American motorcycle customizers, Revival Cycles, presented their latest creation at this year’s Handbuilt Show in Austin, Texas. The one-off bike, named “The Revival Birdcage,” is built around a prototype of the completely new BMW boxer engine.
“The ‘Revival Birdcage’ turned out great and really showcases our Big Boxer perfectly”, says Timo Resch, VP Sales and Marketing, BMW Motorrad. “Following the ‘Departed’ from Custom Works Zon, this is the second fascinating custom bike built around the prototype of the BMW Motorrad Big Boxer. We will also be showing a BMW Motorrad developed concept bike featuring this engine in the first half-year of 2019. BMW Motorrad will present a series production motorcycle with the Big Boxer for the Cruiser segment in the course of 2020.”
Alan Stulberg’s team at Revival Cycles took around six months to develop the motorcycle that draws its inspiration from Ernst Hennes’ record-setting machines from the late 1920s and early 1930s.
“We had already dreamed about this bike for years, and in December 2018 we received the engine and could finally get to work.I have always been a fan of the boxer engine, but the pure physical size and aesthetic appeal of this prototype really inspired us.”
Alan Stulberg
The “nearly transparent” frame of the “Revival Birdcage” is made of titanium and was developed in-house by Revival Cycles “to focus attention on the engine,” adds Stulberg. “You can easily view the engine and the drivetrain from all angles.” What’s more, almost every single other part on the bike such as handlebars, footrests, shift lever, seat and unique carbon suspension components were all individually crafted.
The Revival Birdcage
The centrepiece of the bike, the large-capacity prototype engine, is reminiscent of the BMW Motorrad boxer engines that were built in the 1960s, particularly the exterior geometry and the visible elements such as the push rods running in chrome-plated protection ducts. However, the cubic capacity is now much larger, and a modern air-oil cooling system is used.
