Diamond Atelier x Bridgestone R nineT EICMA Special

The Diamond Atelier x Bridgestone BMW R nineT EICMA Special is the result of an unlikely last-minute commission: contacted by Bridgestone just months before the 2017 EICMA show in Milan, Munich-based Diamond Atelier initially declined due to the weight of work already in progress. They reconsidered, rearranged, and delivered one of the most technically and visually accomplished custom BMW R nineTs ever presented at the show.

The Brief: Total Freedom, One Focus

Bridgestone imposed no design brief beyond one clear priority: the tyres. The commission was built around a prototype set of 2018 Battlax Bridgestones that had not yet entered production, and every decision Diamond Atelier made on the build had to serve that central exhibit. Everything else was up to them.

That freedom is unusual in the commissioned custom world, where sponsors typically impose brand colours, graphic elements, or specific feature requirements. Bridgestone trusted Diamond Atelier's vision completely, and the result justified that trust in every detail.

The Wheels: Milling, CNC, and Compromise

Diamond Atelier's first choice for wheels was Gilles forged units. The timeline made that impossible: Gilles wheels require lead time that the compressed schedule simply did not allow. Rather than accept an off-the-shelf alternative, DA took the more demanding route. They sourced a BMW S1000RR front wheel and a BMW R1200R rear wheel and subjected both to extensive milling and CNC machining to achieve the profile and visual weight they wanted. The result is a wheel set that looks purpose-built for this motorcycle while remaining grounded in BMW engineering.

Those wheels, shod with the Battlax prototype rubber, are the centrepiece of the build. Every other decision radiates outward from them.

Components and Bodywork: Precision at Every Point

The component selection follows Diamond Atelier's established philosophy of sourcing the best available option in each category. Gilles handlebars, rearsets, and frame covers provide the ergonomic and visual framework. The seat is slimmer than standard, upholstered in cowhide leather with the factory stitching pattern retained.

The rear bodywork uses an original BMW aluminium piece that has been cut down and reshaped to match the slimmer profile of the build. The paint is a distinctive two-tone treatment that complements the metallic wheel finish and ties the front and rear of the bike into a coherent visual package.

The taillight detail and the stance achieved by the wheel and suspension combination give the motorcycle a taut, purposeful silhouette that reads as both racing and refined.

The 3D-Printed Front End: Where Technology Meets Form

The most technically distinctive element of the build is the front fairing. Tom Konecny of Diamond Atelier chose a 3D-printed front unit, a component they had been developing and testing across multiple builds. For the Bridgestone commission it was the right choice on several grounds: the compressed timeline made traditional fabrication difficult, the technology allowed for an aggressively flowing form that would have required many hours of hand-shaping in metal or fibreglass, and the result integrates front and rear of the motorcycle in one unbroken visual line.

The headlights are hidden within the air intakes, keeping the front face clean and allowing the aerodynamic form to read without interruption. At EICMA, surrounded by production machinery and one-off show bikes, the Diamond Atelier R nineT commanded attention for exactly this reason: it looked like no other motorcycle at the show.

Photos by Lukas Magerl and Julian Webber

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