They say once you experience German engineering, you never go back. And this is certainly true of BMW Motorrad’s legendary motorcycles. BMWs feature unique flat-twin boxer engines, unmistakable style, and renowned mechanics that must live up to Berlin-level performance standards.
Launched in 1923, BMW has long been lauded for its line of airhead engines (1969–1995). The well-known R nineT and R80 series of Beemers (among others) have become the basis for many masterful builds covered on these pages—and the newer R18 is heading down the same track.
As the founder of Spain’s 72 Cycles Performance, and one-half of the collaborative outfit 72 HKG Performance, Antonio Rodriguez has developed an affinity for custom BMWs. So when he recently moved his operation to the US, choosing a BMW R100R café racer as his first project on fresh soil was a no-brainer. “After building more…
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When Bryan Fuller learned that BMW had secretly sent prototype 1,800 cc engines to a handful of custom builders ahead of the BMW R18’s release, he went straight into imagination mode. The founder of Fuller Moto couldn’t get the big boxer out of his mind—so when he was finally approached to build a custom R18,…
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The last time BMW Motorrad released a 450 cc dirt bike, it was a wild off-roader that borrowed tech from the marque’s latest acquisition at the time, Husqvarna. The newly minted BMW Concept F 450 GS is nothing like that bike. Unveiled just as EICMA is about to kick off in Milan, the “near-production-ready” BMW…
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The best custom motorcycles aren’t always the ones that scream the loudest. Some captivate with simplicity, inviting a closer look that reveals a visually enticing, perfectly proportioned, and tastefully upgraded machine. Mastering all of these elements takes years. This frosty BMW R80 scrambler ticks all of those boxes. Remarkably, it’s Tomas Janicek’s first custom motorcycle—but…
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Classic motorcycles attain desirability for any number of reasons, but every once in a while we come across one that checks every…
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Building a café racer with an older motorcycle usually involves two phases; getting the bike running, and customizing it. And if the…
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Batman swooped onto the pages of DC Comics 85 years ago, but it would take 19 years for the Caped Crusader to…
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The new BMW F900GS has only just hit the scene, and VTR Customs has already got their grubby paws on it. Other…
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As an established fabricator, Wido Veldkamp’s business involves more than just building custom motorcycles. His shop, WiMoto, gets just as many orders…
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The name of Kengo Kimura’s workshop, Heiwa, means ‘peace’ in Japanese, and his logo depicts a flying pigeon. Those sound like random…
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An outlandish new creation from Bandit9 rolls onto our pages this week, followed by a BMW K100RS from the heart of Bavaria,…
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Can-Am’s hotly anticipated electric motorcycles—the Can-Am Origin and Pulse—finally broke cover this week. Meanwhile, WalzWerk’s ‘Schizzo’ series of BMW boxers continues to…
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