BMW's R nineT range fuses present-day function and forgone form in a package that appeals to many modern riders. Whether it's the Urban GS, Scrambler, or Racer variant, the Motorrad company achieves a balance of styling and performance that is hard to match. Though the R nineT toes the line between contemporary and retro, there's still room to push the Beemer on either side of the divide. When Zillers Garage got its hands on an R nineT, it decided to take both the vintage aesthetic and the modern performance to the nth degree.
Zillers Garage is no stranger to masterful metal-shaping. The Moscow-based custom shop previously graced us with a Vincent-powered steel sculpture, but Zillers' alchemists wanted to go in another direction for the R nineT. Wrapping a nearly seamless sheet of aluminum over the Beemer's original form, the builders pushed the modern classic further into the past. Simultaneously steampunk and aviator art deco, Zillers' build looks like a bullet train designed after a B-52 bomber.
BMW's R nineT range fuses present-day function and forgone form in a package that appeals to many modern riders. Whether it's the Urban GS, Scrambler, or Racer variant, the Motorrad company achieves a balance of styling and performance that is hard to match. Though the R nineT toes the line between contemporary and retro, there's still room to push the Beemer on either side of the divide. When Zillers Garage got its hands on an R nineT, it decided to take both the vintage aesthetic and the modern performance to the nth degree.
Zillers Garage is no stranger to masterful metal-shaping. The Moscow-based custom shop previously graced us with a Vincent-powered steel sculpture, but Zillers' alchemists wanted to go in another direction for the R nineT. Wrapping a nearly seamless sheet of aluminum over the Beemer's original form, the builders pushed the modern classic further into the past. Simultaneously steampunk and aviator art deco, Zillers' build looks like a bullet train designed after a B-52 bomber.
On the performance front, Zillers kept the 1,170cc boxer intact, but added a custom pie-cut exhaust. The new system not only opens up the 110-horsepower engine but also opens up the rear of the bike, showing off the single-sided swingarm that's typically obstructed by the stock cans. Upgraded Brembo brakes help the hulking hunk shed speed quickly and a sliding tail section provides access to the electronic controls and a USB socket for charging devices.
Zillers' main man Mikhail Smolânovym planned to reveal the build at Motovesna Motorcycle Show in Moscow this year, but COVID-19 had other ideas. However, like Suzuki and Honda, the Moscow-based garage didn't let the novel coronavirus outbreak stop them from unveiling the motorcycle digitally. We look forward to hopefully seeing Zillers' R nineT project in person one day—once the crisis ends.
