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 quite a few masterful builds covered on these pages.
In the lore of motorcycle racing, Battle of The Twins has few equals. First staged in the US at Daytona in 1981, the 50-mile series has spawned many epic duels—and spurred the development of the legendary Britten V1000. The ripples from those thunderous early races are still felt today, as evidenced by this incredible BMW…
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The BMW K1600 B is both odd and magnificent. Odd, because the ‘B’ stands for ‘Bagger,’ when it’s really just a low-slung variation of the brand’s popular K1600 GTL tourer. Magnificent, because it’s a totally bananas ride. Powering it is a 1,649 cc inline-six, which makes 160 hp and absolutely howls at full chat. It…
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We don’t see much custom work from the Baltic state of Lithuania. But judging by what we have seen, we suspect that the Lithuanian scene is underground rather than small. Case in point: this brutal BMW K1100 cafe racer. It’s the work of Vilnius Moto House, who are based in, you guessed it, Vilnius—the beautiful…
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The best thing about the Japanese custom scene is that it defies all conventions. Stroll around the annual Mooneyes show for example, and sure, you’ll see plenty of choppers—but you’ll also see another realm of genre-bending machinery. So while the rest of us argue about the differences between café racers and street trackers, Japan’s top…
Read more »Ironwood Custom Motorcycles get frequent requests for their signature R-Series BMW bobbers. But when a regular client rolled in with a unique…
Read more »There’s a reason we don’t see many BMW K-series customs, and it’s because they’re tough to work with. The K is physically…
Read more »Not one but two incredible BMW builds, plus a wild Honda dual sport scooter, a rare Egli-Triumph track bike, and a muscular…
Read more »There’s a mystical connection between music and motorcycles that isn’t explored nearly enough. BMW Motorrad recognizes that—and hosts the Pure&Crafted festival each…
Read more »The post-War R51/3 is one of the all-time classic motorcycles, and instantly recognizable as a BMW—complete with early boxer engine and ‘plunger’…
Read more »Custom motorcycles are often criticized for putting aesthetics over functionality. But performance is still at the top of the list for builders…
Read more »Quality over quantity this week, with four rather than five new builds: two Beemers, and two Triumphs. All are surprisingly practical, finely…
Read more »There’s no denying the BMW R nineT’s hit status. It’s fun to ride, comes in six great flavors, and lends itself well…
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