About
Roughchild Moto is the culmination of one man’s imagination. Long inspired by the sound, style and sheer magnetism of vintage BMW motorcycles, Robert Sabel was determined to reinvent the bikes with modern power, comfort, reliability and safety, without surrendering the iconic design aesthetics.
Launched in 2014, every Roughchild motorcycle begins with a prospective customer’s dream bike. Sable and a team of skilled mechanics and machinists at the company’s downtown Los Angeles headquarters and shop collaborate with each buyer to customize a donor BMW bike from the 1970s or 1980s, revered as the era of the legendary “Airhead,” into a singular one-of-a-kind motorcycle. “They can assemble an airhead with their eyes closed, and they know exactly what mods are ‘must dos,’” custom motorcycle publication BikeExif states.
“All the hardware used on the bikes is top of the line, from Brembo brakes to Motogadget speedometers,” men’s buying guide Gear Patrol writes. “All upgrades … improve upon the original high-quality German engineering. While they were stout and impressive machines in their day, the shop does an excellent job bringing them into the modern era.”
Despite the many custom modifications, each motorcycle stays true to the original vision. The end result is a vintage BMW bike rebuilt to today’s factory specs, with modern safety and performance components that exceed OEM standards. “Roughchild doesn’t cut corners, even if you ask them to,” Gear Patrol comments.
The company’s uncompromising care and accountability are evident in the branding of each motorcycle’s machined components, stamped with the Roughchild name, and its one-year warranty. “This high level of confidence in reliability is seldom seen in the world of vintage vehicles,” Petrolicious states. “Riders are emboldened to take long rides in remote locations without fearful consideration of the bike’s age.”
As Gear Patrol puts it, “Anyone who buys a Roughchild Moto machine likely has a lifetime of satisfaction to look forward to.”
Robert Sabel
Founder, and CEO
Hailing from London, from an early age Robert watched his father rebuild vintage Porsches in the family garage and race them at local tracks. His first memories are sense memories—the rumbling of engines, the smell of gasoline, and the surprising heft of a spark plug wrench. As a teenager, Robert bought his first motorcycle, igniting a lifelong love of biking. With a BA in Design from Southampton University, he started buying and restoring vintage cars in his 20s.
Robert met his now-wife Isabelle, a Los Angeles-based fashion stylist, at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010, and soon after relocated to LA. Having sold a dozen Porsche restorations in his first year, Robert met David Gooding, President and Founder of Gooding & Company, the acclaimed auction house. Given Robert’s knowledge of vintage Porsches, he was recruited to write for the company’s auction catalogue. Life and business were good, but something was missing. Upon acquiring an early Porsche 911 to restore, Robert was offered a 1970 air-cooled BMW R75/5 motorcycle to sweeten the deal.
Robert was captivated by the motorcycle’s symmetry, the gauges integrated into the headlight, the spoke wheels, the ergonomic hand controls, and the unmistakable jugs sticking out at each side. With engine problems and in need of a complete overhaul, he transformed it for maximum enjoyment and safety. On its first outing, at a stoplight in Hollywood, Sabel accepted an offer and sold his prized motorcycle.
Robert acquired other vintage BMW motorcycles and soon owned more bikes than cars. He sold his modest car collection and launched Roughchild in 2014 with confidence in his mission—“the passionate study and preservation of the world’s most respected motorcycles, optimizing their aesthetic appeal with a fresh perspective and modern techniques.” At the company’s LA shop today, Robert and team, boldly reimagine and remanufacture vintage BMW motorcycles.
Classic donor bikes are customized into modern machines with more speed, safety and reliability. Vintage visuals are preserved and enhanced. Most important of all is lasting quality and sustainability. In our disposable culture and throw-away society, decades-old bikes transform into forever escapades.
Since Southern California is the center of the motorcycle universe, the bikes attract deserved attention and respect. Clients include celebrities and CEO’s from around the world. Every Roughchild bike is a collaboration between buyer and builder, and every bike bespoke.
Robert is regularly invited to attend and participate in automotive events throughout the US. This year Roughchild was invited to display three bikes at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, and in August Robert spoke on a panel at Pebble Beach Concours Classic Car Forum, during Monterey Car Week. Most recently Roughchild displayed a bike at The Bridge in The Hamptons. ###
“I had an amazing night ride, this bike is a miracle.”
— Ryan Reynolds, Actor & Entrepreneur
“Combining a rugged scrambler aesthetic with the purity of a café racer, Roughchild builds some of the most alluring custom BMW motorcycles in the world.”
— Robert Spangle, The Rake
“Roughchild can build a beautifully restored BMW motorcycle to the exact specs
of the riders request.”
— Tommy Kerns, Butterscotch
“It’s incredibly charming, my new favorite motorcycle.”
— Brad Pitt, Actor & Producer
