Munich/Phoenix/Verona. Custom motorcycle visionary
Paul Yaffe has raised the bar once again with the revelation of his
latest masterpiece, a one-of-a-kind customization of the BMW R 18
Transcontinental. Melding classic hot rod aesthetics with the
distinctive BMW essence, this project is a testament to Yaffe’s
excellence as a designer.
A legend of the US customizing scene:
Since
1991, the custom motorcycle world has known Paul Yaffe as one of the
elite creators of motorized masterpieces. That’s because Paul is more
than a builder or fabricator, he is truly a designer. Beginning with
the establishment of American Legend Motorcycle Company, which later
evolved into Paul Yaffe’s Bagger Nation, he has earned accolades such
as three “World’s Most Beautiful Motorcycle” awards from the
Oakland Roadster Show, two “Builder of Year” and three “Trendsetter of
the Year” awards from Easyriders Magazine, as well as becoming an
inductee into the Sturgis Hall of Fame in 2015. His custom bikes have
been featured in over 300 magazine articles worldwide as well as on
the Discovery channel, the History channel, and other television
shows. His products, distributed through a network of partners in six
countries, continue to inspire a generation of customizers.
Now, Paul Yaffe reveals his latest masterpiece — a one-of-a-kind
customization of the BMW R 18 Transcontinental, which will debut at
the MBE Show in Verona, Italy.
Preserving BMW Essence and Hot Rod
Inspiration.
Before getting started, Paul spent time
getting to know the BMW R18 Transcontinental, riding 3800 miles across
the USA, and additional 2600 miles to Sturgis and back.
Once the customization process began, Paul knew he wanted to
create a big wheel bagger like no one had ever seen. Crucial to the
project was retaining as many original BMW components as possible.
Paul wanted his custom creation to remain authentically BMW and knew
that it should not be made from or look anything like parts from his
existing product line.
He commissioned a 26” x 5.5” front wheel cut from a 400lb block
of solid aluminium, which holds a handmade 180mm wide front tire. The
frame had to be stretched and raked to accommodate the new front wheel
and special triple trees had to be engineered to correct the trail
measurement and optimize handling.
Embracing the look of an iconic 50’s Mercury Lead Sled the team
crafted several
one-of-a-kind components and modified existing R
18 elements. The steel front fender was made from scratch. The
original R 18 fairing was cut into several pieces and restructured to
correct headlight position and flow into the new front wheel. To
address the gap between the fairing and the fuel tank a unique chin
spoiler was developed, strategically concealing the radiator.
Additionally, an exclusive set of Yaffe Monkey Bars was crafted to
complement the overall design.
“The team wanted to retain the saddlebag lids, latches and
speakers so a new set of ‘skins’ was created to give the bags a
completely new and unique stretched profile while retaining the
excellent engineering and functionality that BMW had created for
them.” Paul’s team extended the original rear fender by crafting a
second R 18 rear fender, ensuring it seamlessly matched the profile of
the new saddlebags.
As the build began to take shape, Yaffe rearranged the
original R 18 taillights into the handmade filler panels and worked an
area for the license plate into the fender in classic hot rod styling.
He also stretched the original R 18 side covers to retain their
original shape and cover more area to help the eye flow into the bags.
Classic Lead Sled Look.
Staying true to the
classic Lead Sled aesthetic, Yaffe prioritized two crucial components:
air suspension and side pipes.
Paul and his team designed a sophisticated air tank and
distribution system as well as a dedicated frame beneath each side of
the saddlebags to accommodate essential components, including the
necessary air storage tanks, a sizable air compressor and all the
controls, valving and solenoids necessary for the effective support
and operation of the system.
Turning their focus to the side pipe design the fabrication team
aimed to preserve the distinctive “BMW feel” that sets this
build apart. Retaining the classic Boxer head pipes was non-negotiable
in Paul’s vision. The catalytic converters were removed from the head
pipes making way for a bespoke perforated high-flow baffle system.
This innovation not only replaced the restrictive emissions system but
also retained essential back pressure for optimal performance. To
further enhance the auditory experience a precision-crafted
3-step muffler system was introduced for reversion. The final
touch was a wide-open megaphone, delivering that quintessential
classic hot rod sound.
It all comes down to cosmetics.
Shifting focus
to cosmetics Paul wanted a classic hot rod feel without any
distracting graphics, highlighting the bike’s elegant new stance and
profile. The emphasis was on simplicity and allure. “We went to work
perfecting all the fabricated body panels and smoothing everything to
a glass-like finish.” After settling on a timeless deep gloss black
finish, the team’s attention turned to achieving perfection for the
body. Paul tasked his dedicated painter Hector Martinez, with applying
the flawless gloss black paint. Recognizing the need for contrast,
Paul decided on a classic ochs blood red interior. The art is in
finding the perfect balance. “The trick is not to overdo it!” Guys
Upholstery created the contemporary-style saddle and dash console and
Hector mixed up a colour for the front callipers to match. “We think
it came out spectacular!”
Disclaimer.
The vehicles shown may be modified
and fitted with third-party accessories and/or proprietary parts that
are not manufactured, distributed or tested by BMW. BMW accepts no
liability for the modifications (including the fitting,
characteristics and use of the accessories shown). NOTE: Modification
of series production vehicles (including the fitting and use of
third-party and self-made parts) can impair riding characteristics!
Riding our vehicles in modified condition is at your own risk.
You will find press material on BMW motorcycles and BMW Motorrad
rider equipment in the BMW Group PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com.
In case of queries please contact:
Dominic Thönnes, Spokesperson BMW Motorrad
Telephone: +49-151-601-12378,
Dominic.Thoennes@bmwgroup.com
Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications BMW
Motorrad
Telephone: +49-151-601-57505, Tim.Diehl-Thiele@bmw.de
Jens Lemon, Head of Communications MINI and BMW
Motorrad
Telephone: +49-151-601-23635, Jens.Lemon@bmw.de
Internet: www.press.bmw.de
E-mail: presse@bmw.de
The BMW Group
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In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger
vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit
before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues
amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group
had a workforce of 149,475 employees.
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