The beauty of custom motorcycles is that there are no limits to imagination. And that's exactly what ShifCustom has showcased with their radically classic build based on a BMW R 18. This Beamer is the only real threat that Harley-Davidson has ever faced from the Germans when it comes to cruisers.

And the guys as ShifCustom just dialed things up with this reverse trike build based on the R 18. We always had a feeling that the BMW R 18 had a lot more potential. And being a trike is one of its hidden potentials now. Its meaty 1800 cc boxer motor oozes with torque and is more than capable of handling three wheels and a front nose.

This custom motorcycle takes things even further by giving the R 18 a 30s vibe with design cues taken right off the classic BMW 328. The attention to detail is impressive and despite its classic appeal, this three-wheeled R 18 also gets a healthy dose of technology features. With a custom sliver-blue dual-tone paint job and brown leather upholstery inserts, this BMW is truly a work of art.

This custom three-wheeled BMW R 18 by ShifCustom incorporates design cues from the classic BMW 328 and thins the line between a motorcycle and a car.

This BMW R 18 Tadpole Trike Is A Work Of Art By ShifCustom

Three-wheeled BMW R 18 custom motorcycle from ShifCustom hd wallpaper
Via: ShiftCustom

Yuri Shif and his radical mod-shop ShifCustom are behind this commissioned custom BMW R 18. Working out of Minsk in Belarus, the ShifCustom team has been behind some pretty cool custom motorcycles mostly involving Harley-Davidsons. But they also work at times on Moto Guzzis, Ducatis, BMWs, and even cars.

This BMW R 18/ 3R comes under their "Special" category which focuses on making detailed custom motorcycles dedicated to people, events, or famous people. It is an artistic fusion of an iconic BMW car from the 30s and a timeless motorcycle.

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Wheels From Audi A3, Brakes From Nissin, Custom Leather, And The Rest Is Custom Build In-House

Three-wheeled BMW R 18 custom motorcycle side view
Via: ShiftCustom

The most impressive part about this build is that most of the components have been made customized in-house, including the all-new front suspension system. ShifCustom's team is small, but that didn't stop them from building this one-of-a-kind BMW R 18 to perfection. The front section of this motorcycle is heavily modified.

The team came up with a custom-made front subframe that has been rendered and designed digitally. A set of double wishbone independent suspension systems is married to the custom front frame to give way for a "half-car" feel. Also, to facilitate the new Audi A3-derived dual-wheel at the front, the peeps at ShifCustom have used an extended steering neck to transfer handlebar inputs to the wheels.

Three-wheeled BMW R 18 custom motorcycle front suspension close-up view
Via: ShiftCustom

To take care of the hefty front end, the Nissin brake kit has been installed. The engine-gearbox setup is unchanged, and it continues to bask in 91 hp and 116 lb-ft of torque from its famed 1,800 cc boxer motor. This also shows us that the stock BMW R 18 underpinnings are worthy of a trike layout. All the smooth body panels you see here have been carved the good old way; by hand.

Of the bits that were outsourced the major components include the plush brown leather inserts all around this BMW R 18 trike; that includes the saddle, the "hood" leather belts, and the cool smartphone insert neatly integrated below the fuel tank.

This Custom BMW R 18 Gets Classic BMW Design Cues And Harley-Davidson Headlamps

Three-wheeled BMW R 18 custom motorcycle front view
Via: ShiftCustom

If ever, BMW was to make a trike back in the 1930s, this is exactly how it would look. ShifCustom has been inspired heavily by the classic 1930s BMW 328 sports car. Fritz Fiedler would be proud to see his timeless design being implemented flawlessly onto a motorcycle. A lot of effort has gone into this three-wheeled BMW R 18 design to vibe with the 30s.

The curved and swooping design can be seen right from the front of the hood section and also the wheel covers. The coolest design bit has to be this motorcycle is its aluminum nose which flaunts a dual kidney front grille design akin to the 328. The elongated rear fender and the rear section of the front tires remind us of the sweeping fender flares that the BMW 328 also adorned.

Attention to detail is impressive as even the center lock nuts on the front wheels are similar to the design seen on the classic BMW car. The rear wheel is custom-made too, to go with the overall design. The headlights go pretty well with the overall design and are actually from a Harley-Davidson V-Rod housed in the custom casing. The trike also gets a custom windshield to help the rider stay at ease.

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The BMW R 18 Trike Has A Dose Of Modern Technology To Spice Things Up

Three-wheeled BMW R 18 custom motorcycle saddle view
Via: ShiftCustom

Hidden amidst all the old-school design bits, are a few interesting modern technology touches. Installed towards the rider, inside the front nose, are two Bluetooth-enabled speakers controlled via handler-bar controls. The leather smartphone enclosure on the tank is backed with integrated wireless charging.

The speedometer is taken off the stock R 18 but gets repositioned for a cleaner cockpit view. Most of the electrical components have been relocated into the front nose to help keep the aesthetics clean and make it easy to work on.

We Wish BMW Made A R 18 Trike From The Factory

Three-wheeled BMW R 18 custom motorcycle rear third quarter view
Via: ShiftCustom

This custom trike is a strong reminder of what the BMW R 18 is capable of morphing into. We always had a strong feeling of the R 18 looking marvelous in the form of a trike, and ShifCustom showed is exactly why. The only other motorcycle maker that offers trikes is Harley-Davidson with their Tri-Glide line-up. And we guess it is high time they got a worthy competitor. BMW, if you are seeing things, just go for it!

Source: ShifCustom