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.
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 conceivable box—in this case—the BMW RS M255 Kompressor. At its core, we’re talking about a Grand Prix-winning motorcycle of staggering mechanical specification—designed with lightweight magnesium hubs and engine cases, and a vane-type supercharger…
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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 bike is really beaten up, the first phase can be the hardest—especially if the engine is too far gone. Marshall Hewitt had a novel approach to this particular challenge. This ex-police 1991 BMW…
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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 debut his first Batcycle. Batman and his myriad motorcycles have captured our imaginations since; just think of how many times you’ve heard the phrase “That looks like something Batman would ride.” That exact…
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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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Eight years ago, Rough Crafts knocked us off our feet with their first-ever custom BMW R nineT. The Taiwanese superstar custom shop…
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Despite what the futurists say, an all-electric motorcycle future is still far off. For motorcyclists to adopt electric mobility en masse, battery-powered…
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Although the BMW R nineT was originally designed as a throwback to classic BMW boxers, it’s always had a modern edge. That…
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