars were replaced with clip-ons, and a set of bar-end mirrors completes the front end.
The lighting setup is all LED, with a modern headlight, Motogadget bar-end indicators, and Rizoma rear lights that double as brake and tail lamps.
Kevils added crash bars, an oil cooler guard, and a sump guard for protection. The seat is their own solo conversion, covered in diamond-embossed, water resistant Alcantara.
Both front and rear fenders come with the build, so the setup can be adjusted to suit the rider. Every silver part was powder-coated black, giving the bike its dark graphite tone.
The finished machine looks compact, balanced, and full of attitude. It’s a proper custom build but still built to be ridden. James was thrilled when he saw it for the first time.
The bike had everything he wanted, with power, reliability, and that handmade touch that makes it feel personal. This BMW R nineT Graphite Bobber shows how good design and solid engineering can come together in one machine.
Built by: Kevils Speed Shop
Owner: James, Jersey
Base bike: 2016 BMW R nineT Scrambler
