Back in the summer of 2018, BMW Motorrad called on prodigious Austrian designer, craftsman, and custom builder, Bernhard “Blechmann” Naumann to whip up a one-off build based on the Bavarian brand’s R nineT. Despite being one of today’s most commonly-customized models, Blechmann’s R9T “Giggerl” stood in a league of its own, with some of the most gorgeous and idiosyncratic sheet metal work ever seen on two-wheels. And with BMW having just released its R18, the “Tin Man” has once again been tasked with bestowing his signature treatment upon the new cruiser.
Playing with the profile of the stock tank, Blechmann’s given the 1.8L boxer a more streamlined take on the cell, feeding into a beautiful half-fairing that sports a modern interpretation of BMWs classic kidney grille. The tail section on the build falls somewhere between a traditional drag racing unit, and a cafe tail, with some tracker number boards, tossed in for good measure. Requiring more than 450 hours to complete, Blechmann’s latest build demonstrates a clear versatility that few other shops can match, achieving top-notch results regardless of the donor or genre. To see more of Blechmann’s BMW R18, you can check out the official BMW Motorrad press release linked below.
