The best reward a father may give his son is to imagine in him.
Wido Veldkamp is an industrial design engineer and the frontman of the Netherlands-based workshop WiMoto. Wido considers his father Alfons to be his greatest fan. After his retirement, Alfons joined Wido at his workshop weekly the place they might work on bikes collectively. Sadly, after being identified with Alzheimer’s and a fast decline in his well being, this BMW was the final undertaking he took half in. In honor of his father’s reminiscence, Wido named the bike ‘Alfonso’.
The ’81 BMW R100RT donor for this undertaking was in such poor situation it was barely recognizable. The engine wasn’t operating, the block was closely oxidized, and almost each a part of the bodywork was past restore. When Wido acquired the bike, he used it as a take a look at mattress for designing bolt-on subframes to promote to his clients. After spending a lot time with the BMW it constructed a superb rapport with Wido so he determined to make use of it to create this distinctive private undertaking.
“I seen that many BMW customs regarded very comparable,” Wido explains; so together with his design, he has tried to interrupt away from the herd. So somewhat than constructing one thing apparent, he constructed a polarizing bike that’s certain to boost many an eyebrow.
One of many signature options of this construct is the girder entrance suspension, an strategy Wido has used on a few of his earlier builds. As with all of his initiatives, he started by modeling it in SolidWorks, meticulously calculating the geometry of the brand new suspension and chassis. Throughout this stage, he additionally started researching choices for a swingarm from different BMW fashions that might permit the fitment of a wider rear tire. His search uncovered a number of appropriate choices, however none allowed for the fitment of a wider wheel and centered monoshock, each of which had been important to his aesthetic purpose. “The one choice was to design a brand new swingarm with the proper specs,” he says, and that’s precisely what he’s carried out.
The girder forks offered one other hurdle: with a shock absorber occupying the center of the construction, he required a inventive answer for lighting. So somewhat than choosing a single off-set headlamp, Wido took inspiration from the BMW S1000RR and fitted twin angel eye projectors.
To create the bike’s bespoke bodywork Wido utilized XPS foam sheets. A number of sheets had been glued collectively after which painstakingly sanded by hand to create the brand new monocoque-style gasoline tank and tail unit. “It actually felt like sculpting,” he remembers. As soon as proud of the look, he created advanced molds so as to have the ability to take away the ultimate forged items. As for the aggressive-looking entrance fairings that home the dual headlamps, he formed one facet, scanned it in 3D, mirrored the design, and used a CNC machine to complete the job. The bike’s air intakes adopted the same course of, combining 3D scanning and printing to combine seamlessly into the primary physique.
To enrich the brand new fork and swingarm association Wido needed a contemporary suspension bundle. In consequence the bike now rolls on BMW R1150 RT wheels full with their brakes. The wheels are wrapped in fittingly named Dunlop Mutant tires which provide strong all-round efficiency. As for the suspension, the BMW is now operating totally adjustable Wilbers shocks entrance and rear.
Topping the lengthy checklist of custom-made equipment on this construct is the one-off handlebar. Wido designed the swept-back bars himself, including a housing for an aftermarket speedometer into it. The exhaust is one other one-off design that Wido handcrafted from 304L chrome steel, proper right down to the 40mm bends and mufflers. The controls and electronics are all Motogadget equipment as are the bar finish indicators and dual-function LEDs on the hugger-style license plate meeting.
“Alfons was all the time enthusiastic about this BMW, and thought it was turning out incredible,” Wido remembers; and he wasn’t mistaken. This bike is a murals, a testomony to craftsmanship, and a tribute to a father’s love. “I hope he’s happy with me up there,” Wido says. And judging by the extent of dedication and emotion poured into each element of this BMW, it’s onerous to think about he wouldn’t be.
Pictures by Floris Velthuis
