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.
Most custom builders are juggling careers, building bikes as a side gig. Adrián Campos falls into that category: he’s the sporting director for Campos Racing, the team founded by his father Adrián Campos Sr, the former Minardi F1 driver. Adrián Jr. is surrounded by high-tech missiles capable of 208 mph (335 kph), but he’s also…
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A year ago, we revealed Diamond Atelier’s new ‘Mark II’ series of BMW café racers. Based on the classic R-series, the Mark II was designed to use parts produced in batches, rather than as one-offs. A ‘production custom,’ if you will. Twelve months on, and the Mark II is thriving. The Munich-based company reports 20…
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The BMW F650 Funduro will probably never reach the same classic status as some of its stable mates. But despite its unfortunate name, it’s surprisingly worthy of consideration. Released in 1993, it was the first BMW not made by BMW (it was made by Aprilia). It was the first BMW not powered by a BMW…
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Any garage accustomed to working on older motorcycles has to shift their thinking when customizing a modern machine. With a brand new bike, there’s zero restoration work to be done—but there’s also a whole whack of modern gadgetry to work around. Our friends at Hookie Co. in Dresden, Germany tackled that learning curve recently. A…
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Classic BMW boxers are still über-popular as custom donors—but there’s a downside. As we’ve seen with the Honda CB750 and the Harley-Davidson…
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Curiosity is a powerful motivator. When Jack Watkins first spotted Stellan Egeland’s BMW Harrier, he was curious about how the suspension worked—and…
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The BMW Museum is the first port of call for any petrolhead visiting Munich. But there’s an even more extraordinary collection of…
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There are a handful of modern motorcycles that really lend themselves to customization. And if you pick the right one, you might…
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There are five BMW R nineT models you can buy today, and the Urban G/S is my favorite. It’s a clever hat-tip…
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Judging public opinion is a fickle business. So when a builder hits on a concept that works, it’s tempting to get comfortable…
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When the R1200S landed in showrooms in 2006, it was the most powerful production boxer that BMW had ever made. Performance was…
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A stunning new concept from the designer of the BMW Alpha Landspeeder, a gorgeous Hodaka Ace restomod, a 200 hp turbocharged Indian…
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