The Astonishing 'Handmade' BMW R 18 Magnifica

The BMW R 18 Magnifica has been unveiled on June 8,2022 during the exclusive Top Marques show in Monaco (MC) premiere where extravagance meet craftsmanship and the nobility of the materials used in this astonishing motorcycle. 

Speaking of materials, the motorcycle is built handmade as assembled materials such as brass, aluminium, and wood, as an identikit of the BMW R 18 Magnifica.

By putting something rather ‘alive’ on the motorbike, the wood fits lucidly with R 18 Magnifica setting a chic, vintage and modern effect aligned the same time.  

The custom bike designer, steered by Andrea Radaelli, is a winner of the MBE Award 2020 with his Ad Maiora displaying a special edition built with delirious care starting from a BMW R 1100 S. Y

Yet, the concept of making a custom bike based on the BMW R 18 belongs to Raffaello Polchi, owner of Officine Riunite Milanesi. 

Every detailing on R 18 Magnifica is built by hand only exception are the rims, machined from billet and machined with numerically controlled machines, yet responds to a design by Radikal Chopper. 

Lies below the retro aesthetics is a technologically modern motorbike, lightened by around 100 kg as the weight of the BMW R 18 Magnifica is around 250-260 kg, compared with 345 kg for the original model.

At the rear end is mahogany coated with a polished stainless steel centre piece, giving the motorbike a jewel-like facade.  According to Andrea, "the bike has to be my own creation, I don't feel like dredging up or modifying a concept already set up and done very well by others.

"The inspiration for the design of the BMW R 18 Magnifica winks at the vintage motorbikes of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s and in particular the BMW R 37, objects that “have an incredible charm that even today many modern motorbikes cannot replicate " he implied.