BMW R nineT Owners are spoiled for choice when it comes to personalization options. This bike has been out for long enough that every major company in the aftermarket industry now has a bunch of support bits for it. But if you want something truly unique, you should turn to a professional — like Dirk Oehlerking.
Act as Kingston Custom out of his workshop in Gelsenkirchen, Dirk is not known for doing everything in half. So, when a customer asks for a light make-up for R nineTDirk said nein danke.
“He wants a ‘719 Option’ [BMW’s own range of high-end bolt-on parts] 9T,” said Dirk, “and he was thinking about changing seats and tanks. However, this was not a challenge for me, and I felt it was too simple.”
“So I booked a new appointment with the client and we discussed the project again.”
Dirk has something completely out of the ordinary in mind – a new take on art deco style that he applies to everything from older boxcars to the BMW R18. The customer loved the concept, just defined the color scheme and the name ‘Platon’ was added somewhere.
It’s also a huge trust exercise, because Dirk hasn’t quite figured out the complete design yet. He’s pretty similar in his methods, preferring to use basic sketches as starting blocks, then tweaking his designs as he shapes the final forms.
In this build, Dirk chose to leave most of the stock platform alone and focus on the bodywork and accessories. Most of the R nineT’s running gear is more than enough for nine out of 10 riders, so customers don’t feel the need to upgrade. And since bits like the subframe can be bolted straight out, there’s also no need to use an angle grinder.
As the bike was unloaded, Dirk began to shape his vision from layers of foam. Then everything went digital; shapes were 3D scanned and molded, so that Dirk could create a body completely encased in fiberglass.
Dirk explains that there aren’t any inspirations here, but there are clear hints of classic BMW motorcycle and car design. The silhouette is part roadster and part cafe racer—And while it looks boxy from the side, it’s very slim from the rider’s perspective, highlighting the boxer engine.
Fuel is stored in a 3-gallon tank mounted under the main body, shaped from aluminum with a capacity to allow OEM fuel injection. A bronze ‘strap’ runs on top, with leather upholstery on the saddle for added contrast. Look around the front of the bike, and you’ll spot a pair of kidney-shaped grills in front of the engine.
The nose shield is another customization piece and resets the original headlight’s position. Behind it is a Motogadget speedo, and a pair of ABM clamps attached to the Shin Yo mirror. The original igniter is still mounted in its warehouse location, with a pop-up air cap located directly behind it.
Behind is a rear fender and license plate holder, along with a pair of Shin Yo tail lights. The stout exhaust silencer comes from BMW boxer parts specialists, Unit Garage.
Ultimately, the customer managed to add several optional 719s. Dirk used the same paint that BMW used for their special order, Option 719 R nineT, to wrap its customer’s bike. with a seductive combination of metallic black, silver and gold.
Some of the installed Option 719 parts are compatible with this paint color. These include engine valve covers and foot controls, and smaller components, like brake and clutch levers and tank covers.
Once again Dirk has performed the magic of creating a neoclassical BMW that looks like it was pulled from an alternate future. And if you simply must have one, there’s good news: he’s planning on building a limited edition of nine of these.
Kingston Custom | Facebook | Instagram | Photo of Marc Holstein
