OK, so someone needs to get Icon to build them a custom BMW motorbike
OK, so someone needs to get Icon to build them a custom BMW motorbike
By now, you’ll likely know Icon, its shut-up-and-take-my-money restomods, and its restomodder-in-chief, Jonathan Ward. For years, Jonathan’s been the man to turn to for custom first-gen Broncos that’d make Jack Traven weak in the knees, modernised versions of classic American metal and idealised recreations of not only cars, but the eras that created them.
But in a kinder, gentler, better world, Icon – and Jonathan – would also be famous as a custom bike builder, reimagining and reinterpreting the works of BMW Motorrad. That’s Beemer’s two-wheeled division, for the four-wheels-good crowd.
What you see here are a few ideas that Jonathan’s kicked around with Paolo Spada over at SpadaConcept in Italy. And if that name rings a few bells, Paolo’s dad (and co-founder of SpadaConcept) is Ercole Spada, the man responsible for two of the greatest car designs ever – the Aston DB4 Zagato and Alfa Giulia TZ. And clearly, Paolo’s not without talent either.
Despite the properly vintage looks of a few of these designs, Jonathan says the bikes “would be built on contemporary BMW platforms”, which “would be the best way to combine the vintage aesthetic with a modern, reliable and precise bike platform – that doesn’t leak!” And just spitballing here, but it looks like the basic frame and engine from the BMW R nineT – a modding mainstay with a 1170cc, 109bhp opposed twin-cylinder. Which is about as classic as BMW engines get.
Needless to say, we very much want one. And, in a gentler, better world, there’d be a whole mess of you out there who feel the same way.