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Kingston Custom ‘Spirit of Passion’ Adds Kidney Grilles to the BMW R 18

By Mark Jessen - News Published:

BMW’s 2020 gambit of working with independent designers to prove that the R 18 is perfect for custom work is paying off. Kingston Custom created the Spirit of Passion one-off build, the second build in their “Soulfuel” series, and it definitely showcases the potential of the motorbike.

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Heaping up the evidence that the R 18 is a customiser’s dream, Kingston didn’t strip down the bike; rather, they added parts to it. “The BMW R 18 is so perfect that I left the technology as-is,” says Dirk Oehlerking, the founder of Kingston Custom. “The frame is 100 per cent original, and it’s so sophisticated that nothing should be changed there.” Leaving the base alone, Kingston add in a full front fairing with tall kidney grilles that immediately calls to mind the cars of the 1930s.

A centered hole in the upper portion of the grille serves to let the headlight shine out. The fairing continues around back with a two-piecer that offers a small round light mounted on a fin. All of these panels were made by hand and then painted black. White accents complete the art-deco look. Kingston also customised the handlebar and replaced the saddle with an in-house version. They also had to modify the exhaust system to work with the new parts. BMW’s Big Boxer flat-twin engine was left untouched, letting the 1.8-liter powerhouse continue to provide 91 horsepower and 116 lb-ft of torque.

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“This project is probably the most impressive of my entire career,” says Oehlerking. “It means a lot to me—if not everything at this moment. The trust that BMW Motorrad has placed in me once again is hugely important to me. I’m very grateful for that.” When there’s that much feeling behind a project, it’s no wonder that it’s been named the Spirit of Passion.

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Mark Jessen
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Mr Mark Jessen

Mark Jessen studied English at Brigham Young University, completing a double emphasis in creative writing and professional writing/editing. After graduating, Mark went to work for a small publisher as their book editor. After a brief time as a freelance writer, Mark entered the corporate world as a copywriter. These days, his hours are spent mostly in proofing and editing, though he continues to create content for a wide variety of projects. In 2017, Mark completed UCLA's Creative Writing Certification. A prolific writer, Mark has over 20 years of experience in journalism.

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