The latest custom R 18 motorcycle, named the BMW Blechmann R 18, was presented on 21 August 2020 by BMW Motorrad. This version of the R 18 was customised by Bernhard Naumann (nicknamed “Blechmann” as it translates to ‘tin-man’), a distinguished customizer from Austria.
Overview
In this article, we look at the BMW Blechmann R 18. For a start, this version looks a lot different from any other we have seen so far which kinda puts it into a different category of motorcycles. I would assume that many of the readers might not be familiar with the R 18 at all, so we’ll approach it as a completely new bike and discuss things like power output and such.
We’ll discuss the following:
- Recap of the BMW R 18
- Discover the BMW Blechmann R 18
- About the creator: Bernhard Naumann
- Discussion
Recap of the BMW R 18
On 03 April 2020, the BMW Motorrad officially presented their new cruiser motorcycle to the world, named the BMW R 18. To say the least; it’s a very retro-looking cruiser with it’s spoked rims, chrome tailpipe and handlebars.
The R 18 hosts a 1802cc two-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine that produces 91 hp and 116 lbs-ft of torque. It has a six-speed transmission and a shaft drive to move the 761 lbs motorcycle over the face of the earth.
The 2021 R 18 will have a base MSRP of around $ 17,500. But you can add optional features from the factory to get your R 18 looking the way you want it to.
Exchange your standard seat for something more touring-oriented or a bobber seat, if that’s your liking. Various handlebars are available in chrome or black to suit your preferred riding position. There are tons of refinements that you can make, from rims to fork end caps.
To see what options there are, you can use the BMW configurator on the official BMW Motorrad website. It always keeps me busy for a couple of hours on end.
Discover the BMW Blechmann R 18
The BMW Blechmann R 18 seems very different from the standard R 18 and all the possible versions you could build from it. Even though it still falls into the cruiser category, I believe it attracts a different audience that might not have been very intrigued by the R 18 before.
For one, the Blechmann R 18 isn’t at all a leaned-back cruiser; the seating position is forward, much like the old K100 was back in the day. From a top view, you can clearly see that the Bleckmann has clip-on handles, similar to those found on full-fairing sportbikes, instead of handlebars.
This forward-leaning position should help you tuck in behind the nose for aerodynamics.
The fuel tank has been modified and is now narrower, allowing the broad engine to be more noticeable from every angle. The fuel tank also connects over the stub handlebar to the nose, making the dash seem enclosed.
The single-seat (which you could probably call a bucket seat) finishes the bike off perfectly since everything on it seems to be aimed at aerodynamics in a retro style, very much like the bullet trains of the 40s and 50s era.
The nose is really the most notable difference that puts this bike into a different sub-category of cruiser motorcycles. The headlight has a “kidney-shaped” design that completely transforms the look and feel you get from the motorcycle.
About the creator: Bernhard Naumann
Bernhard Naumann is a sheet metal artist and motorcycle customiser in Neustift, Austria. In German, the word ‘blech’ means ‘tin’, so you’ll notice a lot of the words or names used will contain ‘blech’ in it somewhere, like Blechmann (meaning ‘tin man’) and blechart (meaning ‘tin art’).
For the Blechmann R 18, Naumann and his team spent a total of 450hrs to complete his creation. For most of his creations, Naumann works alone but when necessary, he has hand-picked professionals that support him.
From Naumann’s own website, his explanation on how he works is fascinating and very different from what you would expect in this industry. The translation of his words (in German) might be a bit off, but I believe it’s still worth reading.
“Even the individual project as such is a journey. Often, and preferably, with an uncertain outcome. Based on the way I work. I don’t go about things like the technician who has to follow a rigid plan, but freely, spontaneously, always keeping the proportion in mind and from every angle. I literally draw the contour on the real object, even if there is a stated goal (customer) that I have to meet. So I feel my way to the sculpture, step by step. A constant act of searching with the aim of uncovering a part of the soul of a design. I think this approach guarantees a harmonious, holistic design”
– Bernhard Naumann
Translated extract from: blechmann.at/bernhard/
Discussion
For now, there isn’t all that much to discuss except for whether the Blechmann R 18 will become a production version that anyone can buy from the factory, and maybe also my personal opinion of this bike:
Will the Blechmann R 18 become a production version?
It is not clear whether the Blechmann R 18 will become a production version, as BMW Motorrad didn’t make an official statement in the press release about this. But it might very well be possible that we may someday find a factory ‘Blechmann Kit’ for the R 18 or a full standard production version of of the Blechmann R 18.
Since I’m not very familiar with R 18, I might not be the most reliable source to comment on this. But as far as I know, the R 18 project is a collaboration between BMW Motorrad and various custom bike builders who each contributed their own interpretation of what the R 18 should be.
I remember well that BMW had a YouTube series on this where they eventually unveiled the final production version in Cape Town. To me, it would make sense that BMW is still continuing the project in order to expand the market of their already well-antipated cruiser model.
Again, I’m not that certain, so we’ll have to wait for feedback from BMW Group. Either way, I’m imagining that it’s too early for them to make concrete decisions so it might be a while.
My opinion of the Blechmann R 18
I don’t know how valid my opinion would be for most people, but I’ll give it a shot anyway. My opinion won’t be very specific on details. Instead, I’ll just try to construct various sceneries where this motorcycle will fit in best.
I imagine riding the Blechmann R 18 in a post-apocalyptic world where most of the human race has been wiped out by some sort of virus turning everyone into zombies. But not really a ‘Mad Max’ type of world. More of a retro-futuristic world.
I’d be racing across large dry salt lakes with a leather jacket with a small backpack in search of a still-working nuclear fusion reactor and also water. From time-to-time, I’ll look through the scope of my M16 to see what’s up ahead and then make my way there only to find scrap metal and old tires.
In another world [far, far away], I imagine the Blechmann R 18 pulling up next to Anikan Skywalker’s pod racer… Okay, that might be a little too far fetched, but you get the idea.
‘Retro-futuristic’ is the word I would use to describe the Blechmann R 18, and I think it looks dope!
Final words
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