Custom motorcycles The scene is truly a global village. We showcased bikes from Indonesia and Japan this week — but today we’re heading south, to the port city of Gqeberha in South Africa.
Inspired by this plane BMW R nineT is the work of Wayne Buys, who works out of his garage as FabMan Creations. It is wrapped in an aluminum bodywork that Wayne has built by hand, using homemade British wheels. It’s also important to note that he’s freelance, without a single sketch, render or template – and his metalworking skills are self-taught.
Wayne initially trained as a crafter, before moving to Canada for 15 years. But when he got back to South Africa, he didn’t have a job so he dabbled in custom motorcycles.
“I am passionate about Cherry’s Company ‘Highway Fighter’ BMW R nineT, built by Kaichiroh Kurosu,” he told us. “I have never owned a motorcycle that I could leave stock, always modifying it as soon as I received it. However, these boys are in a completely different league — and I want to be in it. ”
Wayne couldn’t afford an R nineT at the time, so he decided to pick up an older BMW R1200R and create his first custom build. With a skill set that includes welding, machining, fabrication, and electrical and mechanical engineering, all he can’t do on his own is shape aluminum. So he figured it out through trial and error – hammering the boards out a stump and making them by hand.
That was a decade ago. Wayne has been upgrading his garage since then and now makes money building custom bikes and fabricating parts like the fuel tank, fenders, and stainless steel one-off exhaust system.
This R nineT was commissioned by a customer, who supplied a low-speed R nineT and specified the aviation theme. Most bike collars are still intact under the aluminum, but that doesn’t mean this is an easy win. Wayne had to come up with some clever workarounds to put it together and it took him 8 months to complete.
The whole bike assembles like a Meccano set. The upper shell fastens to a hidden aluminum fuel cell, via a locking nut around the gas cap. There’s another lanyard tucked under the seat cushion, with additional attachment points at the front.
Wayne trimmed the frame around the upper shock mount to accommodate the new tail, and moved the footpeg racks further back. Custom footpegs ‘clamp’ the belly pan to hold it in place, with four bolts underneath the bike to secure it.
Each panel attaches to the next, connected via small allen-tipped pins that mimic the studs you’d find on airplanes. The different types of scoops and air intakes aren’t just for the show either; each directs air to an important part of the bike, like the large side ducts that help keep the boxer engine cool.
Two small intakes on either side of the fully enclosed front fender direct air to the brake system, while an intake at the rear of the vehicle, equipped with a fan, helps cool the designated oil cooler. taste again. There’s another fan at the front to cool the electronics, all under the hood. And there are mesh panels on the top to help expel hot air.
The exhaust is particularly sneaky. Headers are hidden from view, exiting through three ports on either side of the drive. A mesh of holes below the header helps prevent hot air from accumulating inside.
Equal consideration has entered the control area. Wayne built a pair of aluminum handlebars that clip onto the forks, which effectively act as lifting grips. The handlebars, turn signals, and mirrors are among the few components used here — but the reverse lever is custom, as is the internal throttle.
All cabling and wiring runs inside the handlebars, with the brake and clutch master cylinders hidden under the bodywork. Up top is a custom control panel built around an Acewell speedometer, with a few buttons to perform basic functions. Keyless ignition; the remote turns on the bike and one of the buttons starts the bike.
Dubbed ‘Storm’ by Auto Trust and covered in a sleek matte silver finish, FabMan’s futuristic R nineT is both impressive and intriguing. And we’re not the only ones noticing; Wayne has had many requests for a kit, but says it would be too complicated to reproduce without some serious funding.
There To be Still, good news for interested parties: this particular bike is on sale. Tempted?
FabMan Creations | Facebook | Instagram
