car news

Special BMW creation

March 15, 2023

The BMW R 18 B is a bagger-style motorcycle. Its features are a low rear end and a clunky handlebars with no or very low windshield. Anyway: fans of this genre like a long and low build. This customized BMW R 18 B Heavy Duty scores quite a few points then, as it is lower than low.

Special paint on the R 18 B Heavy Duty

A bagger is not made for speed but for ultimate cruising on long straight roads. American highways are his domain. And the lover of the dregs wants to stand out, very stand out! This is sure to succeed with the special paintwork on the R 18 Heavy Duty, created by tattoo artist Marcel Sinnwell.

‘Godfather’ of customizing

This particular BMW is a creation of Fred Kodlin. In the United States, he is the “godfather” of customizing. For more than forty years he has been transforming motorcycles into works of art on two wheels. Since 1990, he has achieved success upon success. Numerous times he and a special motorcycle won first prize in the renowned custom bike show during Daytona Bike Week in Florida.

Challenge was the frame

The biggest challenge in modifying the R 18 B, according to Kodlin, was the frame. The upper tubes are fully adapted for lower construction. It results in a motorcycle in the typical Kodlin style. Viewed from the side, the fly-line drops sharply to the rear and flows into the side trunks. The saddle, finished with Alcantara, is low and narrow.

With air suspension

The distance between the underside of the motorcycle and the asphalt is only a few inches. That’s not exactly convenient when taking a turn. However, Kodlin equipped the R 18 B with air suspension. Just before setting off, you can use a compressor to increase the bottom clearance so that you don’t hear the side cases scraping across the road surface immediately at the first turn.

Winglets around cylinders R 18 boxer engine

Other standouts include the winglets at the bottom along the boxer engine’s clunky cylinders and the special tank whose shape continues into the rear side panels. The front wheel is quite substantial at 21-inches. If you look closely you can see small spotlights at the bottom of the winglets. These provide a nice lighting effect on the asphalt when driving at night.

Details make the difference

Fred Kodlin says that every detail has been worked on this R 18 B Heavy Duty: “The bolts are all made of stainless steel, with a nice Torx head. The basic bike and especially the engine are very, very neatly finished . All the electrical cables are already nicely hidden, so we didn’t have to do anything to the bike at that point.” For this reason, numerous R 18 B components were deliberately not replaced, but modified to the maximum extent possible. For example, the shortened brake and clutch levers. Similarly, the engine remained unchanged from a technical standpoint. Only the cylinder head covers, belt cover and intake tubes were finished in metallic black. For sale? Unfortunately, the BMW R 18 B Heavy Duty is a unique custom and show motorcycle. And according to BMW Motorrad, one of many special creations to mark the 100th anniversary this year.