Source: BikeEXIF –
[[{“value”:”As an established fabricator, Wido Veldkamp’s business involves more than just building custom motorcycles. His shop, WiMoto, gets just as many orders for standalone parts like frames, subframes, swingarms, and exhaust systems, and even has a range of bolt-on subframes for classic BMW boxers on offer. But occasionally, the Dutch craftsman gets to flex all of his design and engineering muscles on one project, with no customer or brief to rein him in.
When that happens, the results are usually in the same ballpark as this outrageous BMW boxer. Nicknamed ‘Alfonso’ after his father, Alfons, who passed away recently, it showcases some of Wido’s best tricks, and puts his unhinged imagination on full display.
“I noticed that many BMW boxer customs looked very similar with people copying each other,” Wido tells us. “So I decided to take a completely different approach. Some people will find it beautiful, while others may find it appalling—but I hope that people can appreciate the amount of work and craftsmanship involved in this project.”
‘Appalling’ is the best way to describe the state the 1981 BMW R100 was in before Wido took an angle grinder to it. A non-runner with a rusty engine block and a bunch of worn-out parts, the bike had been acting as a platform for Wido to develop various bolt-on subframe designs. Once it had served its purpose, he figured it would be a shame not to do something crazy with it.
“On previous projects, such as the Honda CBX1000 and Suzuki GS550, I had worked with a girder front suspension,” Wido tells us. “I decided to apply that technique here as well. I also wanted to fit a wider rear tire, as the original narrow tires didn’t suit my taste.”
Sticking to his usual process, Wido kicked the project off by firing up SolidWorks and sketching the whole project out digitally. Figuring out the bike’s geometry around the OEM engine and main frame was the first hurdle. From there, Wido designed the front suspension system and rear swingarm.
A girder-style front end was always on the cards, so Wido started there. The entire structure was fabricated from scratch, including the yokes and all of the linkages. An adjustable Wilbers shock sits front and center.
Next, Wido swiped the wheels, brakes, and swingarm from a BMW R1150RT to finish off the rolling chassis. Plan A was to attach the 1150’s swingarm and final drive to the classic R-series BMW as-is, but he quickly pivoted to plan B.
“Although the swingarm from an R1150RT fits the frame of the old R100,” Wido explains, “you can only use a narrow tire, and the shock absorber isn’t centered, which I didn’t find aesthetically pleasing. So, the only option was to design a new swingarm with the right specifications.”
We’re glad he changed tack, because the trellised forks and swingarm complement each other beautifully. The rest of the frame is mostly stock, save for the fact that Wido removed a bunch of tabs, added new ones, and massaged a few other things into place. The subframe is new too, featuring a tidy junction under the tail section that doubles as the upper mounting point for the Wilbers rear shock.
Slathered over the top of the chassis is a handmade monocoque body. “I started with sheets of XPS foam, glued them together, and sanded and shaped them until I was happy with the form,” Wido tells us. “It really felt like sculpting. Once the shape was ready, I smoothed it out with epoxy and filler and used it as a plug to make a mold.”
The organic vibe is echoed in the bike’s dual headlight nacelles. Wedged into the girder front end, they take inspiration from the lights on the newest BMW S1000RR. “I hand-shaped the cover for one side,” Wido adds, “and then 3D-scanned it, mirrored it on the computer, and used my CNC machine to create the other side.”
A similar strategy was employed to create the air ducts that flank the fuel tank. Once Wido had built the bodywork, he 3D-scanned it, designed the louvered inserts digitally, and 3D-printed them. Conversely, the twin exhaust headers and conical mufflers were made the old-fashioned way; hand-welded from sections of stainless steel.
The rest of the bike is sprinkled with neatly-designed one-off parts. Custom handlebars converge on an integrated speedo housing and warning light array, while handmade foot controls do duty lower down. The cockpit sports a sprinkling of Motogadget parts, while a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket hosts a pair of combination taillight and turn signal LEDs.
With so much wild fabrication on display, Wido picked simple, yet offbeat, finishes that would highlight his handiwork rather than detract from it. The only graphics are the ‘Alfonso’ motifs on the fuel tank that pay tribute to his father.
“During the build of this bike, something tragic happened that gave this project a much deeper meaning,” says Wido. “My father, who had been helping me at the shop one day a week for years, was sadly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and his decline was rapid and unforgiving.”
“My father did not want to wither away in a care home, reduced to a shell of himself, and bravely chose euthanasia. I have never seen anyone show such courage.”
“He was my biggest fan, always excited about this BMW, and thought it was turning out fantastic. He was there to witness me working on the body—and, before he passed, I promised him I would finish the bike. I hope he’s proud of me up there.”
WiMoto | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Floris Velthuis”}]]
