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For the first time, Fred Kodlin has customize a BMW together with his son Len – the BMW R 18 B. Kodlin is of considerable reputation in certain Harley-Davidson circles. Since the 1990s, his custom bikes have won various Daytona shows – Rats Hole and Boardwalk – regularly. A native German, he was the first non-US citizen inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame.
“The R 18 B Heavy Duty was a real father-son project. There was a lot of creative input from Len which also goes to show that the next generation at Kodlin Bikes is already in the starting blocks,” said Fred Kodlin in Borken, Germany this morning.
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The biggest challenge in customizing this year’s crowd puller at the Daytona Bike Week in Florida was undoubtedly the frame. “We have completely re-manufactured the upper tubes to lower the fly-line and thus the seat height of the R 18 B. We also redid the steering head and the triple clamps so that the caster fits despite the changed steering angle and so that the bike rides well,” explains Fred Kodlin.
The result was the R 18 B Heavy Duty, a Kodlin style bike. In profile, the fly-line drops sharply to the rear from the chopped windshield taken from the Original BMW Motorrad Accessories range and finally runs into the side cases made by Kodlin out of glass fiber-reinforced plastic and the low rear end. In plan view, the R 18 B HEAVY DUTY is characterized by a strong waistline in the seat area and a flowing connection to the side cases.
The chassis has air suspension system at the front and rear, supported by a semi-hidden compressor behind the left side case. This allows the R 18 B Heavy Duty to be lowered and raised in what’s claimed to be a fraction of a second. To park, lower the chassis, and it rests on hidden support points letting the bike crouch just a few centimeters above the asphalt, waiting for the next ride.
A new sheet metal tank was created – longer than the original, flowing in shape and with indentations on the sides. The connection of the tank and rear frame was also modified for this purpose. The original mobile phone charging compartment, comes directly from the R 18 B.
A front spoiler including a 3-color underfloor lighting system, and a front mudguard (sandguard?) are made of sheet metal, the mudguard fitting snugly around the 21-inch front wheel. Finally, Kodlin created a corresponding counterpart for the rear wheel from two R 18 B rear mudguards joined together, in which the rear and side indicator lights are integrated. The two side covers made of sheet metal, which form a transition to the side cases, are custom-made. R 18 B loudspeakers by Marshall and an amplifier are fitted inside. Will aluminum milled hinge panels of the cases in the style of the original R 18 B components.
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The so-called winglets above the cylinders are also made of metal, but do not functionally do any work. Instead, they underline the design of the R 18 B Heavy Duty. The customizing job is rounded off by a seat made by Kodlin and an instrument cover with covers made of Alcantara and imitation leather, as well as specially made handlebars and a self-created exhaust system. (https://kodlinusa.com/about-us/)
Paintwork by tattoo artist Marcel Sinnwell
Marcel Sinnwell has painted other Kodlin showbikes in the past, but now only rarely picks up a spray gun for very special jobs. For example, when he paints yachts or in this instance an R 18 B Heavy Duty. The color gradients were completely airbrushed with translucent paint. The inspiration for this was the mixing of color pigments in the paint and especially the way form streaks in the milky basecoat when first stirred. Perfect for Daytona bike week, where complex and colorful paint schemes abound.
Additional design touches on the R 18 B Heavy Duty are provided by hand-painted pinstripes and an airbrushed pattern on the rear mudguard that combines Kodlin and “100 years of BMW Motorrad”. The brake calipers, gearshift and foot brake levers and footrests are BMW Motorrad standard components that have been color-matched.
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NHTSA on Motorcyclist Safety Is Everyone’s Safety:
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the end of May ushers in the unofficial start of the summer road travel season. Safe riding and driving practices, and cooperation from all road users, will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways.
Unfortunately, data show that motorcyclists are often over-represented in traffic crashes and fatalities each year, and that speed and alcohol are large contributing factors. Additionally, helmet use has drastically declined in the past few years, leaving motorcyclists vulnerable to injury and death. It’s everyone’s responsibility, both the motor vehicle driver and the motorcyclist, to practice safe habits on the road and, ultimately, to Share the Road.
According to NHTSA data, there were 5579 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2020, an 11% increase from 2019 at 5044. Motorcyclist deaths accounted for 14% of the total highway fatalities in 2020. In fact, in 2020, per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists were about 28 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash and were 4 times more likely to be injured.
One of the primary contributing factors to motorcyclist fatalities is speeding. NHTSA data show 34% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2020 were speeding, compared to 22% for passenger car drivers, 16% for light-truck drivers, and 7% for large-truck drivers. Motorcycle riders 25 to 29 years old involved in fatal crashes had the highest speeding involvement at 45%.
Alcohol impairment also plays a significant role in motorcycle-involved crash fatalities: 41% of the 2158 motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2020 were alcohol-impaired. In 2020, motorcycle riders involved (killed or survived) in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than any other type of motor vehicle driver (27% for motorcycle riders, 23% for passenger car drivers, 19% for light-truck drivers, and 3% for large-truck drivers). Forty-five percent of those killed in single-vehicle crashes on weekends were alcohol- impaired at night than during the day (40% and 14%, respectively).
As with seat belts, helmets are a simple and effective way to reduce the likelihood of injury or death during a crash. But helmet use has declined significantly in the past few years. The use of DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets declined from 69% in 2020 to 64.9% in 2021. Helmet use continued to be significantly higher in states that require all motorcyclists to be helmeted than in other states that do not. It’s important to understand that both motorcyclists and their passengers should always wear a helmet. Helmet use among riders with passengers continued a sharp decrease at 52.1% in 2021, down from 65% in 2020 and 79.7% in 2019. In contrast, helmet use among passengers of riders wearing DOT-compliant helmets increased significantly from 84.5% in 2020 to 92.1% in 2021.
Safe driving and riding practices from all road users – drivers and riders alike – will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways. Motor vehicle drivers and motorcyclists should keep the following tips in mind when on the road:
• Observe all traffic laws and always obey the speed limit.
• Drive and ride alcohol- and drug-free.
• Avoid distractions that place other road users at risk.
• Yield to motorcyclists, especially while turning at intersections.
• Wear high-visibility personal protective gear and DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets. NHTSA data estimates that helmets saved 1,872 motorcyclists’ lives in 2017, and that 749 more lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn their helmets. Learn how to identify a safe, DOT-compliant helmet at http://www.nhtsa.gov/motorcycle-safety/choose-right-motorcycle-helmet
The completion of a rider education and training course can ensure a safer riding experience. As May nears, let’s commit to safe driving and riding, and to our role in ensuring a safe motorcycle-riding environment. For more information on motorcycle safety, visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycles. For additional statistics please visit https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/ and search “motorcycle” under Crash Data Publications.