MOBILITY/MOTORCYCLES: BMW Motorrad presents Customizing Championship.
For years, the BMW R 18 has inspired motorbike fans all over the world to create fascinating customising creations. The BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship is now intended to duly honour outstanding creativity and artistic craftsmanship surrounding the BMW R 18.
Initiative of 150 BMW Motorrad dealers from 18 countries.
Four R 18 models as a starting point.
The first BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship will take place from 11 April to 29 September 2023. This exciting competition is the initiative of the global BMW Motorrad dealer network. 150 BMW Motorrad dealers from 18 countries have already confirmed their participation. They bring together motorbike enthusiasts from all over the world to demonstrate creativity and craftsmanship in customising BMW R 18 motorbikes.
Four models of the BMW Motorrad R 18 series could be used by the customisers as a starting point: the R 18, the R 18 Classic, the R 18 B and the R 18 Transcontinental. Even the standard motorbikes in the BMW R 18 series offer clear, contemporary technology and a sleek, streamlined design. With its perfect balance of form and function, the BMW R 18 is a masterpiece in terms of technology and design. In addition, all R 18 models offer a very conversion-friendly architecture for easy customising and optimal individualisation. This was the focus of the conception of the basic design of the R 18 series.
Stephan Reiff, Head of Customer, Brand, Sales BMW Motorrad: „We are very excited to launch the first ever BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship. This competition is a tribute to the passion and creativity of the BMW Motorrad dealer network and motorbike enthusiasts and we can’t wait to see what new members of the R 18 family the participants will produce.“ Winners of the 2023 BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship will receive a range of exciting prizes, including the opportunity to showcase their bikes at major motorbike events around the world.
Grand World Final at BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin.
The Customizing Championship is an opportunity for dealers and enthusiasts to showcase their creativity in a freestyle format. Participants have the opportunity to customise their motorbikes with their own unique designs and ideas, as well as BMW Motorrad’s extensive range of high-quality parts and accessories. From each participating country, the two best custom motorbikes will be selected at the National Contests to take part in the international semi-finals. At this semi-final, six motorbikes will be selected by the expert jury and one will be selected by public voting for the grand world final. This will take place on 29 September 2023 on the occasion of the opening of the BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin.
BMW Motorrad dealers from the following countries are confirmed for the 2023 Customizing Championship: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and USA.
Registration for the Customizing Championship has already closed and participants have registered on the official BMW Motorrad website.
The most important key data of the Customizing Contest at a glance:
National competitions from 15.05. to 16.07.2023.
International semi-finals and selection of the best motorbikes from 31.07. to 14.08.2023.
World final in Berlin on 29.09.2023.
Jury of international experts.
The competition will be judged by a panel of experts, including renowned customisers of distinction in the motorbike community such as Thor Drake, Michael Lichter and Roland Sands. The jury members are:
Thor Drake is a motorbike builder and entrepreneur. He is the founder of See See Motorcycles, a custom motorbike shop and coffee house based in Portland, Oregon. Drake was born in Montana in 1977 and grew up with a great passion for motorbikes until he finally turned his hobby into a profession.
Michael Lichter is a photographer and curator best known for his work in the motorbike industry. He was born in Boulder, Colorado in 1951 and began his career as a photographer in the 1970s. Lichter has since become one of the most well-known and respected photographers in the motorbike community.
Roland Sands is a motorbike racer and designer. He was born in Long Beach, California in 1974 and grew up surrounded by the motorbike industry, so to speak. His father was a racer and parts manufacturer. Sands began his own racing career in the 1990s, competing in the AMA 250GP and the MotoGP World Championship, for example.
J. Shia is an internationally recognised and award-winning motorbike customiser and designer. She is the founder of Madhouse Motors, a custom shop based in Boston, Massachusetts. Born in California in 1977, Shia grew up with a great passion for motorbikes and eventually turned her hobby into a profession.
Giuseppe Roncen is the editor and writer of the Italian car culture and motorbike magazine Lowride. He was born in 1964. His passion for motorbikes began in Italy with the first custom bike he built, having previously worked in the film industry. Since 1994 he has been working as a journalist and writing about café racers, cruisers, several other motorbike topics and much more.
Yuichi Yoshizawa is a well-known custom builder from Japan who makes motorbikes in various styles. He is one of the owners of Custom Works Zon, a famous custom smithy that has won many international awards and created the „Departed“ among others.
For more information on the BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship 2023, including rules and registration details, visit the official website at https://www.bmw-motorrad.com/en/experience/stories/heritage/customizing-championship.html.
Disclaimer.
The vehicles depicted may be modified and fitted with third-party accessories and/or proprietary parts that are not manufactured, distributed or tested by BMW. BMW assumes no liability for the modifications (including the installation, characteristics and use of the accessories shown). CAUTION: Modification of production vehicles (including the attachment and use of third-party and proprietary parts) may impair driving characteristics! Driving our vehicles in modified condition is at your own risk.
BRAND: BMW MOTORRAD
virtualdesignmagazine Michael Hiller
