BMW Motorrad presents the next SoulFuel bike.

Munich. Unique, different and yet completely BMW R 18
– that’s
“The Wal”, the latest creation by Japanese
customizer Shinya Kimura. After Roland Sands and Dirk Oehlerking,
Kimura is the third customizer to transform the R 18 into an
extraordinary unique specimen for the “SoulFuel” series.
“SoulFuel” is a collaboration between BMW Motorrad and
selected customizers.

Until recently, Shinya Kimura worked mainly on older
motorcycles, but the Japanese customizer is increasingly also devoting
himself to projects involving modern bikes.

“The Wal” is one of them. “The basis is the R 18,
powered by the latest and greatest engine I have ever worked on. It
all started with a visit to the BMW Motorrad R 18 development team in
Germany. I got to know the unbounded passion and innovative power that
prevails at BMW Motorrad. Finally, in February 2021 in California, I
rode the standard R 18 for a few hundred kilometres to get to know the
character of the bike. Following a whole series of conversations, this
eventually led to my personal interpretation of the R 18, in which I
applied the entire range of my activities as a customizer,” says
Shinya Kimura, recounting the initial phase of “The Wal”
project.
Kimura then began work in mid-February and “The
Wal” was already built up by the end of June. “But there
were still some mechanical problems that kept me busy for another two
weeks,” Kimura continues.

Kimura’s motorcycles are created exclusively “hands-on”

Shinya Kimura’s craftsmanship can be aptly described by the term
“hands-on”, as there are no sketches, drawings, blueprints
or mock-ups during the building process. But there is a precise idea
of what the customer, or in this case the customizer, wants.

“I built the R 18 entirely for myself. When I rode the
production R 18, I thought it might suit my build and riding
preferences better if I designed it to be a little more front-facing
with a fairing. I decided to adopt the frame, wheels and tyres as well
as suspension elements and brakes because I didn’t feel the need to
change them after I had ridden the bike. I also wanted to be able to
ride for long distances with my R 18 while feeling and enjoying the
legendary boxer engine. It was very important to me to preserve the
two characters of the R 18 as I experienced them when riding. Thanks
to its mighty engine, the bike is wild and has almost inexhaustible
power on the one hand, yet it is completely good-natured on the other.
Just like a whale, hence the German animal name for this R 18, which
for me is something like a “Sports Endurancer”,” Kimura explains.

The “Sports Endurancer” is unmistakably evident in
Kimura’s R 18 “The Wal”. This is ensured by a larger and,
completely differently designed fuel tank compared to the original, an
elongated, harmoniously rounded seat hump and a half-shell fairing.

“I also moved the foot rests back about two inches to have
more flexibility for positioning the legs. At the same time, I lowered
the handlebars and changed the seat to my liking. The seat cushion was
also designed by me and then handmade by BACKDROP Leathers in Japan.
It all added up to the very natural posture that I like,” Kimura continues.

The semi-shell fairing houses two asymmetrically arranged
headlights that almost look like eyes and, with a little imagination,
actually give Kimura’s R 18 the appearance of a whale together with a
“set of teeth” incorporated underneath. The colour scheme
and the coarsely textured paintwork also match the theme of “The
Wal”. In short: “The Wal” R 18 is an “animal” of a
bike. Powerful, mighty, but always good-natured.

“What I like best about my version of the R 18 is that I
was able to change the style and seating position to my liking without
destroying the excellent original functionality of the R 18. But
drastically changing the seating position and adding my own style and
taste was a big challenge in my interpretation of the BMW Heritage.
Besides, all these computerised systems and wiring were quite new to
me and I learned a lot,” says Kimura, pleased with the result of
his work.


Hard facts about the R 18 customising project “The Wal”:

  • Handlebars: 8 inches narrower, 6 inches lower.
  • Fuel tank: Made longer to move the seating position rearward and
    gain additional fuel capacity of about 1 gallon for longer trips.
  • Seat pad designed by Kimura himself, handmade by BACKDROP Leathers
    in Japan in bucket style for more bottom support.
  • Seat designed so that it creates a natural flow from the seat
    cushion and leads to the round rear light.
  • Semi-shell fairing for comfortable handling at high speed.
  • The side covers have been designed in such a way that they do not
    destroy the look of the original frame.
  • Special paint finish in the form of a bronze powder coating, after
    the components have previously been hammered to give the surface texture.
  • After Kimura had completed all the bodywork, he decided to keep
    the classic symbolic shape of the standard exhaust system, but paint
    it black.

The King of Customizing: Shinya Kimura.

Born and raised in a family that ran a small rivet factory in
downtown Tokyo, Shinya Kimura was always surrounded by the smell of
steel and oil and the sound of machinery and metals. Perhaps that’s
why, after studying entomology, Kimura decided to return to what felt
most natural to him: tinkering in his workshop and building things
from different metals.

Kimura, the father of the so-called “Zero Style”
motorbike, began his career as a customizer in Japan at Zero
Engineering, a company he founded in 1992. He rose to international
fame as early as the 1990s, when his custom Harley-Davidson
“Samurai Chopper” was created. It followed his
characteristic wabi-sabi influenced style.

In search of new inspiration, Kimura later moved to Azusa,
California, where he founded his own independent company, Chabott
Engineering, in 2006. Today, the sought-after customizer only makes a
handful of motorcycles a year – exclusively for customers with whom he
feels a mutual understanding and no time pressure. The great passion
that drives him: “Passion for all the motorbikes that were born
into this world”, as he says himself. While working on “The
Wal” project, he discovered new things every day that stimulated
and motivated him. Looking back, he says: “I greatly appreciate
BMW Motorrad and all the people who supported me in this project. It
was such a valuable and impactful experience for me.”


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:

Dominik Schaidnagel, Communications BMW Motorrad

Telephone: +49-151-601-50181, dominik.schaidnagel@bmw.de


Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications BMW Motorrad

Telephone: +49-151-601-57505, tim.diehl-thiele@bmw.de


Jennifer Treiber-Ruckenbrod, Head of Communications MINI and BMW Motorrad

Telephone: +49-151-601-35108,
jennifer.ruckenbrod@bmwgroup.com


Internet: www.press.bmw.de

E-mail: presse@bmw.de


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