BMW Built a Custom Nitrous-Fueled Motorcycle That Will Blow You Away

BMW’s motorcycle division transformed a stock R 1300 R into a low-slung, carbon-clad sprint racer.

custom bmw motorcycle exhaust and rear close-up

Published July 18, 2025

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Updated July 18, 2025

Be it a classic toaster tank model or a modern oil-cooled four-valve, motorcycle builders can’t seem to get enough of the BMW boxer twin — and it’s for good reason.

The platform is ubiquitous in the world of two-wheeled customs on account of its striking horizontally opposed cylinders, unfailing German build quality and torque-rich performance in the twisties.

While this means that you’ll find an abundance of exemplary boxer builds, few can compare to this slick custom from BMW’s Motorrad division. Built around the newly unveiled BMW R 1300 platform, it’s a low-slung, nitrous-injected racer that’s aptly named ‘Titan.’

Phillip Ludwig and his team stripped a stock BMW R 1300 R of anything unnecessary to give the bike a low-slung racer look.

BMW

Boxer turned sprinter

To transform a stock R 1300 R into the one-off bike you see before you, BMW Motorrad enlisted an in-house team led by seasoned motorcycle engineer and racer Philipp Ludwig.

Having developed a reputation for his wild Sultans of Sprint bikes and his Renstall Moto brand, Ludwig also competes in the Rocket Race Club Sprint Challenge. Suffice it to say, he was more than qualified to do the job.

Though Titan incorporates some of the basic styling elements from its R 1300 R donor, the resulting sprint racer couldn’t be more different than the bike you can buy from the factory. Ludwig and his team stripped the BMW boxer of everything they deemed to be unnecessary, replacing the stock bodywork with a tidy forged carbon fiber monocoque and chopping the tail.

bmw custom motorcycle headlight and handlebars — As a true parts bin special, Titan incorporates components from other high-performance BMWs, including the M 1000 RR and the M4 CSL.

A shot of nitrous

All too often, custom motorcycles are built to be rolling pieces of artwork rather than functional, rideable vehicles. However, that’s not the case with Titan. Being a racer in addition to an engineer, Phillip Ludwig wanted the bike to move as fast as it looked.

Accordingly, it now sports some massive air ducts, a pair of aftermarket pod filters, a set of low clip-on handlebars and Magura brakes. To provide for an aerodynamic riding position, Ludwig and company also fitted it with some custom-made peg extensions that have the rearsets almost inline with the back wheel.

overhead shot of bmw motorcycle custom — Even when cloaked in a forged carbon monocoque and some striking air ducts, BMW’s massive 1,300cc boxer engine makes itself known.

Though the 1,300cc engine remains largely stock, it does benefit from a custom two-into-two titanium exhaust system made in collaboration with Akrapović.

Moreover, thanks to the addition of a nitrous injection system (through which the bottle is mounted conspicuously between the pipes), it only takes the touch of a button to boost output beyond the stock 145 horsepower and 110 lb-ft of torque.

custom bmw motorcycle doing a burnout — As the product of an engineer and motorcycle racer, Titan is much more than a mere art piece — it’s designed to perform.

One of a kind

Being a one-off creation, unfortunately, this R 1300 R boxer custom isn’t for sale. However, keen-eyed readers will spot several components pulled from the BMW parts bin. In addition to a set of M 1000 RR forks, it also wears some repurposed LEDs borrowed from the automotive division’s M4 CSL.

As such, if you feel like tackling a similar project for yourself, you could theoretically invest in a BMW R 1300 R and break out the angle grinder. At $17,290, it’s not exactly a cheap motorcycle for your first build, but it does make for one heck of a versatile platform when you consider what it can become in the case of extreme racers like Titan.