Plus One: ShifCustom’s three wheeled BMW R18

Three-wheeled motorcycles get a bad rap, but we can think of a few good uses for them. They’re especially useful for riders who love the feeling of riding a bike, but are physically unable to keep one upright. And if you must ride a trike, you might as well do it in style.

This glorious contraption was built for one such customer, with a BMW R18 as a donor. It’s the work of Yuri Shif’s award-winning ShifCustom workshop, located in Minsk. And if ever there was a style that suited the R18’s monster 1,802cc boxer motor, this is it.

ShifCustom’s reverse trike has all the sensibilities of a Can-Am Spyder, but with a far more classic vibe. Their design riffs off the iconic BMW 328, mostly because their customer is a huge fan of the brand. But we’re picking up hints of the Morgan 3 Wheeler here too.

As you’d imagine, there’s very little here in the way of plug-and-play stuff. ShifCustom’s 15-strong team engineered the chassis and formed the bodywork in-house, relying on aftermarket suppliers for only a handful of parts, and outsourcing only the leatherwork.

Most of the engineering is tucked away under the R18’s new hood. There you’ll find a custom-made front subframe, bolted to the main frame via reinforced mounting plates, and holding a double wishbone independent suspension system. The whole setup was designed digitally before ShifCustom put welding torch to metal.

The system includes an extended steering neck, to transfer inputs from the handlebars to the wheels, and a pair of adjustable shocks. The wheels themselves are modified Audi A3 items, kitted with Nissin brakes.

ShifCustom might have used software to design the suspension, but the bodywork was done using traditional coach building techniques. The most striking feature is the aluminum nose cone; a clear nod to the 328 with its dual kidney front grilles.

Every last detail is stunning, from the BMW roundel up front, to the louvered panels on the top and sides. Take a closer look at the wheels, and you’ll even spot the same style of Rudge Whitworth center-lock nuts as the vintage 328.

Undo the leather belts, and the hood opens in two sections, providing access to the front end and some of the electronic components. Lower down are two Harley V-Rod headlights, remounted in handmade housings. ShifCustom had to develop a plug-in module to make them work, because they wouldn’t play nice with the BMW’s electrical system at first.

Finishing off the bodywork is a set of matching enclosed fenders, hand-formed out of aluminum. The rear wheel is custom too, as are the louvered panels on the BMW’s side covers.

The rider’s view is also rather interesting. Installed in the back end of the nose cone is a Bluetooth-enable sound system, controlled via a remote on the handlebars. A leather pouch on top of the fuel tank offers space for a smartphone, with integrated wireless charging.

ShifCustom remounted the OEM speedo to sit aft of the bars, and swapped the fuel cap for a neat knurled aluminum part. Other add-ons include bar-end mirrors and new turn signals, with the rear units doubling up as taillights.

The R18’s new paint job was done in-house too, and is as striking as it is simple. The classic combination of silver and blue is hard to argue with—especially when you notice how tastefully it’s been carried through to parts like the wheels, valve covers and mufflers.

ShifCustom’s outrageous take on BMW’s boxer cruiser is sure to ruffle feathers, but we’re fans. And considering the R18’s intended audience, perhaps the Bavarian marque should be taking notes.

ShifCustom | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Andrew Schukin

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Vinduro: A retro take on the KTM 500 EXC Six Days

Named after the famed International Six Days Enduro, the KTM 500 EXC Six Days is one of the best enduro race bikes money can buy. Highlights include a 510cc single-cylinder motor, a featherlight chromoly frame, WP Suspension parts, and a ludicrous dry weight of 246 lbs.

It looks the business too—if modern off-road bikes are your thing, of course. Most people probably wouldn’t pick it as a donor for a retro-styled custom scrambler. But Aussie Dan Mickan did, and ended up with this spicy take on the KTM 500.

Brisbane-based Dan has been obsessed with motorcycles since he started riding at the age of 10. He’s also a fan of custom bikes, thanks to Australian workshops like Deus ex Machina and Ellaspede. So it was only a matter of time before he took a crack at building his own.

The idea to customize the KTM popped up a few years ago, while Dan was attempting to scratch a very specific itch. “I was looking to buy an old Honda XR600R,” he tells us, “because I wanted a vintage motocross or enduro-type bike to ride at events like Ellaspede’s Dust Hustle, or some local ‘vinduro’ events.”

“At the same time I also had this 2015 KTM 500 Six Days edition sitting in my garage. I thought that if I bought an old XR, then all I would do is ride it, throw money at it to improve suspension and engine performance, and never ride my KTM 500.”

“I was really blown away by the Roland Sands ‘Kurt Caselli’ build, which basically introduced me to the idea that you could customize a dirt bike—which, until then, I never even considered. With that in mind, my plan was to build a 1980s styled vintage enduro machine using my KTM 500 as a base. I would then have a bike that would have the vintage enduro looks, but all of the modern engine performance, reliability and suspension tech.”

Dan kicked off the design process by printing out a bunch of photos of stock motorcycles, custom builds and fuel tank options. He then grabbed scissors and literally cut and paste bits and pieces together, until he had a clear direction in mind.

Next, Dan stripped the bike to its bones and started hunting for local craftsmen and fabrication shops to help him bring his vision to life. “I know my way around a workshop, but I’m not a particularly talented fabricator,” he admits. “I also have three young kids, so finding the time to spend building bikes is a challenge.”

Luckily Dan is extremely good at one thing in particular: project management, because that’s what he does for a living. So he made a list and start farming out the hard jobs.

For the subframe, Dan built a mock-up using plastic conduit tubing—then gave that, and a detailed technical drawing to a local fabricator. He returned an exact chromoly steel replica, which bolted straight to the 500’s frame with minimal tweaking. Extra care was taken to maintain the KTM’s aggressive ergonomics, because the intention is to ride it as it was designed to be ridden.

Next, Dan had to figure out one small, but crucial, part of the build: the fuel tank. “It’s probably the design element that the whole build revolved around the most,” he says. “It’s off an early 80s Honda XL 185, and I love it for its boxy lines and small size.”

Dan once again relied on a local artisan to modify the tank to fit the KTM’s subframe. He had the added challenge of squeezing the OEM fuel pump in there too, but in the end, it all worked out.

Next, Dan had the blocky seat built to match the tank’s lines. Refinishing it in the same blue as early 80s KTM motocross bikes was an easy decision, and eventually informed the rest of the bike’s livery.

To keep things super practical, the OEM air and battery boxes were modified too, so that they could still fit inside the new subframe. For the exhaust, a DanMoto muffler was mated to the modified KTM header.

The fenders and headlight nacelle are all standard Acerbis plastic bits. Dan picked these because they are era-appropriate, but also easy to replace if he should accidentally hurl his bike down the side of a hill. The side covers are custom pieces.

Dan’s last hurdle was to get the livery just right. Working with a designer, he ended up with 1980s-inspired graphics that still retained some of the elements of the original bike’s design. The 2015 model’s decals commemorated the Argentinian edition of the ISDE, so that was carried across too.

Another reason that Dan sourced out individual jobs on this project, is because he didn’t have the budget to dump the bike at a top custom shop to have it done in one shot. In the end, those time and cost restrictions meant that the build took almost three and a half years to complete.

“Along the way I reached out to a bunch of people to bounce ideas off and run design advice by,” says Dan. “The local Brisbane bike community is really full of great people. The final product would not have turned out as well without the input from these people—they all know who they are.”

So was all that time, money and effort worth it? We say yes. If this retro-fabulous enduro doesn’t get your heart racing, you might not have one.

Images by Gabriel Veit

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Speed Read, July 3, 2022

This week we’ve got Ducatis old and new: a German-built custom 848, plus the latest factory race bike—the electric V21L. We also take a look at the 21 Helmets show from the US, and a BMW R nineT with vintage rally theming from Munich.

Ducati 848 redux by Motocrew We’re always fascinated to see bikes that are developed and tweaked over time. A year ago, German builder Chris Scholtka wowed us with his super-clean 848, clad in minimal silver bodywork.

He’s since revisited the 848 to give it a classic race bike look—and he’s managed to get it past the very fussy TÜV regulators, too. “The old school racer style was in my head since day one,” he explains, “but the costs and the regulations were horrible.”

The fairing is a 1980s race job from a Kawasaki. “It took a lot of time to get it nearly symmetrical on the bike, because the old fiberglass stuff isn’t perfect,” Chris says. “I also had to build a strong and complex ‘cage’ to install the fairing—an instruction from the TÜV to get it street legal.”

The headlight is now hidden, and so is a new, custom-made radiator that cost €1000. “It was hard to find someone who could build it—the old craftsmanship is nearly gone.”

There’s a new shock from Black-T at the back, and the forks have been refinished in black and upgraded internally with new springs. Chris has also revamped and hidden the electrical system, which now gets juice from a tiny NOCO lithium battery and is wired up to Motogadget lighting.

After finishing the new bodywork in white, Chris has finally got the 848 road legal. “The TÜV boy looked at every lil’ part to make sure it was strong enough,” he says wryly. The next step will be a quick shift system with new engine software—but we’d be happy to take this machine just as it is. [Motocrew]

21 Helmets Show The One Motorcycle Show is an institution these days. Held in Portland, Oregon and organized by See See Motorcycles since 2009, it’s a celebration of weird, rare, custom and classic bikes.

One of the highlights of the show is the 21 Helmets exhibition, and this year, 21 artists were each given an ICON Airflite lid to showcase their talents.

It’s a synergistic collaboration: ICON is known for the wild graphics on its helmets, but the artists have taken the idea to the next level.

The show was curated by local a creative agency, the Lincoln Design Co., and as you’d expect, there’s some truly retina-searing stuff here.

We’re particularly fond of the more conceptual ideas though, such as the military-toned lid with a skull inside, by Lonely Design.

And then art director Dustin Noden came up with a novel idea for a helmet that is past its use by date, or damaged: spray it with terracotta-toned paint and turn it into a plant pot. Explore the designs in more detail here.

BMW R nineT ‘Desertfox’ by Motoism Motoism are based in the city of Munich, but this new R nineT build is destined to work off-road as well as on. It’s an alternative to BMW’s own Scrambler and Urban G/S models—but the Metzeler Karoo 3 tires will give it a little more prowess on the hardpack.

Motoism’s mods don’t involve any grinding, but they transform the vibe of the popular roadster. There’s a whole catalog-worth of Motoism custom parts fitted, including a new headlight mask, enduro-style fender, leather seat and carbon fiber tail unit.

The lighting is new too, from the LED units at the back to the blinkers integrated within custom fork covers. And everything has that all-important regulatory approval.

The new vintage-style paint job is striking, and most of the bare metal on the R nineT has been refinished in black for added effect. A smattering of top-spec aftermarket additions finish the BMW off, including a neatly integrated Motogadget speedo, a high-spec Öhlins monoshock and a ceramic coated Arrow Pro-Race exhaust system—complete with lightweight muffler.

There’s no shortage of mods out there for the R nineT, but this is one of the most attractive and cohesive selections we’ve seen. [Motoism]

Ducati’s first electric motorcycle It had to happen, and it’s finally here. Borgo Panigale has just revealed ‘V21L,’ which is unfortunately a niche race bike rather than a showroom offering. Still, it’s a step towards the future, and the tech will probably find its way into roadgoing machines.

Next year, this machine will compete in the MotoE race series, with Ducati replacing Energica and supplying 18 bikes for track use. That’s why the launch PR includes a clip of former MotoGP racer Alex de Angelis thrashing a V21L prototype around the Vallelunga Circuit.

The styling is nothing to write home about, especially in the context of Ducati’s prettier offerings, but the tech side is interesting.

The battery pack is rated at a hefty 18 kWh; to put that into perspective, the LiveWire claims 15.5 and the Zero SR/S 14.4 kWh. But despite the size of the battery, Ducati’s priority seems to have been weight—the V21L clocks in at just 225 kg (496 lb).

Both the battery and the motor are liquid cooled, which means easier and safer charging, and they sit within a carbon fiber and aluminum frame that weighs a mere 3.7 kg. The Desmosedici-inspired swingarm actually weighs more, at 4.8 kg, and there’s a 20 kW charging socket hidden in the tail.

Ducati quotes power and torque figures of 150 hp (110 kW) and 140 Nm, and says that the bike tops out at 171 mph (275 kph) on a circuit like Mugello.

A Desmosedici MotoGP bike squirts out almost double the horsepower of the V21L, but the MotoE racing should still be reasonably fast and exciting. And given Ducati’s habit of filtering race tech down to showroom bikes, it might not be long before we see a road version. And that will give the consumer sportbike market a real jolt. [More]

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Dolce far niente: A Yamaha XT 600 scrambler by Freeride

The sheer diversity of Freeride Motos Racing’s stable makes it difficult to lump them into one silo. You’re just as likely to find a svelte supermoto in their workshop, as you are a 90-year-old Moto Guzzi. Shop boss Pierre Dhers is clearly onto a good thing—so it’s no wonder that he gets return customers.

One such customer is Dakar Rally driver and flat track racer Pierre Lachaume. The two Pierres met some time ago when Monsieur Lachaume wanted a custom bike. He wanted his 1989 Yamaha XT 600 modified at first, but, after some deliberation, Freeride built him a stunning KTM flat tracker instead.

Patience is a virtue that he clearly possesses. Once the KTM was done, he headed back to Freeride’s workshop to get the XT 600 sorted too.

“After having completed other projects together, the subject of the XT came back on the table,” explains Pierre Dhers. “We wanted a simple and refined scrambler, a perfect way to get to the corner bar for a drink.”

If you were unaware, the French once had a booming national motorcycle trade, which pumped out some beautiful machinery (give it a Google). Freeride took inspiration from post-war French motorcycles, by fitting the fuel tank from a 1950s Monet Goyon. The oil tank and toolbox were lifted from a 125 cc Terrot.

The brass fuel and oil tank caps were hand-turned by Pierre’s father. who regularly contributes to Freeride projects. The brushed aluminum accents on the tank and the small luggage rack are period parts that were restored for the project.

The Yamaha’s stock wheels were refreshed, and re-spoked with a new 18” rim up front. This matches the rear rim—which is something you should expect from a flat track aficionado like Lachaume. Looking very modern in new black paint, the rims are shod with Heidenau vintage-style enduro tires.

The almost-40-year-old braking system was upgraded by way of new master cylinders and solid-mounted discs. The discs have been expertly laser cut with the Freeride name, and ‘Lachaume 74’ in reference to Pierre’s racing number.

Another nod to the France of yesteryear is the selective yellow headlight. It was donated by a car from the 1980s, where it was originally a fog light. The stock indicators were shelved and replaced with discrete LED units, hidden between the forks up front, and under the seat out back.

The seat was trimmed by Mr Cannac Christophe of Akotabe in Carmaux, in the south of France. It’s perched atop a custom subframe.

The rider cockpit now consists of new switchgear, throttle assembly and black Renthal bars held in place by polished risers. The front and rear suspension have been lowered, likely to inject just a few extra cc’s of flat-track style.

Freeride also treated the engine to a full tear-down, adding performance improvements by way of a new Prox conrod, Vertex valves and a Vertex piston. The carbs were stripped, bathed and refreshed, and now breathe through aluminum filters from Malossi. Reassembled with fresh gaskets all round, the engine was painted black to match the frame and should be good for another 30+ years of service.

The stainless steel exhaust system is hand-made, terminating in a Supertrapp muffler. It might just be our favorite part of the build; the purple to golden-bronze color really pops against the otherwise monochrome design.

Gone are the original plastic guards of the 1980s—they’ve been replaced by short steel guards, painted to match the tanks. There are leather accents all over the bike, including a taillight and plate ‘bracket’ that harks back to the trials bikes of old. It might not look structurally sound, but it does look damn cool.

Freeride set out to create a minimalist scrambler for bopping around town, and have absolutely nailed it. This XT 600 might be from France, but it’s the physical embodiment of dolce far niente.

Picture the scene: you’re in the south of France and treat yourself to a lie-in, wake up with a strong coffee and cruise around town on your scrambler. After meeting your friends for a drink in the afternoon, you take a scenic detour through the woods on the way home. Bliss.

Freeride Motos Racing | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Clement Lazzaro

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