As the custom arm of an official BMW motorcycle dealership, VTR Customs is well-versed in the art of modifying BMWs. But that doesn’t mean that the Swiss outfit has it easy. Their builds aren’t always mild—and when they’re wild, they’re really wild.
That’s mainly because VTR boss, Dani Weidmann, isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. So when a client asked him to customize a BMW R18 in the style of a 1930s airplane, he said ja.
The commission came from an existing VTR customer (they had customized his R nineT previously), who was enamored with the German-made Junkers Ju 52. The project was dubbed ‘Iron Annie,’ after a famous Ju 52 that was restored and owned by the American author, Martin Caidin.
It’s not the first time that VTR have built a custom BMW with an aeronautical theme. Their aluminum-wrapped, fire-spitting BMW R1200R lit up the European Sultans of Sprint race series a few years ago. But Iron Annie had to do more than just go fast in a straight line; she had to be completely street legal too.
VTR started with a stock BMW R18, which they stripped down to rid it of all of its chrome. The engine was refinished in black with custom-made ‘Iron Annie’ badging, and even the fork stanchions were treated to a black diamond-like carbon coating.
The forks were shortened too, with a new Wilbers shock fitted out back. VTR wanted to tweak the R18’s stance to make the big boxer feel more compact, so they swapped out the wheels for a bigger set. Measuring 21” up front and 18” at the back, they were custom built for the project by Kineo.
All of that was relatively straightforward compared to VTR’s next task; sculpting the R18’s new aircraft-style aluminum bodywork. The fuel tank looks like fairly traditional fare from a distance—but the bodywork gets progressively more detailed as it tapers off.
A number of aluminum panels flank the bike, joined by dome head fasteners that look like rivets from afar. Details include mesh-lined vent inserts, and side scoops to accommodate the air intakes. The whole arrangement tapers to the rear, with a slender tail piece that mimic a plane’s tail fin.
The closer you look, the more interesting little additions you’ll find. See that indentation on the left side with what looks like a plane’s door handle? That’s actually the lever that engages the R18’s electrical reverse gear.
“One of the big challenges was the replica cooling fins in the area of the rear silencers,” says Dani. “Shaping these parts into parallel and beautiful radii, and at the same time still fastening them harmoniously, took a number of attempts.”
Moving to the front, VTR fabricated a small nacelle to house a Highsider LED headlight, finishing it off with a small cockpit-like window instead of a traditional windscreen. A stubby front fender sits just below it, with a handmade belly spoiler mounted further down.
The R18’s cruiser bars were swapped out for ABM clip-ons, fitted with Magura HC3 brake and clutch controls. Clip-ons seem like a weird choice for a bike of this size and stance, but there’s method to VTR’s madness; the idea was to tighten up the R18’s profile as much as possible. Besides, it’s unlikely that its owner will go touring with it.
The speedo was relocated to a housing at the front of the fuel tank, and customized with a new arm by the watchmaker Zeitzone Zürich. Further back is a handmade leather saddle, upholstered by frequent VTR Customs collaborator, Yves Knobel.
Accompanying VTR’s custom work is a handful of top-shelf parts from other custom workshops. WalzWerk supplied the exhaust silencers, while Berham Customs took care of the number plate holder. Avon Cobra tires, and turn signals and taillights from Kellermann, round out the parts spec.
For the R18’s final livery, VTR dug into the annals of Junkers history. With help from Freuler AG, they painted the bike in the same colors as the Ju 52 the Lufthansa flew in the mid-30s. It looks great—but it could have turned out very differently.
“What almost pained us a little when we saw all the handmade, bright aluminum sheets shimmering and shining, was that they would have to be painted,” says Dani. “However, we are extremely satisfied with the result—because Iron Annie differs even more clearly from our well-known ‘Spitfire’.”
Aeronautically-themed motorcycles can so easily become rolling clichés. But VTR Customs has proven, once again, that they know how to execute this style with supreme elegance.
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