As intended by BMW since its design phase, the R18 “big boxer” motorcycle has always been a “blank canvas” ready to be customized by its owner. To further showcase the R18’s customization versatility, BMW Motorrad is showcasing these 7 equally spectacular and individual creations by Polish master craftsmen.
BMW ZK Motors - BMW R18 Black Jack
Black as night, from crown to sole, the R18 Black Jack is presented by BMW Motorrad sales partner ZK Motors in Kielce. The customizers did not only use black lacquer but also applied black chrome extensively, which gives the R18 Black Jack a very special high-grade appeal. The list of such galvanically treated components is long and includes the headlight ring, speedometer surround, engine housing cover, handlebar weights, cylinder head covers, pushrod tubes, intake manifold trims, intake grille, air filter cover, handlebar clamps, wider beach bar handlebars, fuel filler cap, fuel filler trim element and the hanging rear view mirrors.
Small 16-inch wheels with big-sized tyres give the R18 Black Jack an elongated, low and masculine appearance. The thoroughly black look is further enhanced by a matt black side pipe-style exhaust system and high-grade milled elements. The cylinder head covers and the engine casing cover feature milling trim in Roland Sands design and the "Black Jack" emblem on the engine has also been elaborately milled from aluminium.
Other black parts such as hand levers, the front indicator lights and the indicator and rear lights recessed into the holder of the rear mudguard round off the harmonious design. The quilted single seat, the tinted headlight lens and the licence plate holder on the left also blend in with style. Two Black Jack cards on the rear mudguard are the icing on the cake.
BMW Dobrzanski Team Customs - BMW R18 Isle of Man
The famous Isle of Man, where the Tourist Trophy has been held since 1907 and where Georg "Schorsch" Meier won the Senior TT for BMW in 1939, inspired BMW Motorrad sales partner Dobrzanski Team Customs in Kraków to create the sporty BMW R18 Isle of Man.
The design of the BMW R18 Isle of Man evolved from the heritage of Georg Meier's victorious BMW factory racing machine, the BMW RS 255 Kompressor. Adorned with "Schorsch" Meier's starting number 49 this motorcycle ties in with the tradition of road racing and represents the history of the Isle of Man as a special place for motorcyclists and for the history of BMW Motorrad.
The "Isle of Man green metallic" paint finish, familiar from the BMW M4, defines the bike’s dynamic look and emphasises the love of speed and the affiliation to the world of exceptional BMW vehicles.
Liberty Motors Piaseczno – BMW R18 Liberty
Nine Hills Motorcycles in Chełmno is a renowned tradition-steeped Polish company, led by a true enthusiast - Paweł Stachura. His designs are recognised all over the world and the motorbikes have already triumphed on the world's best custom stages. As a partner of Liberty Motors Piaseczno this commissioned project based on the BMW R18 called Liberty includes handmade body components designed from scratch, such as the fuel tank, front and rear mudguards, seat bench, lamp trim with small LED headlight and handlebars.
Special features include the round instrument integrated into the tank centre tunnel, tank filler necks that are flush with the tank surface and can be opened under pressure, as well as exclusive leather components that are also handmade, such as seat upholstery and side pocket. For the chassis, in addition to a lowered and fully adjustable rear suspension and a slightly lowered fork, three-piece wheels from Rick's Motorcycles sized 8 x 18 inches at the rear and 3.5 x 21 inches at the front with 240/40-18 and 130/60-21 tyres respectively are used.
Numerous CNC-milled parts such as cylinder head covers or the specially designed oil cooler as well as brake callipers and footrests from Beringer tastefully complement the R18 Liberty, which is elaborately painted and featuring airbrush work. A short black FCR exhaust system rounds off the stylish look.
BMW Inchape Wrocêaw - BMW R18 Roadster
BMW and MINI sales partner Inchcape Wrocêaw in Wroclaw took its inspiration for designing the BMW R18 Roadster entirely from1920s and 1930s automotive engineering. The focus is on clear and straightforward lines and, together with a dash of Art Deco, ultimately led to a very clean and equally unique look for the R18 Roadster.
A completely newly developed hump seat bench with an additional fuel tank and "Monza Cap" filler neck helps give the rear-end R18 Roadster a very sporty appearance, which is complemented at the front by matching cockpit trim and special handlebars.
The longitudinal beading in the hump seat bench and fairing are style-defining design elements of this bike. This design language is taken up in the openwork trim elements on the sides of the tank and on the aerodynamically designed front mudguard, the front of which features the legendary BMW kidney grille harking back to BMW automotive construction.
BMW Smorawiński - BMW R18 Roar
BMW sales partner Smorawiński in Poznań had the 2019 R18 Concept study entirely in mind when creating his R18 Roar. In particular, the Smorawiński team focused on a very light-looking rear section. Harmoniously designed details such as the short rear mudguard and the swinging saddle with two coil springs make the bike look particularly light.
The extremely short, "silencerless" exhaust system in the side pipe style not only generates great sound but also adds to the light look of the rear section. Together with wire-spoke wheels and chrome brake callipers, the result is a very purist R18 that conveys a purist motorcycle feel. Roar!
BMW Inchcape Poznań - BMW R18 Speedy Gonzales
BMW sales partner Inchcape in Swadzim chose the fastest mouse in Mexico as the namesake for its BMW R18 customising creation. Voilà, the BMW R18 Speedy Gonzales. In fact, you can well imagine this customised BMW R18 on the highway in the northern Mexican desert, riding past huge cacti and nothing but a seemingly endless ribbon of asphalt ahead - similar to the adventures of the TV cartoon mouse.
Indeed, the BMW R18 Speedy Gonzales with an apehanger and the comfortable single seat seems made for riding along never-ending asphalt roads. Inspired by automobile construction of the 1920s and 1930s, the front and rear mudguards are powerful and curved and, together with the tank, side covers, headlamp cover and instrument housing, give the bike great presence together with its extraordinary paint finish - executed in blue-black with elaborate airbrush technique and filigree lines.
This bike is characterised by absolutely perfect craftsmanship and, together with the long fishtail rear silencers, is a real eye-catcher and feast for the eyes!
BMW Team Długołęka - BMW R18 The Great Wave
Together with UNIKAT Motorworks, BMW sales partner Team Długołęka initiated the BMW R18 The Great Wave. The leitmotif here: to modify the BMW R18 inspired by Japanese art painting and the Japanese style of bobber-style motorbikes. Its patinized paintwork makes you think that the R18 The Great Wave has been around for decades and has just been found in a barn.
This special paintwork technique was entrusted to the best artist in Poland - Łukasz Elbalenko. With reference to Japanese culture and art, the theme of the Great Wave in Kanagawa was chosen - one of the most famous works of art from Japan by Hokusai created around 1831. The Japanese bobber style features details such as the rear ducktail mudguard and the shortened frame rear section with a single seat covered in natural brown leather.
Sonorous sound is generated by short, handmade silencers with slotted copper-coloured end pieces and hexagonal cross-sections. You will also find the exclusive copper coating on the shaft drive, brake callipers and cylinder head covers. Finally, classic Shinko tyres with a very large cross-section and grooved tread give the R18 The Great Wave a particularly masculine look. Flat drag bar handlebars with genuine leather grips and personalised emblems on the engine round off the well-balanced look of the R18 The Great Wave.
