BMW Motorrad have been sharing custom R 18 builds over the last couple of years. They’re starting off this year with another, this time from Kingston Custom in Hanover, Germany. The resulting custom bike has been dubbed the “Spirit of Passion” by its creator, Dirk Oehlerking.
The Spirit of Passion features handmade bodywork, paintwork and has modified parts and accessories, but the suspension and fuel tank are original. The frame and 1.8-litre boxer has also been kept stock.
The overall theme follows classic art deco styling, with the classic 1950s tall kidney grille being feature on the front of the bike’s fairings.
You also get a new saddle, Kellerman indicators and a modified LED front headlight.
Check out other customised BMW R 18 by Roland Sands and BMW Motorrad themselves, or check out the press release below for more.
PRESS RELEASE
Unmistakable design that is distinct from all others – that is the new “Spirit of Passion” by Kingston Custom. After Roland Sands, Dirk Oehlerking lends the BMW R 18 his inimitable signature with the second R18 gem in the “SoulFuel” series, a collaboration between BMW Motorrad and selected customisers. Previously, a sensation was also caused by an R 18 conversion created by Bernhard Naumann – also known as “Blechmann”.
Oehlerking’s Kingston Custom is well-known for its extreme customising. Anyone expecting a complete rebuild of the R 18 will be in for a surprise, however. The bike has still been transformed into an unmistakable Kingston Custom conversion.
The “Spirit of Passion” in detail.
The biggest eye-catcher – and also the greatest challenge – is the Kingston fairing. The bodywork is finished in handmade Kingston design, as are the handlebars and mudguard. The BMW R 18 exhaust has been modified by Oehlerking in Kingston Roadster style, while his saddle is drawn from the range of universal accessories. The turn indicators have been replaced with Kellermann indicators and the LED front headlight is now integrated in the fairing. The original paintwork and lines have been adopted for the fairing and wing, with the addition of some details in Kingston style. The wheel suspension and fuel tank are original. The design as a whole is based on classic art deco style.
BMW R 18: the original.
Thanks to its extremely conversion-friendly architecture,
the BMW R 18 is predestined for customising. The R 18 features a pronounced historical reference, technically and visually echoing famous models such as the BMW R 5 and refocussing on motorbike essentials: purist, no-frills technology – and of course the “big boxer”.
