Bespoke new Beemer | BMW reveal seventies special R12 'Street Ride' at Bike Shed London show

BMW showcased a bespoke R12 cruiser-based creation to thousands of custom enthusiasts at this year’s Bike Shed Moto Show in London. 

Roughly 16,000 attendees visited the Tobacco Dock venue between May 24-26, where Ducati also revealed their two latest Scrambler concepts to the world. 

Dubbed ‘Street Ride’, the one-off machine is the first custom R12 globally and is the handiwork of West Sussex-based Pier City Custom (PCC) – a bike builder specialising in BMW modification, which has previously constructed special builds for the Bavarian brand. 

Using a standard 1270cc roadster as the base, PCC set to work transforming the stock machine, fitting a bespoke G&G exhaust system and custom Öhlins rear shock as well as removing the airbox in favour of an exposed pod-style filter.  

A custom build wouldn’t be complete without tricked up bodywork however, and the south coast brand added a unique front and rear mudguard and headlight cowl, and had the tank repainted in a metal flake orange – adding what they described as ‘a real Seventies vibe.’ 

• Related: Ducati confirm departure of Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro

BMW Motorrad Product Manager Carina Hoefler said: “The customisation possibilities of the R12 are endless, and I think the Pier City Cycles R12 custom, ‘Street Ride’, is absolutely showing its potential!  

“They added their own bespoke touches, including the removal of the airbox, which I like very much. I think it’s beautiful and it fits the bike perfectly – they did a brilliant job.”   

Hoefler also participated in the show’s ‘Shed Talk’ live on stage, where she shared Motorrad’s developmental ideas behind the new R12 nineT and R12 and their approach to innovation and customisation.