BMW Celebrates a Century with the Spectacularly Transformed 'R18 The Crown' Motorcycle

Marking its 100th anniversary with a memorable tribute, BMW Motorrad rolls out an extraordinary custom bike, the 'R18 The Crown'. This sophisticated machine is the result of BMW occasionally lending their motorcycles to renowned customizers, often leading to creations that are impressive, but none quite as artistic as this latest one.

Dirk Oehlerking of Kingston Customs, known for his unique motorcycle builds over the last three decades in Germany's Ruhr region, has designed the bike. Unveiled at the BMW Motorrad Days in Berlin, Oehlerking describes 'R18 The Crown' as the "essence of his creations to date."

The customization process started with a new BMW R18, which was stripped down by Oehlerking. The vision was to create a design that looked powerful, elegant, fast, and innovative. Using hard foam and cardboard, he shaped the bike's bodywork to meet his vision.

As expected, the customization process necessitated numerous modifications. The front forks were replaced with a double-sided swinging arm featuring a central suspension strut. Handcrafted from two-millimeter-thick aluminum sheet metal, the eight-liter fuel tank and the bodywork maintain a minimalistic form. The bike's seat, made from the same aluminum material, has been upholstered in genuine leather.

Customization also extended to the exhaust piping, crafted from stainless steel. However, a remarkable number of components were kept original from BMW. The stock boxer engine was retained, and so was the rear suspension, the headlight, and various instruments, switchgear, and footrest from the original motorcycle.

The final touch on this remarkable bike was a Champagne Platinum paint job with mother-of-pearl details. Pinstriping and BMW logos topped with Kingston Custom's crown signified the final embellishments on this magnificent machine.