Right here’s a {custom} motorbike matchup we by no means anticipated: the wily {custom} bike builder, XTR Pepo, and the monstrous BMW R18. However the outcomes are in, and they’re jaw dropping.
We’ve 911 MX Manufacturing facility to thank for this. They’re a brand new outfit out of Madrid, Spain, with a mission to design and construct one-off customs—no matter how outrageous the temporary is. 911 MX Manufacturing facility’s founder, Diego Mena, takes inspiration from Ferdinand Porsche’s well-known saying; “I couldn’t discover the sports activities automobile of my goals, so I constructed it myself.”
There’s a context for that mantra. Diego labored for Porsche Spain for over a decade, and now plans to convey that very same sense of exclusivity to the {custom} motorbike scene. So he’s partnered up with high builders, like Pepo Rosell of XTR Pepo, to convey these dream machines to life.
For 911 MX Manufacturing facility and XTR Pepo’s first collaboration, they radically reworked the BMW R18 to show it on the Motor Bike Expo in Verona. The occasion was held final weekend, and, unsurprisingly, the R18 was picked as the very best {custom} bike of the present.
Like each bike that Pepo touches, the R18 seems to be quick standing nonetheless, with a livery that defies subtlety. In actual fact, the donor bike is hardly recognizable in any respect. However what’s actually spectacular, is that Pepo, Diego and their workforce managed to drag this off in simply three months.
As you’d think about, there was quite a lot of tweaking to be carried out to transform the Beemer from cruiser to endurance-style café racer. Getting the stance proper meant hacking off a lot of the rear a part of the body, and fabricating a svelte new subframe to sit down up high. The crew additionally added a pair of body struts for additional power, operating alongside both aspect of the engine.
Re-valved BMW R nineT forks do obligation up entrance, whereas a custom-made YSS shock takes care of the rear trip top. The entrance wheel’s been lifted from a BMW F800R, and is fitted by means of a {custom} axle. Brembo entrance brakes are matched to the R18’s inventory Nissin rear caliper, with upgraded chrome steel brake hoses put in at each ends.
There’s lots occurring between the wheels too. The engine’s shed its airbox cowl, and now breathes by way of DNA pod filters. The entrance finish of the engine block’s had some visible tweaking too, and an upgraded oil cooler sits decrease down.
The exhaust is especially intoxicating. It’s a hand-built two-into-one affair that runs across the motor and pokes out on the proper hand aspect. A {custom} muffler from Spark caps it off, together with a neat carbon fiber warmth protect.
The ‘Polizei’ graphic on the inexperienced gasoline tank is an apparent nod to German police-issue BMWs… however the tank itself comes from an unlikely supply. It’s off a contemporary Moto Guzzi V7, tweaked to match the R18’s body and fitted with an endurance-style filler cap. An impressed selection by Diego and Pepo.
As for the fairing and chunky tail piece, these have been hand-shaped out of fiberglass. The entrance fender’s a modified BMW F800R half, and the small rear fender is a carbon fiber merchandise.
Behind the fairing you’ll discover a {custom} bracket that additionally homes the OEM speedo. Intelligent little clutch and brake reservoir mounts double up as blank-off plates for the unique riser mounts, whereas clip-ons change the R18’s unique handlebars. Rear-set foot pegs spherical out the controls, together with a bespoke gear shift linkage system.
Complementing the inexperienced tank are splashes of purple and yellow, creating an impact that’s a bit of German, a bit of Italian, a bit of Spanish and wholly superior.
911 MX Manufacturing facility and XTR Pepo’s creation isn’t solely our new favourite R18 {custom}, nevertheless it’s a becoming testomony to the brand new store’s motto; “In case your dream motorbike doesn’t exist, we’ll make it occur.”
911 MX Manufacturing facility | XTR Pepo
