It takes quite some effort and dedication to pull out a 6-month project like the one we’re talking about here. Shiro Nakajima, Brat Style, Hidemo and Cherry’s Company – Japan’s top custom workshops have been working together and stripping up the BMW R Nine T to its core then rebuilding it as a great masterpiece. The result, as you can notice from the pictures below, is a futuristic looking bike packing a over-decent amount of power – in 4 different styles.
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1. Highway Fighter
Built by Cherry’s Company, a name not so well known in the West side of the world, the Highway Fighter rendition of the R Nine T roadster boasts 18″ wheels on the front and 16″ wheels on the rear, both dressed in Metzeler ME880 Marathon tires. The original forks were kept; they were however lowered by 2 inches and coated in a stealth black colorway. Bodywork is hand-beaten and built from durable and lightweight aluminum. It is responsible for the Batman Dark Knight look that the bike shows off from every angle.
2. Brat Style Cyclone
Brat Style shop exists under the close supervision of one of the most influential motorcycle builders in the entire world: Go Takamine. His designs always feature lightness and tend towards mobility; the style hasn’t changed either with its take on the R Nine T, nicknamed „Cyclone”. Front fork, steering stem and damper are all Ceriani built.
Front wheel measures 19″ while the rear one was also pumped up to 18″. Takamine’s traditionalist heart is showcased within the project in a powerful way; not only that the ABS was removed, but also a twin-leading front shoe drum brake was added. Front engine aluminum casting along with plated cylinders and handmade exhaust system account for the bodywork.
3. Hide Motorcycle Boxer
Unlike the other two shops we’ve discussed so far, Hideya Togashi decided to instruct his team mates at HIDE to go for a simple, minimalistic design. Nicknamed „Motorcycle Boxer”, the bike aims for minimum changes providing the biggest possible impact. A hand beaten, unfinished bodywork and sand-casted looking cylinder head instantly sends the viewer towards 1970’s GP bikes.
Stock wheels have been preserved but stripped from their original black finish. Instead, a light white coating was applied. The beautifully bent exhaust system proves to be very easy to miss.
4. 46Works Clubman Racer
With some of the most amazing and addicting BMW bikes customized under his name, Shiro Nakajima knows its job very well. His custom shop 46Works aimed for a weight reducing customization, dropping off 30kg from the R Nine T. Stock Sachs forks have been replaced by Ohlins. Changes were also undergone by steering and top yoke.
The exhaust is hand-built using titanium as is the titanium ram-air intake system. The ABS system is history, probably as a personal preference of Nakajima. High end brands have seen their way within different components of this track-oriented bike: Posh and Daytona, Battle Factory, Earl’s.