As you probably know, we occasionally post photos of custom bikes that catch our eye. Today we have this custom BMW R1200R from Germany’s VTR Customs. You can visit their web site here to get a look at some of the bikes they customize, but we thought you would enjoy these pictures of their effort to make a special R1200R they call the “Goodwood 12”. Inspired by older Bentley race cars, you can see all of the custom bodywork done, mostly from aluminum. Custom wheels and exhaust (partly from Akrapovič) are also part of the package.
See more of MD’s great photography:
All I can think of when I look at this hot mess is:
https://vimeo.com/115733204
“I use the sparks to make it look legit.”
junk
Well, it looks a lot better than the stocker but I’m not a big fan of short tail pieces.
Maybe I’ve missed it but when is a current custom builder going to build a modern iteration of the “Gentleman’s Express” (look it up)? That is, a nicely turned out, subtly modified bike that you’d actually ride for distances at speed and in comfort and then want to do it again every day. Why waste time on something that no one will ever ride for more than a mile at a time.
Because there are plenty of people that ride for no more than a mile at a time. For people like that, bikes are fashion items or art pieces as opposed to transportation or even hobbies. They get plenty of pleasure from their motorcycles, too, just differently than you or I might.
Sad thing but I suppose no worse than having a bunch of bikes like I do that I never take out anymore.
average motorcyclist rides 1900 miles a year according to NADA
Wow, I thought I was average at around ten times that mileage a year. I certainly know guys who do more.
well what do you know, 1 of my replies showed up today…HA!
Maybe a bit more than a mile, but for around town the machine certainly has an elemental look and screams for attention. The incredibly short subframe kills its utility as it clearly would limit a rider’s for/aft movement in the saddle. That’s a shame, because I don’t think a lot would be lost stylistically (maybe even gained) with a little concession to rider comfort.
…as Kevin Cameron once asked, “Is ignorance cool” ?
Beautifully executed and styled. Nice to have as an addition to your stable of bikes and ride whenever the spirit moves you.
Hey I have an idea; “Now that we’ve spent all this money building an amazing custom, let’s ruin it by grabbing a seat and tail section off of a cheap Chinese Pocket Bike!”
I was thinking I like an abbreviated tail section but that one takes it too far. Aprilia does it perfectly.
the more i see of the future, the more i yearn for the past.
Elegantly put. Wish I could find an affordable restored 70’s Kawi Z1….
Ever since I was a baby, every time I saw a rear fender on a motorcycle, I just wanted to get a saw or a torch and remove it.
Ditto seat padding.
/sarc off
That seat would be tiny on a pocket bike. I do not get how anyone could think that looks good, even if it is a concept bike. Ok, I admit it. I like a large rear end.
Nice looking bike. Thanks for the post.
I like it. The short tail reminds me of the old Buell lightings.
Needs more grinding sparks. Could use something like a rear fender too. I’ll be happy when the no fender thing is over.
I stand with the crowd of people eating cotton candy and popcorn, staring at the tattooed lady. Another weird freak to gawk at. But it has absolutely no utility at all. A total waste of effort purely to shoot the bird finger at uniformity. Meh; go ahead; whatever blows your hair back.
+1. Where could you ride the thing? Around in a parking lot? First mudhole will give you a mud stripe up your back. Its a monument to perineum pain.
The only thing I like about it is the paint color.
It is a very pretty thing to sit in the garage or take to a track. it is useless other then that. Argue all you want but without a brake light or a plate holder it is illegal in every location I know of. The lack of turn signals and mirrors make a chunk of the community disregard riding it but the two main I listed make it illegal.
You’re new to this whole “concept bike” thing, eh?
So concepts are not supposed to be realistic or represent a potential product?
They are Swiss, not German.No, it’s not the same.
d.
Yeah, the “how tiny can I make the seat/tail” trend does nothing for me…
I reckon the connection to “older Bentley race cars” is the green paint. OMG! Why didn’t I think of THAT???
Like Butch said, the wheels are nice.
Reminiscent of older Bentley race cars??? Hardly, and ugly too.
Bunch of wussy, I ride the hell out of that thing. Cafe is cafe, live with it.
You forgot to grunt and beat your chest…
You forgot to grow a pair!
Brilliant comeback. It would be impossible to top that one, so I won’t even try. I can only bow to your masterful riding AND writing prowess…
And you so perfect and refined to start the whole thing.But I’m sure a small and shallow (shallow – Dictionary Definition-people who don’t have much emotional or intellectual depth.) gentlemen like yourself won’t let it go. All blow and NO GO !
Is that an extended swingarm?
I’m not a fan of the abbreviated tail section trend. So I’m bound to question the main styling element of this bike.
Just because you can, it doesn’t mean you should. Yeesh.
You’d need assless chaps to fit in the seat.
Thanks, thanks for the vision that will haunt me today!
What? Wouldn’t chaps that aren’t assless just be pants?
Maybe Assless is a brand name? If not, it should be…
“If they’re not Assless®, they’re not chaps!”
Bettter model nomenclature: “NI1200R” for “not interested” or maybe “RUU1200R” for “really ugly and uncomfortable.”
IOR1200R Illegal to Ride no brake light that I can see.
“Inspired by older Bentley race cars”. Seriously? How so?
It’s green.
The paint is glossy. The wheels are cool.
That’s all I can come up with on the positive side.
I like the spigot handle they used to adjust the rear shock.
ooof to this old man, they ruined a perfectly good R1200R (maybe it was made from a totaled wreck, then it’s not so bad).
I would have shortened that rain catcher of a muffler/ exhaust and turned it down or out, just in from of the rear tire.
Nice wheels.
The problem with these customized cafe bikes is that sometimes Less does not Equal More.
Sometimes you just create a ridiculous caricature of a bike with much less functionality and ride quality.
What? Doesn’t that seat look comfortable to you?
ride report to come? ;^)