Shinya Kimura concentrates on one motorcycle at a time, finding its shape in the workshop without sketches. A childhood around his parents’ Tokyo rivet factory and an artistic family background help explain his close relationship with materials.
He built his BMW R 18 conversion, The Wal, for long rides. The frame, wheels, suspension and brakes remained standard, while a larger fuel tank, half fairing and revised riding position changed the machine’s character. The project reveals his priority: the form should suit his own experience in the saddle.
The Wal invites us to find a builder’s signature in the parts he chooses to preserve, too.