There’s a quiet kind of cool that comes from 46Works, the kind born not in a marketing department, but in the hands of a master. Shiro Nakajima, the man behind the banner, doesn’t chase hype; he builds it, one meticulously crafted project at a time. From his wooden workshop nestled in the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains, Nakajima-san has once again joined forces with BMW Motorrad Sagamihara for a follow-up to their 2024 R12 nineT Complete Custom. And for 2026, the bar has somehow been raised. Only nine of these stunning machines will ever exist, a limited-run production style custom from one of the best in the game.

This latest creation, dubbed the 2026 Model R12 nineT 46Works Complete Custom #02, follows the spirit of its predecessor but with a sharper focus on form and flow. The 2024 model sold out instantly, just six units were built, proving there’s a global appetite for Nakajima’s restrained yet soul-stirring design philosophy. Now, the second run brings a fresh take, balancing BMW’s modern retro underpinnings with that unmistakable 46Works DNA.

In the pantheon of adventure motorcycles, few names command as much reverence as BMW’s R80 G/S. It wasn’t just another dual-sport, it was the blueprint. And in this ultra-rare 1986 “Touareg Blue” edition, the model reached the end of its glorious first chapter. Less than 200 examples ever left the factory in this distinctive hue, and this particular machine, now offered for sale at Moto Borgotaro, represents one of the finest restorations on the planet.

That’s not hyperbole. This isn’t a quick tidy-up or a sympathetic recommission. This R80 G/S has been painstakingly rebuilt by Gary Burton of BaMW, a name that will be familiar to anyone in the vintage BMW community. Burton, now retired, has earned a reputation for concours-standard restorations that blend mechanical precision with soulful authenticity. His bikes are as good beneath the paint as they are on the surface.

Rome isn’t exactly short on history, but for one weekend each year, the past and future of motorcycling collide beneath the sinuous steel and glass curves of Massimiliano Fuksas’ “La Nuvola.” Now in its ninth edition, the Eternal City Motorcycle Show has cemented itself as one of Europe’s essential two-wheeled gatherings, and to their credit, the organisers clearly understand just how vital custom creations have become to the motorcycle world. This year, they dedicated an entire level of the venue to that culture: a space where Italian craftsmanship, international innovation, and pure mechanical art all share the same stage.

The show is a mega event, with every major manufacturer worth their salt in attendance, eighteen of whom offer free demo rides of their latest machinery. In total, there are 300 different models you can ride, adding a proper try-before-you-buy experience. There are also the usual displays, great food and drink, live music and talks. And for those in the game, the business-to-business day allows small shops the chance to rub shoulders with the big brass of leading aftermarket suppliers, a vital networking opportunity to help the entire industry thrive.

In the small Swiss town of Schmerikon, there’s a team of mad scientists working under the banner of VTR Customs. Daniel, Stefano, and Marcel, backed by the larger VTR Motorrad BMW dealership, have built a reputation for turning stout Bavarian machines into something far more sinister, often with a hard, industrial, metal edge. Their latest? A 2024 BMW R12 that's been thoroughly transformed into an '80s endurance-inspired race machine, jammed packed with a big nitrous shot to lay down 160 horsepower. If it sounds excessive, that’s the whole damn point; the VTR team are simply not interested in taking a half swing.

Most custom shops that operate as part of a large dealership tend to be all about bolt-ons and providing simple upgrades to those who have just purchased a new motorcycle next door. VTR Customs is absolutely not about that kind of bike. Despite the restrictive nature of Switzerland's road regulations, they've never turned out a bike that isn't absolutely wild and purely one-off in nature. Their race bike, 'Spitfire', put them on the map, and using Daniel's past experience rebuilding vintage fighter aircraft, they created an alloy-clad, flame-thrower that let the world know exactly what they're all about.

When it comes to Bali’s Treasure Garage, the name isn’t just a brand, it signifies a true Aladdin's cave that produces one dream machine after another. Run by the supremely talented Imanuel ‘Nuel’ Prakoso and his crew of master craftsmen, the shop has made a name for itself by producing bikes that look as good in photo form as they do ripping through the tight, twisty island streets. Their latest creation is a case study in precision metalwork, bold styling, and that unmistakable Treasure Garage flair. This time, the crew took a humble 2013 BMW G650GS and transformed it into a supermoto-inspired street weapon that looks every bit the part of a factory-backed hypermotard concept.

The vision for the bike began with a digital sketchpad and the talent of Radite Octavanka, whose 3D render would serve as the blueprint for the entire build. But if you’re thinking this is one of those “concept versus reality” stories where the final product falls short, think again. The finished bike mirrors the initial render so closely that you’d be forgiven for thinking BMW itself had green-lit the project and spent millions on moulding and tooling. Instead, every single piece of bodywork was shaped by hand in Treasure Garage’s Bali workshop, a testament to craftsmanship that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s society of cheap plastic crap. 

BMW barely had time to wipe the fingerprints off its press kit before custom builders started circling the new R12 like vultures. But while plenty have already had a crack, few have taken the scalpel to it quite like France’s speed-obsessed crew at FCR Original. These guys don’t just build bikes, they distil them, stripping away everything but the good stuff before bolting up their own catalogue of drool-worthy custom parts. The result? A factory-fresh R12 reborn as a sharper, leaner, and unapologetically urban machine aimed squarely at a new generation. And make no mistake, this isn’t a one-off. It’s the opening shot in FCR’s all-new BMW R12-based lineup, designed to get riders worldwide wrenching with their range of high-end, plug-and-play goodness.

It's a well-worn path for the French team, sure, they have built full-blown one-off customs and continue to do so, but at the heart of the business is their exceptional catalogue of in-house custom parts. Their core products focus on all of the modern retro machines from Triumph, BMW and Royal Enfield, and you can build your own custom simply by shopping at their online store. And although they have a signature style, every model can be transformed into a range of looks: Urban, Off-Road, Heritage and Cafe Racer.

When a motorcycle leaves the WalzWerk workshop in Hockenheim, it’s not just another build; it’s a statement of intent. Marcus Walz, one of Europe’s most respected custom builders, has a habit of turning even the most accomplished factory machines into something leaner, sharper, and unmistakably his own. His latest work, a production-series BMW R12 Cafe Racer, is no exception. Based on the already impressive R12 nineT, this machine takes everything BMW got right and infuses it with the signature WalzWerk formula: Great looks, brilliant performance, and an attention to detail that is simply second to none.

The WalzWerk factory is a busy place to be, with endless classic Rs running out the door in the company's SCHIZZO® range, along with a host of customs based on the R18, R nineT, K100 and even some non-BMWs thrown into the mix. But with the release of the R12, Walz became one of the world's first builders to transform the new model, with his incredible Scrambler that we featured last year. That Scrambler is also available in a limited run of bikes each year, and this, the Cafe Racer version, was the obvious next step. Already designed are Bobber and SuperBike versions to come, but for now, it's all about giving the R12 some cafe cool.

There’s something sacred about BMW’s original R80G/S Paris Dakar. It’s the bike that planted the flag for every adventure bike that followed and proved once and for all that long-distance endurance didn’t need four wheels. But what if you took that legacy, polished it until it gleamed, and then injected just the right dose of 21st-century performance? That’s exactly what Robert Sabel of Roughchild Motorcycles has done with this jaw-dropping restomod, a 1983 BMW R80G/S that respects the past while blowing clean past it.

The starting point wasn’t a battered old G/S from a Dakar survivor’s shed, but rather a clean BMW R80ST sourced from North Carolina. With the ST sharing the same mainframe as the original G/S, it made for the perfect foundation. Stripped to the bone, the chassis was reworked with a 50mm extension to the swingarm and driveshaft, giving it both extra poise and a little more room to breathe. Everything has been refinished in lustrous Avus Black Glasurit paint, a deliberate choice that shifts the finish from the factory’s semi-gloss to a richer, glossier coat. 

Steve Jobs once said, "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." And few embody that principle better than master builder Marcus Walz. For more than three decades, he has remained at the forefront of the custom motorcycle world through relentless creativity and a drive to push boundaries. The results speak for themselves—one stunning build after another. His latest creation is no exception. Inspired by the Harley-Davidson board track racers of the 1920s, this 1987 BMW R80 Monolever is more than just a head-turner. Dubbed the WalzWerk SCHIZZO® Board Tracker, it hides a serious surprise: genuine Porsche power under the tank.

“I always admired the Harley Board Tracker from the 1920s, one of the most puristic machines ever built. So I wonder how an air cooled BMW board tracker would look like, if this sport would still exist in the 70s and 80s. So I came up with this black and simple machine,” Marcus tells us. But while the lines are sweet and simple, the engineering poured into this motorcycle are anything but, as Walz once again pushes the limits of what can be done with a BMW R series motorcycle. That's not an easy task when you've built more than 700 airheads, but like those racers from a century ago, the pursuit of power can take you in interesting directions. And Marcus has always had a love for his home heroes, in the form of BMW and Porsche.

It starts as just a couple of friends sharing their love of bikes over a beer or two, next they're discussing the kind of motorcycle that might make for a good project, maybe go halves and save some cash. Then, before you know it, they've opened a garage, created a brand and built a few bikes. That's the short and simple version of how two motorbike-mad mates from Lithuania started their own custom bike company, B Custom Cycle. Lukas and Marius might work by day in finance and production planning, but all their spare time is spent in a garage they acquired back in 2022, in their nation's capital, Vilnius. Both will tell you that bike building is still their hobby, but this cafe'd BMW R80 RT proves they have a bright future ahead, should they choose to go full-time.

One of the things we love about meeting builders from all corners of the globe is learning about the unique challenges they have to overcome to bring their dreams into reality. Lithuania has a very strong motorcycle culture, but parts for a cafe racer style build are not available through overnight delivery, as they are in many other parts of the world. The upside is that those who can't simply order parts to bolt-on, don't end up with a cookie-cutter end product. And then there is another challenge for Lukas and Marius, given they both work full time in demanding jobs, time just isn't on their side, so this build took them five years.