''Together with BMW Motorrad and VTR Customs, TW Steel celebrates the iconic Spitfire airplane by creating Spitfire timepieces and a custom motorcycle simultaneously. Bound by passion, the worlds of airplanes, timepieces and custom motorcycles collide in style.'' - via TW Steel
Why is the Spitfire (so) important ?!
''Spitfire, also called Supermarine Spitfire, the most widely produced and strategically important British single-seat fighter of World War II. The Spitfire, renowned for winning victory laurels in the Battle of Britain (1940–41) along with the Hawker Hurricane, served in every theatre of the war and was produced in more variants than any other British aircraft.'' - says Britannica
Motorcycles, planes and watches always had something in common; because power, aerodynamic sexy shapes and sound (for the first two). And because... need for speed.
VTR Customs from Switzerland did a really great job mimicking the fuselage of the Spitfire airplane. Inside the riveted streamlined cowl an 2017 BMW R1200 R power plant was tucked in. Plus the whole guts of wires and cables. Even the yellow little fairing pays an homage to the pilot's cabin. The paint job reminds us that we're not talking about a regular Spitfire, but of a fighter ! As you can imagine, the whole bike is hand built; frame, sub frame and body.
To tell you the truth, I'm not a boxer engine fan. The wideness and the overall look of a boxer does not appeal to me. Not to be reminded of that ''one time'' when I test rode the BMW RnineT and almost crashed it while lane splitting between two taxi cars. Emergency braking and panic kicked in when I reminded myself that I'm riding a large cow and not a slim V-Twin !
But that don't matter here, since the low and wide profile is actually a plus, keeping the bike closer to the asphalt and giving it a sleek/er design. Even more, the engines have their own direct cooling system thanks to the side scoops. It also benefits of a free flowing intake and a custom exhaust system.
This is no ordinary exhaust pipework, though: There is a discreet setting on the bike that allows the tailpipes to literally spit fire—a characteristic of the Supermarine Spitfire itself, which was occasionally fitted with ‘blinkers’ over the exhaust to shield the pilots’ eyes from bright flames.
“We found a control unit that can generate a signal for the flame system,” Dani (from VTR) reveals. “We got an ignition coil, and fitted a standard spark plug in the exhaust.” -via BikeExif.
Spitfire and the pilot Amelie Mooseder attended the race series Sultans of Sprint two weekends ago in MOnza, Italy, making the bike's official public debut. In my opinion it's a great homage to the legendary fighter. Don't know if I'm a fan (yet) of the TW watches that bare the same name though...
If the rider would have been a bit more ''inside'' the machine I think it would have made the Spitfire even cooler (...).
Nonetheless, I do imagine it racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Oh yeah...
Artwork by Barbara Custom Motorcycles
PS: Even so, it does remind me a bit of another timepiece-motorcycle philosophy project inspired, the Bell & Ross ''B-Rocket'' built three years ago. Check it, here.
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