AUTO FABRICA

Boxer Concept
The alternative custom scene of the 21st century was built on a passion for classic style. But lately we've seen a trend for futurism, and this creation of Auto Fabrica, which plays with both concepts, is an impressive end result.
The "Type 18" is a BMW R nineT that sits without remorse on the futuristic side of the aesthetic spectrum. It was commissioned by BMW Motorrad to perform at the annual Wheels & Waves festival in Biarritz. When the brothers Bujar and Gazmend Muharremi got the specifications for a classic BMW boxer, they clung to the fact that BMW originally built airplane engines. And as they sharpened the concept, influences ranging from geometric architecture to aircraft design began to converge. "We did a pile of design work for this bike that tried many different directions," say the brothers, "but every 'concept' looks like it." "When we originally flew to Munich to meet the team, they were not waiting to see any design work - everything happened in a short time. But we ended up carrying sketches as well as a 3D printed design model that the BMW team loved. "
The Auto Fabrica started with a R NineT Scrambler of origin, and then cut and changed some parts of other NineT models. The inverted tees and forks come from a R NineT Roadster, while the stanchions and the rear wheels come from a R NineT Racer.
Racer wheels look the same as the Scrambler, but come in 3.50 x 17 "(front) and 5.50 x 17" (rear). "We thought the 5-spoke design was the cleanest and best of any of the options available," say the brothers. Auto Fabrica dispatched the forks to the British suspension company, Maxton, which sent them back shortened and with new interiors. The rear bumper is also Maxton's - it's a custom unit and even sports the Auto Factory logo.
According to Bujar and Gaz, the new suspension made a huge difference in behavior. "It's an incredible update and it's not just about looks. Performance is out of this world. "
But most of the manpower hours in this project went to NineT's intriguing new body. And if anyone suspected there was any inspiration in a military jet, it would be right; the brothers cite the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor among their references.
Despite the futuristic appearance, most of what you see was handmade from aluminum using traditional techniques. This includes the monocoque deposit and tail, the side panels that pass over the cylinder heads and the various sections that make up the front end. Although Auto Fabrica has already seen the Type 18 design, the final shapes evolved even more when they went from concept to metal. "The steering damper was an item that made us review the top of the engine," they explain, "since it originally came to the front of the forks."
"This really worked out for the best, since from then on, the bike adopted a slightly different design approach."
"The fragmentation of the fairing and aerodynamic blade covers not only gives the bike a level of interest from a stylistic point of view, but also makes the bike's stance lower and more elegant - which is what we were looking for. These added panels have really allowed us to boost our creativity. "
As the project progressed, Auto Fabrica began to figure out ways to make the side sections interchangeable - an idea they plan to explore further. "The idea of ​​having some options that customers can buy and change really attracts us," they say. "We want them to put these covers on the wall as works of art or sculptures, with battle scars gathered over the years."
Finishing the body meant using more advanced carving techniques. Auto Fabrica used 3D printing for the headlight cover, the rear headlight housing and the blades that hold the front switches.
The beacon itself is made of a pair of acrylic blades, with powerful LEDs behind them (it also doubles as a pair of blinkers). Auto Fabrica used the same concept for the front turn signals - choosing to turn them into a design feature rather than hiding them.
These are appealing features, but there are many small details to be addressed as well. Like the gasoline cap carefully retracted, the cut section where the tank flows to the tail, and the Alcantara seat with its chic 'A' badge.
Under the bonnet, the frame and subframe were subtly debugged and trimmed.
Type 18 also uses Renthal's advances and handles and a number of BMW Option 719 optional accessory parts - including valve caps, engine front plate, pedals, and brake fluid reservoir caps. The speedometer is the original one, but it has gained a new face from the Gauge Instruments team. Auto Fabrica finished off R NineT with a set of its unique curved exhaust, ending up in a pair of narrow megaphones. The system was handmade in stainless steel and finished in black matte Cerakote.
Type 18 is both threatening and fascinating. Bujar and Gaz clearly have a vivid imagination - but they also have the ability to move from concept to reality. As with all of its constructions, Auto Fabrica will accept limited orders of Type 18. With some luck, we will see some more evolutions of the species. Paulo Araújo, de Portugal