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.
Switching classic cars to electric power is becoming almost commonplace. There are companies and kits that can electrify everything from old Land Rovers to Rolls-Royces. Ford is getting in on the game, offering the Mustang Mach E GT motor as a ‘crate’ engine. And if you have the cash to spare, Jaguar’s own restoration department…
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In the mid 90s, the K1100 RS sat at the top of the BMW range. It was the sport tourer par excellence, at home on the autobahns and interstates. A fully-loaded RS would be nudging 600 pounds on the scales, but that mattered less than its ability to cruise at triple-digit speeds all day long.…
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You don’t often see custom shops collaborating. But as they say, a rising tide lifts all ships—and a joint venture between two leading builders from the Netherlands has resulted in this wild café racer concept based on the BMW R9T. If you’ve been riding along with Bike EXIF for a while, you’ll likely know one…
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When a workshop focuses very tightly on one model of bike, it’s usually a good thing. They get to know what to modify, and what to leave alone. And where to get the biggest bang for the buck. That’s the philosophy of the Brazilian shop Retrorides by Lourenço. Founded by brothers Gustavo and Rodrigo Lourenço…
Read more »If there’s anything we like better than discovering a new builder, it’s discovering a young builder with potentially decades of work ahead…
Read more »The custom motorcycle scene truly is a global village. We’ve featured bikes from Indonesia and Japan this week—but today we’re heading south,…
Read more »You never know what to expect from TooHard Motor Co. A few months ago, the Spanish garage wowed us with a stunning…
Read more »Motorcycle historian Paul d’Orléans takes a deep dive for Iron & Air into the uneasy but essentially productive relationship between the modern-day…
Read more »Everyone knows the story of the BMW R80 G/S. It’s the bike that ignited the dual sport market, and created ripples that…
Read more »One hallmark of a good custom builder, is the ability to put a fresh spin on a motorcycle that’s been customized a…
Read more »How many custom shops have built over a hundred bikes? A tiny handful. But the BMW R80 RT we’re looking at here…
Read more »It’s all about racing lines this week. We kick off with a BMW K-series café racer, followed by a classy Moto Guzzi…
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