BMW R 18 One Eight "C" by Paul Yaffe
Baggers dominated our pages this week with news of Harley-Davidson's new 2024 models, but for this gallery, we decided to look at a completely different flavor of bagger, with a look at a one-off custom BMW R 18 Transcontinental by designer Paul Yaffe. Dubbing it the R 18 One Eight "C", Yaffe took the Transcontinental and gave it a makeover inspired by the Mercury Lead Sled from the '50s.
The first thing that caught our eye was the giant 26"x5.5" front wheel that was cut from a 400-pound block of solid aluminum. The custom wheel required a handmade 180mm front tire, as well as changes to the frame and a custom triple tree, giving the One Eight "C" its dramatic rake.
Yaffe also took the Transcontinental's fairing, cut it into several pieces, and restructured it to flow into the new wheel. This created a gap between the fairing and the fuel tank, which Yaffe filled with a new chin spoiler that also conceals the radiator. Other changes include rearranging the original R 18's taillights, stretching out the side covers, and integrating the license plate holder into the rear fender.
