Yahoo Autos BMW R 18 Magnifica is a stunning one-off built by Radikal Chopper
Motorcycle builders from all over the world are still taking turns putting their personal touch on the BMW R 18. The latest one-off created with the German firm's blessing is a striking chopper called Magnifica that's built by hand using materials such as wood, brass and aluminum.
Andrea Radaelli from Milan-based Radikal Chopper created the Magnifica at the request of an Italian collector. Starting with the R 18, he drew inspiration from motorcycles and cars built from the 1920s to the 1940s. At the time, wood was commonly used; some vintage bikes featured wooden grips, and many classic cars (including BMW models) were fitted with a wood-rimmed steering wheel. Radaelli expressed this by making the seat out of mahogany — which sounds utterly uncomfortable until you realize that there is a padded leather cover for it.
The fork is built using billet parts, all of the fairing has been removed to provide an unobstructed view of the air-cooled "Big Boxer" engine, the exhaust system has been redesigned, and the fuel tank has a more tapered shape. Vintage-looking trim pieces and polished parts add a finishing touch to the overall look, creating a motorcycle that blurs the line between a piece of art and a form of transportation.
