BMW’s Huge Grille Obsession Spreads To Its Motorcycles With One-Off R 18 Spirit of Passion

The BMW R 18 is wonderfully retro, but that’s being kicked up to ten with the new R 18 Spirit of Passion.

The latest in a series of customized bikes, the R 18 Spirit of Passion was created by Kingston Custom and draws inspiration from the art deco movement.

That’s immediately clear as the bike adopts a streamlined front end that appears more at home on a locomotive than a motorcycle. It’s also notable for being the latest BMW to feature a massive grille, but at least this one fits in with the old school styling.

Also Read: BMW Motorrad Introduces New R 18 Classic And Updated R nineT Lineup

The bodywork was handmade and features a paint and stripe job inspired by the R 18 First Edition. However, the front end isn’t the only unique feature as the bike also sports custom handlebars and a rear fender.

Elsewhere, the Spirit of Passion has been equipped with a modified exhaust and an aftermarket seat. The model also has Kellermann indicators as well as a recessed LED headlight.

While the changes are interesting, a number of components carryover including the suspension and fuel tank. As Kingston Custom’s Dirk Oehlerking explained, “The BMW R 18 is so perfect that I left the technology as it is. The frame is 100% original and so sophisticated that nothing should be changed here.”

There’s no word on performance specifications, but the standard bike has a 1.8-liter two-cylinder engine known as the “Big Boxer.” It produces 90 hp (67 kW / 91 PS) and 117 lb-ft (158 Nm) of torque.