Written by Tim Huber.
Each year, motorcycle manufacturers are faced with the challenge of building on, and improving the outgoing model year; finding ways to bolster performance; shave off weight; and ultimately outdo their previous offering; before starting the whole process over the following year. Ironwood Custom Motorcycles faces a similar struggle; after completing one of its signature bratted and bobbed BMW?s, the Dutch shop is routinely forced to discover new avenues to one-upping itself. This is by no means an easy feat considering the caliber of IWC?s work, though with its latest Bavarian-based project, it?s managed to deliver in spades.

Dubbed the ?Vulcan? ? after the 2015 limited edition track-only Aston Martin of the same name ? this one-off machine started life as an ?86 BMW R100. The build was commissioned by a client from Norway, who rode the Beemer to IWC?s Amsterdam HQ from their home in Oslo. ?The customer wanted a bike with big chunky tires, a mono-shock, floating seat, a crazy segmented exhaust, an upgraded ignition, and a new, modern front-end,? explains Arjan van den Boom, creative director and founder of Ironwood.
As per usual, Arjan started with the stance of the bike, tweaking various elements before eventually honing in on the upright yet aggressive posture he?d envisioned. The stock subframe was hacked off and replaced with a tractor-style saddle with a diamond-stitch pattern perched on a minimalist support. The chassis, swing-arm, and other m...