This aircraft-inspired BMW R nineT is the work of Wayne Buys, who works out of his home garage as FabMan Creations. It’s shrouded in aluminum bodywork that Wayne built by hand, using a homemade English wheel. It’s probably also worth noting that he worked freeform, without a single sketch, render or template – and that his metal-shaping skills are self-taught.

This R nineT was commissioned by a client, who supplied a low-mileage R nineT and specified the aeronautical theme. Most of the stock bike still remains under the aluminum, but that doesn’t mean that this was an easy win. Wayne had to figure out some clever workarounds to put it together, and it took him 8 months to wrap up.

The whole bike assembles like a Meccano set. The upper shell secures to a hidden aluminum fuel cell, via a locking nut around the gas cap. There’s another fastener hidden under the seat pad, with extra attachment points up front.
Wayne trimmed the frame around the upper shock mount to accommodate the new tail section, and moved the foot peg brackets further back. Custom foot pegs ?pinch’ the belly pan to hold it in place, with four bolts below the bike to secure it.

Each body panel interlocks with the next, connected via small allen head fasteners that mimic the rivets you’d find on aircraft. The various scoops and air intakes aren’t just for show either; each one directs air to a crucial part of the b...