Munich/Gelsenkirchen. When Dirk Oehlerking dedicates himself to the BMW R 18 with his Kingston Custom customizing forge, a spectacular result is guaranteed. The well-known customizer recently caused a stir in the scene with the R 18 Spirit of Passion – a breath-taking creation in streamlined style.The R 18 The Crown goes a big step further. “It is the essence of my creations to date,” says Oehlerking, whose passion and creativity has always been for individual and unusual motorcycles. This is exactly what he has been doing with total commitment in the Ruhr region for 30 years now. He loves industrial culture and the proximity to industry and crafts, has a great network and stunning photo backdrops for his motorcycles and himself.Self-designed body made of aluminium sheet metal and front wheel suspension with double-sided swinging arm with central suspension strut.To mark 100 years of BMW Motorrad, he has now created the R 18 The Crown, a big boxer motorcycles that has it all. “I started with a new BMW R18 which I then stripped down. As always, I worked with hard foam and cardboard to create the shape, the lines and the design. The aim was for it to look powerful, elegant and fast combined with an innovative look,” is how Oehlerking describes his design approach.The design made it necessary to adapt the technology considerably. A completely new front wheel suspension had to be constructed in the form of a double-sided swinging arm with central suspension strut.The 8-litre fuel tank and the body parts were made of 2 mm thick aluminium sheet metal, which was cut, bent and driven by hand.While the engine and rear suspension are the same as in the original, the two stainless steel exhaust manifolds are completely made by hand.Numerous standard components such as the headlight, instrument, switch units and footrest system have been integrated perfectly into the spectacular concept of the R 18 The Crown. The clutch and handbrake fittings from Magura, the rear mudguard and brackets from Wunderkind and the saddle made from 2 mm thick aluminium sheet metal and covered with genuine leather are all harmonious additions.As the icing on the cake, Oehlerking gave the R 18 The Crown a Champagne Platinum paint finish with mother-of-pearl, complemented by the BMW brand emblem adorned with a small crown.The unveiling of the BMW R 18 The Crown will take place from 7 to 9 July 2023 on the occasion of 100 years of BMW Motorrad as part of the BMW Motorrad Days in Berlin.Disclaimer.The vehicles shown may be modified and fitted with third-party accessories and/or proprietary parts that are not manufactured, distributed or tested by BMW. BMW accepts no liability for the modifications (including the fitting, characteristics and use of the accessories shown). NOTE: Modification of series production vehicles (including the fitting and use of third-party and self-made parts) can impair riding characteristics! Riding our vehicles in modified condition is at your own risk.You will find press material on BMW motorcycles and BMW Motorrad rider equipment in the BMW Group PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com.In case of queries please contact:Dominik Schaidnagel, Spokesperson BMW MotorradTelephone: +49-151-601-50181, Dominik.Schaidnagel@bmw.deTim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications BMW MotorradTelephone: +49-151-601-57505, Tim.Diehl-Thiele@bmw.deInternet: www.press.bmw.deE-mail: presse@bmw.deThe BMW GroupWith its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 employees.The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.www.bmwgroup.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroupTwitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroupYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupViewInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/