Johnny Nguyen of Upcycle Motor Garage has taken his 1978 BMW R80 bobber to another level by fitting it with military-spec Firestone tractor tires. The custom motorcycle now resembles a real-life two-wheeled Tonka toy. While the bike may not be practical, it definitely puts a smile on our faces. Nguyen’s inspiration for this project came from a white airhead bobber, built by Mark Van Der Kwaak, that he admired for many years. The main concept was to blend the wide airhead engine proportions with the long frame of a hard-tailed bobber.
To achieve this vision, Nguyen started by using 16” Firestone tractor tires as the foundation for the build. He then fabricated everything else from scratch, with only the neck and parts of the down tubes remaining from the original BMW R80 frame. This allowed him to reposition the engine, so that the engine sump sits flush with the bottom frame rails. The front tire is mounted on a dished 16” Harley-Davidson wheel, paired with a TC Bros. springer front end and brake setup. The rear rim, from Excel, had to be offset to clear the wider rear tire and accommodate the driveshaft. Johnny ran the rear brake rod through the rear frame triangle, a design idea borrowed from Sosa Metalworks.
Custom split handlebars are bolted directly to the billet aluminum top yoke, complete with Kustom Tech levers and ODI Vans x Cult grips. The bike features a triangular upside-down headlight mounted on a custom bracket, and a 1.25-gallon fuel tank that sits on the new frame backbone via custom mounts. A tiny Motogadget speedometer is positioned vertically in front of the tank, while the 797.5 cc air-cooled engine sits proudly inside the custom frame with a handmade two-into-one exhaust and a Werkes USA muffler. The bike has been rewired around a Motogadget control unit, with the horn, regulator, and coils relocated into the engine cover. An Antigravity Lithium-ion battery is housed in an aluminum box hidden behind the transmission.
The BMW R80 bobber features a saddle-style seat for one, mounted on a small shock absorber since it is a hardtail. The custom taillight uses a small bulb retrofitted with high-powered LEDs. Nguyen made all the brass bushings and fittings on his small workshop lathe and gave the bike a unique color scheme inspired by his love for Harry Potter; he calls it his “Slytherin bike.” The finished product exudes a long, low, and agricultural look, while showcasing Nguyen’s attention to hand-finished details.
While Draco Malfoy might be too afraid to ride this bike, we’d be more than willing to take it for a spin—especially in off-road conditions. Johnny Nguyen has truly created a unique and eye-catching custom motorcycle that stands out from the crowd.