The BMW R nineT, a nod to the classic BMW boxers, merges timeless design with contemporary technology. Customizers find themselves at a crossroads with this model: enhance its vintage allure or embrace its modern foundations. Shawn Yang, based in China, decisively chose the latter path for his café racer project.

Shawn has been modifying his R nineT for the past five years, focusing primarily on the external aspects of the motorcycle. His efforts have centered around creating and testing bolt-on parts and kits for fellow nineT enthusiasts. This has resulted in a motorcycle that not only looks impressive but also serves as a showcase for advanced 3D-printed components. These enhancements contribute significantly to the bike?s performance, positioning it among the top performers in its class for speed and agility.
The project gained momentum when Shawn teamed up with Trevor Dyment, an industrial designer from Formlabs. Their collaboration spanned continents, using the internet to bridge the gap between China and the USA. Shawn shared, “The main goal was to create a café racer that looks futuristic, streamlined, and delivers exceptional street performance, using my beloved BMW R nineT as the foundation.”

Shawn’s bike, nicknamed ‘The Futurist,’ features unique components produced using four different 3D printing methods. Transparent parts were crafted through stereolithography (SLA), medium-sized...