Designing a movie-themed motorcycle is risky business. They usually turn out gaudy and gimmicky, with little appeal beyond the mere novelty of the idea. But this custom BMW R18 from Portugal’s Rusty Wrench Motorcycles bucks that trend spectacularly.
As is glaringly obvious from the backdrop pictured here, this R18 takes inspiration from the Hollywood blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. Rusty Wrench came up with the design in response to a national call for custom BMW R18 design pitches from BMW Motorrad Portugal. The winning entrant would have the opportunity to bring their concept to life, to represent Portugal at BMW’s international R18 Customizing Championship.
There was a catch though—the design had to be inspired by a movie. Rusty Wrench picked Top Gun: Maverick as a nod to BMW’s history in aeronautics, although it probably helped that Tom Cruise is a total motorcycle nut too. Rusty Wrench won the competition, and then faced the impossible mission of bringing their design to life.
Starting with a base model BMW R18, the crew stripped the monster boxer down to its frame and scrapped almost all of its bodywork. Only the stock side covers remain—the rest is a beguiling cocktail of hand-formed parts, sporting enough Top Gun cues to get the point across without being kitsch.
A handmade headlight nacelle sits up front, blending seamlessly into a pair of fork shrouds. The dramatically angular headlight comes from a KTM, but the tinted windscreen is a custom part. Hidden mounting brackets attach the bodywork to the BMW’s front end.
A full-length belly pan sits lower down, designed to mimic a fighter jet’s fuselage. Air scoops at the front and a row of domed fasteners on either side further emphasize the aeronautical theme.
Gone is the R18’s broad cruiser-style fuel tank. Rusty Wrench fabricated a one-off tank in its place, with knee indents that are ever-so-slightly reminiscent of the classic Yamaha XJR.
The bike’s silhouette is forward-heavy, tapering towards the waspish tail section. The custom-made unit sits on top of a stealthy subframe, bolted directly to OEM mounting points on the R18’s frame. An Alcantara cover adorns the seat, complete with eyelets that not only look cool but also offer access to the seat’s mounting hardware.
The whole arrangement looks like it’s been jacked up, but Rusty Wrench hasn’t touched the R18’s suspension. They’ve simply swapped the wheels out for a 21F/18R alloy set, taken from BMW’s range of Roland Sands-designed parts. And they’ve added custom foot controls, set higher and further back than before, to suit the bike’s increased seat height.
One big visual hit comes from the BMW’s unique exhaust system. Rusty Wrench built new headers out of stainless steel, routing them up and over the BMW’s gigantic pots and under the new tail section. Then they fabricated a pair of aluminum mufflers, with end caps that recall the afterburners found on fighter jets.
A new set of handlebars sit at the opposite end of the bike, mounted on Roland Sands risers and outfitted with Motogadget bar-ends. Rusty Wrench retained the OEM speedo, negating the need to mess with the R18’s modern wiring.
Despite the cinema and aeronautical influences, Rusty Wrench’s R18 also shows a strong affinity to luxury sports cars. The seat upholstery is one connection, but so is the bike’s ultra-stylish paint job, with sections of black and silver separated by subtle blue striping. Other stylish details include BMW x Roland Sands engine covers and a taillight that mimics a jet’s tail fin.
Rusty Wrench finished the build with a set of custom CNC-machined badges. The tank emblems commemorate BMW Motorrad’s 100th anniversary, while the engine wears a pair of ‘Maverick’ logos.
The difference between Rusty Wrench’s R18 and most ‘themed’ motorcycles is night and day. The bike is slick and cohesive, and would still make sense, aesthetically, if the Top Gun details were removed. Not to mention the fact that the revised ergonomics have likely made the R18 a lot more fun to ride.
Rusty Wrench Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by João Vasco
