Ever since BMW unveiled the production-ready R18 early last year, it’s been slowly but surely drumming up excitement around the burly cruiser by letting the custom scene’s best builders have their way with it. Having first handed the platform over to Roland Sands and then to Bernhard Naumann, the German automaker has put the R18 under the knife once again.
Dubbed the “Spirit of Passion,” the latest take on BMW’s retro-inspired offering is an Art Deco redesign that’s unmistakably Kingston Custom. Tasked with turning the burly cruiser into an eye-catching custom masterpiece, Dirk Oehlerking has fitted it with a gorgeous full fairing and mudguard, a new set of handlebars, and some modified roadster-style exhaust — all handmade in his typical fashion. Add to that some integrated Kellermann indicators and a new LED headlight, and the result is nothing short of astounding. However, while the outward appearance of the bike is a radical departure from the stock setup, functionally, it’s largely the same as the original. When you consider the fab work that typically goes into one of Oehlerking’s builds, it speaks volumes to the R18’s overall execution. You can learn more about the build at the link below.
