MOBILITY/MOTORBIKES/CUSTOM: To mark 100 years of BMW Motorrad, customiser Dirk Oehlerking has once again dedicated himself to the BMW R 18. The result is the R 18 The Crown.
Munich/Gelsenkirchen. When Dirk Oehlerking and his customising workshop Kingston Custom dedicate themselves to the BMW R 18, a spectacular result is guaranteed. The well-known customiser recently caused a stir in the scene with the R 18 Spirit of Passion – a breathtaking creation in streamlined style.
The R 18 The Crown goes a big step further. “It is the essence of my previous creations,” says Oehlerking, whose passion and creativity has always been for individual and extraordinary motorbikes. This is exactly what he has been living out in full intensity in the Ruhr region for 30 years now. He loves the industrial culture and the proximity to industry and crafts, has an extremely valuable network and great photo backdrops for him and his motorbikes.
Self-designed bodywork made of aluminium sheet and front wheel guidance via two-arm swingarm with central suspension strut.
To mark 100 years of BMW Motorrad, he has now created the R 18 The Crown, a motorbike around the big boxer that has it all in and around it. “I started with a new BMW R18, which I disassembled. As always, I worked with hard foam and cardboard so I could create the shape, the lines and the design. It should represent power, elegance and speed in an innovative appearance,” Oehlerking describes his design approach.
The design meant that the technology had to be adapted considerably. Thus, a completely new front wheel guide had to be constructed in the form of a two-arm swingarm with central suspension strut.
The 8-litre fuel tank and the body parts were made of 2 mm thick aluminium sheet, which was cut, bent and driven by hand.
While the engine and rear suspension were left original, the two stainless steel exhaust manifolds were again pure handwork.
Numerous standard components such as the headlight, instrument, switch units and footrest system could be integrated perfectly into the spectacular concept of the R 18 The Crown. The clutch and handbrake fittings from Magura, the rear mudguard and brackets from Wunderkind and the saddle made of 2 mm thick aluminium sheet and covered with genuine leather are all harmonious additions.
As the icing on the cake, Oehlerking gave the R 18 The Crown a Champagne Platinum paint finish with mother-of-pearl, complemented by the BMW brand emblem, which is adorned with a small crown.
The BMW R 18 The Crown will be unveiled at the BMW Motorrad Days in Berlin from 7 to 9 July 2023 to mark 100 years of BMW Motorrad.
Disclaimer.
The vehicles shown may be modified and equipped with accessories from third-party suppliers and/or proprietary components which are neither manufactured, distributed nor tested by BMW. BMW assumes no liability for the modifications (including the installation, characteristics and use of the accessories shown). CAUTION: Modification of production vehicles (including the installation and use of third-party and proprietary parts) may impair the driving characteristics! Driving our vehicles in modified condition is at your own risk.
Click here for the photo gallery of the BMW R 18 The Crown! Just click on the picture.
BRAND: BMW AG
virtualdesignmagazine Michael Hiller