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Earlier this year, BMW Motorrad Japan commissioned four of the world's first custom R 12 builds. In this edition of the roundup, we'll take a look at one built by the crew behind the Chirihama Sand Flats races. We then head to Indonesia to see Queen Lekha's E.T.-inspired Shovelhead chopper that debuted at Kustomfest. And wrapping things up is Icon Motorsport's wild reinterpretation of Royal Enfield's latest 650 roadster.
R 12 Sand Speeder Mark 1 by Chirihama Sand Flats
BMW Motorrad has long recognized the incredible talent in Japan's custom motorcycle scene. Since releasing the R NineT in 2014, the company has collaborated with Japanese builders to modify motorcycles from the Heritage range. This tradition continues a decade later with the R 12 Custom Project.
In a world first, BMW Motorrad Japan and RISER Magazine invited four workshops to modify the newly released R 12 cruiser. Among these builders was the team behind the Chirihama Sand-Flats (Instagram), a coveted 1/10-mile straight-line beach race for vintage bikes. Held annually at the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway — the only beach in Japan permitting vehicle access — the event draws vintage bike enthusiasts from across the country.
Unsurprisingly, the Chirihama team's concept for their R 12 was to craft a beach racer. The result? The aptly named R 12 Sand Speeder Mark I, a purpose-built race bike stripped of all non-essential road gear.
First, the team tore down the R 12, dispensing with the stock bodywork and any non-essential components to minimize weight. The rebuild began with a hardtail conversion, placing the rider low in the saddle to improve stability on the slippery sand. Meanwhile, a custom fork, two inches taller than stock, sits within bespoke triple clamps, and a wide tracker handlebar enhances handling.
The new tinware has all been fashioned from lightweight aluminum and is about as sparse as it gets. The slender "fuel tank" is merely an engine cover with a mount for the R12's digital dash. With the removal of the stock fuel tank, the team needed to relocate the fuel pump and find a new home for the battery. Since the swingarm no longer swings, the space at the rear of the engine provided the ideal solution. Beneath the new tank, you'll also spy machined side covers that were added to hide less visually appealing electrical components and wiring.
The actual fuel tank, relocated beneath the seat, holds just enough fuel for a handful of runs down the beach. A long fender at the rear keeps rooster tails from engulfing the rider and a tuck-and-roll seat adds a touch of classic style.
Since front brakes are unnecessary for drag bikes, they've been removed entirely, leaving space for a polished dish wheel wrapped in sand-ready rubber. And seeing as this bike was never meant to be road-legal, straight-through pipes replace the factory exhaust, ensuring this racer riles up the spectators (and scares away seagulls).
Queen Lekha "Primbon" '78 Shovelhead
Indonesia's Yayack of Queen Lekha Choppers imbues every one of his custom motorcycles with his playful, creative touch. Founded in 2010, his workshop specializes in choppers that bring smiles to faces. For the 2024 Kustomfest, Yayack debuted a Shovelhead chopper inspired by an unlikely source: Steven Spielberg's E.T.
"I loved the special effects in the movie," Yayack explains.
Dubbed Primbon, this build began with nothing more than a 1978 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead V-twin paired with a ratchet-top transmission. Yayack and his team constructed everything else from scratch, starting with a custom-made rigid straight-leg frame. The springer fork, modeled after a narrow WL design, are bespoke, too, and have received a lavish chrome finish.
The team then fabricated the fuel tank and rear fender, layering hand-shaped sheet metal to create the organic forms. After smoothing the surfaces, they applied intricate paintwork. Inspired by E.T.'s iconic glowing finger, the rear fender features orange acrylic antenna toppers that double as turn signals and brake lights.
Additional details include a 21/19-inch wheel setup with classic Coker Diamond tires, tiny custom handlebars with internally routed cables, and twin exhaust pipes with finger-like tips. Yayack also incorporated brass accents, chrome plating, and styling elements directly inspired by *E.T.'*s spaceship. The result? A Shovelhead chopper that's truly out of this world.
Icon Royal Enfield "Always Something" Shotgun 650
If you're familiar with the custom bikes built by Portland riding gear brand Icon Motorsports (Instagram) you'll know they have a soft spot for classic Japanese sport bikes. But every once in a while they venture into uncharted territory and build something completely unexpected. Always Something is one such build. It is the result of a collaboration between Icon and Royal Enfield and was, believe it or not, based on the brand's 2024 Shotgun 650 cruiser.
Showcased at EICMA, the world's largest motorcycle show, Always Something is equal parts performance and style. To achieve the bike's aggressive drag racing-inspired stance, Icon kicked things off with some modifications to the Shotgun chassis. "The rear triangle of the frame was cut off and a custom rear subframe fabricated," says Icon. "It was narrowed, shortened, and reshaped to what it is now."
Complementing the frame modification is a 2015 Kawasaki Ninja swingarm. Modified to accept a pair of custom-made Nitron piggyback shocks, it mimics the look of the retro bikes Icon loves. At the pointy end of the party is a Kawasaki ZX-10 fork with Nitron internals. The ZX-10 also contributed its Brembo brakes and they bite down on custom-made EBC rotors fitted to 16-inch Astralite Wheels.
The Shotgun 650's bodywork is a Frankenstein blend of styles and eras. Covering the front end is a modified version of an Airtech reproduction Yamaha FZ750 fairing. Boasting a large rectangular headlight, it's an homage to late-1980s sport bikes. Modifications to the fairing include retrofitted TZ750 vents and a set of 3D-printed winglets.
The new fuel tank is a Yamaha RD400 unit sporting an endurance-racing-style filler and a 3D-printed blue resin dry break cap. The rear cowl was once a Buell S2 Thunderbolt tail assembly but it's been heavily modified to suit. Where a brake light would have once sat, there's a mesh panel covering the tip of the bespoke exhaust system. On its top is a housing for the bike's exposed battery and there's a slim, two-piece red leather saddle for the pilot. A pair of custom side panels wear more printed resin embellishments and the belly pan was lifted from a KTM Duke. To tie these unlikely companions together, Icon has finished the bike using its trademark loud and proud livery in a red, white, and blue star-spangled theme.
With their Shotgun 650 sporting an aggressive new look, Icon wasn't about to have it sounding stock. To solve the issue they've spun the intakes around, added a pair of K&N filters, and built a throaty two-into-one exhaust using S&S parts. During the build, Icon also purchased an S&S 865 cc big bore kit but couldn't fit it before the EICMA deadline, so it's destined to be another upgrade for Always Something.
