We’re a little bit like kids on Christmas morning around here when an email arrives in our inbox from the lads at Germany’s Diamond Atelier. Just like Santa’s big day, it seems to only happen once a year; this is a workshop that takes its time, with a singular focus on producing one absolutely incredible motorcycle. Over recent years, they have been heavily committed to the BMW brand, particularly creating a limited series of custom motorcycles based on the ever-popular R series. But one customer saw an opportunity to take the basics of that bike and make it ballistically quick. Enter DA#21, known as the MK Race, it’s a track-focused missile, with a monster motor, that looks sexy as hell just sitting still!
Diamond Atelier has positioned itself at the vanguard of custom motorcycles that combine precision engineering with rebellious luxury. A customer from the UK was so enthralled by their designs that he had the image of their MK II Series motorcycle as his wallpaper. With his muse before him, he imagined that stunning silhouette replicated in a way that made it ready to race. “When he approached Diamond Atelier, his goal wasn’t to match the raw performance of other track bikes but to create a presence that couldn’t be ignored. A bike that, even when lined up with the fastest racers, would steal the show by sheer style alone.”
But make no mistake, this is a motorcycle that doesn’t just look good; it definitely has the go to match the show! To create the foundation for the MK Race, the frame has undergone a serious overhaul, transforming a basic R series chassis into something that can withstand the rigours of the track. Extra bracing, improved welds, a beefed-up neck, and a host of secret changes all ensure the old steel is now rock solid! Next, DA teamed up with suspension gurus Wilbers: “Together, we developed a custom rear shock specifically for our airhead builds, now debuting on the MK Race.” To ensure the front end is just as impressive, the company also supplied their fully adjustable superbike forks, tuned especially for the project.
To achieve fast times on the track, you need serious stopping power, and the Wilbers radial mounts allow for the fitment of Brembo’s premium GP4-RB calipers, which have been anodised in black for a sleek look. To optimise line pressure and ensure a consistent feel at the lever, Probrake made a set of their custom lines, and the MK Race even sports a quick-release brake system from BAT Motorsport so that the owner can perform quick pad changes in the pits. Finally, to get the bike rolling, the signature DA wheel setup has been deployed, consisting of “17-inch rims, a 2.5-inch front wheel, and a massive 4.00-inch original BMW cross-spoke wheel at the rear, fitted with a 160 Pirelli slick.”
As was always intended, the form had to match the function, and it all starts at the pointy end of the precision-built BMW. “Inspired by the round, timeless beauty of the Mark II, Diamond Atelier has completely rethought the classic front H fairing, creating a design tailored specifically to the MK Race’s proportions. Deliberately avoiding the trendy aero design elements, this build lets design lead the way.” The tail section is straight from the MK II, but that tank is heavily sculpted, with purposeful knee dents to let the rider really get tucked in. The paint scheme screams sophistication, with a matte Titanium Ash Grey metallic laid down as the base, paired with custom Signal Red in a gloss finish to bring the graphics package to life.
The look, however, is as much about the functional aspects of the build as it is about sheer form, and to save that all-important weight, a ton of stunning carbon fibre parts have been made. “Chosen not only to reduce weight, add strength, and increase heat resistance but also to frame the engine as a centrepiece of the bike’s design.” These pieces include the valve covers, starter cover, alternator cover, airbox cover, and even the seat base, which of course had to be wrapped in Alcantara with diamond-pattern stitching for a touch of luxury.
That carbon-clad engine is more than just a looker too; it’s been stuffed with a 1070cc big bore kit, which spins on a fully balanced crankshaft and swings a set of race-spec pistons finished in the same low-friction coating used in Formula 1. The cylinder heads have been heavily ported and polished, allowing the custom Mikuni carbs built by Stephen Topham to stuff the chambers full of air and fuel. But it’s perhaps the exhaust that shows the lengths DA will go to for perfection. The full titanium system was built and then rebuilt over and over again, with the guidance of an F1 engineer, until it not only weighed just 3kg and kept sound to a European track legal limit, but also produced maximum horsepower.
To further aid in those tuning efforts and to deliver maximum reliability, the team has fitted an all-new loom featuring a Silent Hektik digital ignition system and thermal management has been dramatically improved thanks to a BAT Motorsport race-spec oil cooler. The final changes are all about making the track day experience a thrill, with a Starlane Corsaro II Pro GPS delivering via Bluetooth/WiFi not only lap times but also a host of valuable data to help tune this tornado for some serious lap times.
A custom set of tyre warmers in paint-matching red, and this beautiful BMW is ripe for racing. So, what if others love what they see and want one? “Good news! The MK Race lays the groundwork for the re-release of our Mark Series, a strictly limited production run featuring the MK Race styling option.” Yes, please!
[ Diamond Atelier ]