BMW R1200C Custom by Robert Levinson

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Robert Levinson’s BMW R1200C keeps the boxer twin’s unmistakable architecture but moves the motorcycle far away from its original cruiser brief. Blue-and-silver bodywork, a compact two-seat profile and a conspicuous set of performance-oriented chassis changes give this BMW a sharper, more athletic identity. The result looks less like a relaxed boulevard machine and more like a muscular roadster built around the R1200C’s distinctive engine.

A boxer cruiser with a new attitude

The visual transformation starts at the front. The twin-headlamp arrangement and handlebar are sourced from the BMW R1150R Rockster, replacing the R1200C’s softer cruiser presentation with a more purposeful face. The upright bar, exposed fork and small flyscreen reinforce that change, while the blue-painted wheels carry the colour scheme through the lower half of the bike.

From the side, the original BMW proportions remain easy to recognise: the broad fuel tank sits above the horizontally opposed cylinders, and the Paralever shaft-drive layout is still central to the design. But the reshaped tail and narrow, stepped seat reduce the visual bulk behind the rider. Polished metal, dark trim and blue-painted components provide enough contrast to keep the large boxer engine from becoming a single block of silver.

Performance hardware from BMW’s parts bin

According to the source material, Levinson’s engine uses high-compression BBPower pistons, ported and polished cylinder heads, S-spec camshafts and GS throttle bodies. A custom lightweight exhaust and Techlusion-tuned ECU were also fitted. These are reported modifications rather than figures from an independent dyno test, but the direction is clear: the build addresses the R1200C’s modest original output through internal engine work and revised breathing rather than cosmetic changes alone.

The source also reports a six-speed gearbox and Paralever components from the R1100S. At the front, the motorcycle uses the suspension assembly associated with the R1100S Boxer Cup Replika. The rear frame has reportedly been modified to accept an S-spec monoshock. Together, those choices point to a deliberate attempt to give the cruiser-based BMW more focused chassis hardware, not merely a new riding position.

Why the details work together

The strongest aspect of the build is its consistency. The Rockster cockpit, sport-derived suspension parts and compact tail all support the same change in character. Even the broad modern tyres and five-spoke wheels make the bike appear planted and ready to turn, while the exposed boxer cylinders preserve the mechanical identity that makes the R1200C unusual in the first place.

This is therefore not a conventional restyle. It is a parts-bin reinterpretation of BMW’s cruiser, using components from related models to create a more assertive roadster. The engine remains the visual anchor, but the suspension, cockpit and shortened-looking rear half finally give it a design language that matches its engineering potential.

Source: Bike EXIF

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