The BMW R18 has to be one of the most “customized” BMW motorcycles in recent times. Here’s another custom R18 to add to that. Dubbed R18 Magnifica, it was a commission by Raffaello Polchi of Officine Riunite Milanesi and customized by Radikal Chopper.
It is not a BMW Motorrad commission but it is good enough that warrants BMW Motorrad to “present” it. The BMW R18 Magnifica Motorcycle by Radikal Chopper made its debut at the Top Marques show in Monaco.
While the silhouette of the R18 remains, the body has been completely overhauled. It is indeed an extreme reinterpretation of the German maxi cruiser where luxury, craftsmanship, and the nobility of the materials meet.
The usual bodywork was handmade, using not common motorcycle materials, like brass, aluminum, and wood. Yes. Even wood. There was no fancy tech to aid in the customization too. What you see here was mostly based on a sketch of the bike and what was floating in Radikal Chopper’s Andrea Radaelli’s head.
Almost every component on the bike – right down to the innovative brake discs and calipers – is hand-built, save for the wheels which were machined from billet with CNC machines. Even then, it was a design of Radikal Chopper.
A few other wholesome features include a tail and seat that are one-piece suspension, mahogany rear-end with a polished stainless steel center section, and vintage-style forks built from billet parts.
The retro-futuristic aesthetic also results in a lighter bike. It is now around 100 kilograms lighter at about 250-260 kilograms (551-573 pounds) while the original R18 tips the scales at 345 kilograms (761 pounds).
All images courtesy of BMW Group.
