It seems like we’ve seen the BMW R 18 transform into every style of motorcycle in the last few years. From café racers to choppers, from rat bikes to visions of futuristic design, the big-bore cruiser has proven its potential as a custom platform. Apparently, BMW still thinks the R 18 has more to give on that front, though, and the Magnifica is a testament to the model’s shapeshifting ability.
Commissioned by Officine Riunite Milanesi owner Raffaello Polchi, the project is the brainchild of Radikal Chopper builder Andrea Radaelli. BMW may have looked to its 1936 R5 to inform on the R 18’s styling, but Radaelli broadened that scope to vintage motorbikes of the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, particularly, the BMW R 37. The Milan-based builder turned to materials such as brass and wood to capture the era, and the simple, straightforward design process followed suit.
