As a founding builder, Wido Veldkamp’s business is more than just building custom motorcycles. His shop, WiMotoreceives numerous orders for stand-alone components such as frames, subframes, swingarms and exhaust systems, and has even supplied a range of bolt-on subframes for classic BMW boxers. But occasionally the Dutch craftsman can flex his design and engineering muscles on a project, with no client or brief to restrain him.
As it happens, the results are often in the same league as this quirky BMW boxer. Nicknamed ‘Alfonso’ after his father, Alfons, who recently passed away, it showcases some of Wido’s best tricks and showcases his limitless imagination to the fullest.
“I noticed that a lot of custom BMW boxers look very similar, with people copying each other,” Wido told us. “So I decided to take a completely different approach. Some people will find it beautiful, while others may find it horrible—but I hope that people can appreciate the amount of work and craftsmanship involved in this project.”
‘Terrible’ is the best way to describe the situation in 1981 BMW R100 It was there before Wido took an angle grinder to it. A non-running machine with a rusted engine and a host of worn parts, the bike served 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.
“In previous projects, such as Honda CBX1000 And Suzuki GS550“I was working with a beam 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 tire wasn’t to my liking.”
Sticking to his usual process, Wido kicked off the project by firing up SolidWorks and digitally sketching out the entire project. Figuring out the bike’s shape around the OEM engine and frame was the first hurdle. From there, Wido designed the front suspension and rear swingarm.
A beam front end was always in the plans, so Wido started there. The entire structure was built from scratch, including the braces and all the links. Adjustable Wilbers shock absorbers are front and center.
Next, Wido took the wheels, brakes, and swingarm from a BMW R1150RT to complete the chassis. Plan A was to fit the 1150’s swingarm and final drivetrain to the classic R-series BMW as is, but he quickly moved on to plan B.
“Although the R1150RT swingarm fits the old R100 frame,” Wido explains, “you can only use narrow tires and the shock absorbers are not centered, which I find aesthetically unpleasing. So the only option was to design a new swingarm with the right specs.”
We’re glad he changed course, as the trellis front forks and swingarm complement each other perfectly. The rest of the frame is largely stock, except Wido has removed a bunch of bars, added new ones, and tweaked a few other things into place. The subframe is also new, with a neat junction under the rear that serves as the upper mounting point for the Wilbers rear shock.
Topped off the chassis is a handmade monocoque. “I started with XPS foam sheets, glued them together, sanded and shaped them until I was happy with the shape,” says Wido. “It really felt like sculpting. Once the shape was ready, I smoothed it out with epoxy and filler and used it as a stopper to create a mold.”
The organic feel is reflected in the bike’s dual headlight nacelles. Inserted into the front fenders, they take inspiration from the lights on the latest BMW S1000RR. “I hand-formed the lid for one side,” adds Wido, “and then 3D scanned it, mirrored it on the computer, and used my CNC machine to create the other side.”
A similar strategy was used to create the air ducts that surround the fuel tank. Once Wido had the bodywork built, he 3D scanned, designed the vent inserts digitally, and 3D printed them. The twin exhausts and conical mufflers, on the other hand, were made the old-fashioned way; hand-welded from stainless steel sections.
The rest of the bike is a neat sprinkling of custom parts. Custom bars converge on an integrated speedometer housing and a row of hazard lights, while manual foot controls do the job below. The cockpit features a few Motogadget bits, while the swingarm-mounted license plate holder houses a pair of combination taillights and LED turn signals.
With so much wild craftsmanship on display, Wido has opted for simple yet unusual finishes that highlight his handiwork rather than detract from it. The only graphic is an ‘Alfonso’ motif on the fuel tank in honour of his father.
“During the process of building this bike, something tragic happened that gave this project much deeper meaning,” Wido said. “My father, who had helped me in the shop one day a week for many years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and his decline was rapid and inexorable.”
“My father did not want to languish in a nursing home, shrinking into a lifeless body, and courageously chose euthanasia. I have never seen anyone show such courage.”
“He was my biggest fan, always excited about this BMW and thought it would be great. He was there to see me work on the bodywork—and before he passed away, I promised him I would finish the bike. I hope he was proud of me there.”
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