This latest creation comes from the mind of Dirk Oehlerking and takes a stroll towards the origins of BMW, reminding me of their record-breaking model in 1937.
The R18 is the fourth bike in this informal sequence. Called ‘Spirit of Passion,’ it retains the Art Deco vibe that Dirk has refined over the past few years. And although it looks like it belongs on the manicured lawns of Pebble Beach, or the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este in Italy, it’s actually a fully functional, rideable motorcycle.
The BMW R18 has been designed with customization in mind, following the trail blazed by the R nineT. The showroom bike is something of a rolling homage, with visual (and technical) details echoing the R5 of the late 1930s. It also has a focus on modern-but-no-frills tech—such as the 1,802 cc (110 ci) pushrod motor.
When it came to designing the ‘kidney grille,’ Dirk was inspired by the iconic BMW 328—the four-wheeled contemporary of the R5 motorcycle. The grille itself is crafted from aluminum slats, and the recessed oval above conceals an LED headlight from Highsider. Compact Kellermann indicators keep the machine street-legal.
The tank is the standard fitment (dressed with a vintage R75 badge). Finished off with classic BMW black paint and subtle white pinstriping, the Kingston R18 could almost pass for an expensively restored vintage machine—at home in a European museum, or on the floor of a high-end auction house.
Kingston Custom’s conversion of a BMW R 18 into the „Spirit of Passion“ is a work of art. More precisely, this is where design meets craftsmanship and the result is a work of art.
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