BMW R 18 The Crown: an art deco recreation to mark the 100th anniversary

From BMW Motorrad comes the BMW R 18 Kingston Custom, the boxer motorcycle that had previously been used for recreations, which has undergone an incredible transformation at the hands of the famous customiser Dirk Oehlerking to mark the 100th anniversary of BMW. Recently, Oehlerking surprised everyone with the creation of the R 18 Spirit of Passion, an impressive motorcycle with flawless aerodynamic styling, and now they want to awaken forgotten emotions with this new look he has given the R 18.

However, with the R 18 “The Crown”, Oehlerking has taken his work one step further. According to him, this motorcycle is the essence of all his creations to date. Over the last 30 years, Oehlerking has dedicated his passion and creativity to customising individual and extraordinary motorcycles in the Ruhr region. His love of industrial culture and his proximity to industry and craftsmanship have allowed him to build a wide network of contacts and have impressive photographic settings at his disposal, both for his motorcycles and for himself.

As for its bodywork, the R 18 “The Crown” was designed exclusively by Oehlerking and made from aluminium sheet. In addition, the front wheel suspension features a double-sided swingarm and a central suspension strut, which adds a unique touch to the motorcycle. The entire bodywork, including the 8-litre fuel tank, was manufactured using aluminium sheet 2 mm thick, which was carefully cut, bent and machined by hand.

To achieve a perfect finish, numerous standard components, such as the headlight, instrumentation and switchgear, were seamlessly integrated into the spectacular concept of the R 18 “The Crown”. The controls for the clutch and handbrake are by Magura, the rear mudguard and brackets are by Wunderkind, and the saddle in 2 mm thick aluminium sheet is covered in genuine leather, which adds real harmony to the whole.

To commemorate the 100 years of BMW Motorrad, Oehlerking has created this imposing work of art on wheels. Starting from a new BMW R 18, the customiser dismantled it completely. Using his characteristic method of working with hard foam and cardboard, Oehlerking shaped, lined and designed the motorcycle. His aim was to achieve a powerful, elegant and fast appearance, combined with an innovative aesthetic.

But that is not all: to achieve this incredible design, modifications had to be made to adapt the technology. The design required adapting existing technology, which involved the construction of a completely new front wheel suspension in the form of a double-sided swingarm with a central suspension strut.

As a final touch, Oehlerking decided to give the R 18 “The Crown” a Champagne Platinum pearl paint finish, highlighted with the BMW logo adorned with a small crown. This motorcycle is a true symbol of luxury and elegance on two wheels.

Image gallery BMW R 18 The Crown