Motorcycle specifications BMW R 18 'Departed' 2018 Kuztomization

In recent times, the world of customization has been approached by mass production, in order to build bridges and provoke an echo between two worlds. It has to be said that these are times of appropriation as well as distinction. Yamaha has clearly illustrated this with its Yard Built program. Each year, Kawa delegates a beautiful creation to a workshop. Roland Sands is regularly called in by various players. As for BMW, it uses customization as a vehicle to prepare the public for its new products.
With this R18 Departed, the situation is a little different. Its engine base is unprecedented, not belonging to any production model. Nor is it a re-built block or a Guy Coulon-style work of fervor. It would seem that with this show-bike, the tuners at Custom Works Zon are highlighting not the next Behemoth, but a new twin and the offensive that goes with it.

Let's leave it to one side for the moment, though, lest it steal all the limelight from the Departed. A machine that made a big impression at the 27th Hot Rod Custom Show in Yokohama. Very pure, minimalist, the machine looks quite frail compared to the huge heart anchored in its belly. The single-sided swingarm reveals the driveshaft, without modesty or protection. The tubular steel frame tries to keep a low profile, while the wheels take up all the available space. 21" at the front and 26" at the rear, there's no better way to stare at passers-by. Any notion of comfort, practicality or even use is obviously excluded. Everyone will want to spend time detailing the saddle or the tank, handcrafted from sheet metal, the Fior-type fork, the ultra-short exhausts, the meticulous attention to detail. A skilful exercise for Yuichi Yoshizawa and Yoshikazu Ueda - An ambition for the Bayerische Motoren Werke - There's nothing innocent about this preparation, which certainly heralds an imposing cruiser in the BMW range.

the choice of such a large block meets several imperatives: to match the size of the competition, which oscillates between 1745 and 1920 cm3 in the American range; to offer imposing torque from the lowest revs; and to make up for the affront suffered by the R 1200 C.
BM's entry into the world of custom motorcycles began with the R 1200 C, CL and Montauk versions in the first decade of the 21st century. These machines were clearly underpowered, with a Boxer 1150 that had been redesigned in terms of cubage and mapping, but lacked muscle.
This 1800 block would be a weapon of revenge. Without seeking the strength of the 1250 Shiftcam, it could claim a huge dose of torque, perfectly suited to the terrain. Want to bet? Between 17 and 18 mkg, without a doubt. As important as the glove and the fat, the appearance has not been treated lightly. This is evidenced by the visible timing rods on the top of the blocks, the enormous appearance of the cylinder heads criss-crossed with cooling passages, the heat-generating fins... and good old-fashioned carburettors to feed each cylinder. However, there's no chance of finding these watering bodies for mass production.

Beneath the extensive customization work, there's a subtle nod to the brand's history. The front of the engine features a kind of radiator grille with an elongated double bean, as on BMW's first cars (328 from 1936 or 501 from 1950). For a brand with such a long history, it's important to always tell a story, to recall the foundations of the edifice. Was BMW preparing a strategic offensive on the roads of Milwaukee and Springfield? It would seem so, in a very cosmopolitan way: a Japanese tuner to present a European powertrain with the American market as a priority target. A lesson in the world, don't you think?

M.B - Manufacturer's photos