“Ground 0”

BMW100周年を記念して作られた”Ground 0”

R18 by CW Zon Late last year, Yuichi Yoshizawa of Japan’s Custom Works Zon had the honor of serving as a judge for a BMW Motorrad-sponsored customization competition, centered around the BMW R18. The event was held as part of BMW’s 100th-anniversary celebrations, attracting custom builders from around the world.

There was just one problem—as a judge, Yoshizawa-san couldn’t compete. So he went away itching to get into his workshop.

As it happened, following the competition, CW Zon was approached by BMW’s design headquarters with an intriguing challenge; create a custom vehicle that embodied the spirit of the next 100 years of BMW Motorrad. This opportunity led to the creation of ‘Ground Zero,’ a futuristic concept bike inspired by visions of how vehicles might evolve over the next century.

Yuichi and his partner in crime, Yoshikazu Ueda, began by crafting the shape of the new bodywork using steel wires, which provided the foundation for the bike’s fluid, futuristic lines. From there, aluminum sheets were meticulously hand-hammered to form the front cowl, tank panel, rear cowl, and the other exterior components. We adore the striking, streamlined appearance—and love how CW Zon has combined elements of dragsters and salt lake racers with the R18’s cruiser base.

Tinted perspex at the front of Ground Zero houses a sophisticated headlight system, seamlessly integrated into the carbon fiber and aluminum cowl. The BMW dashboard is set into the tank by way of a custom aluminum housing.

One of the bike’s cleverest features is the clean, minimalist design around the custom handlebars. CW Zon relocated the factory switches (which are impossible to remove from the equation without bricking the bike) to the center of the handlebars, creating a tidy, organized cockpit.

Another great custom touch is the cable-operated remote reservoir system for the hydraulic clutch and front brake. Concealed within the front cowling, the master cylinders are mounted out of sight with the cables running from the controls; an uber-slick setup.

While it’s not to everyone’s taste, the BMW R18 is a hoot to ride. It’s long, heavy, and wide—but the 1,802 cc boxer twin is a torque monster with plenty of character. Now, thanks to CW Zon, it has the show to match the go.

Referenced from BIKEEXIF
https://www.bikeexif.com/custom-motorcycle-news-september-8-2024

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2023