HP2 LC Megamoto: Prototype or Production?

Ferreted away in an industrial park an hour from Los Angeles, BMW has a building with a sign that reads Designworks, accompanied with a BMW and a MINI logo. It is only coincidence that the local BMW Motorrad dealer in Newbury Park is a few blocks away, and their techs do their test ride loops past this skunkworks building on a regular basis. It may well have spawned a creative energy and cast a spell on one of those techs, though.

In that same nearby dealership, an astute BMW tech, Doug Smith, became Ventura County BMW’s Service Manager after several years of endearing himself to the shop’s customers by his patient and knowledgeable explanations of all things BMW as a certified tech. A recent personal project was a full restoration of an R 100 S and convincing the shop to install a vapor blasting machine to further their available services.

Being a gearhead at heart, Doug sought the holy grail of motorcycling for himself. He always loved the original 2008 HP2 Megamoto, a bike seemingly designed for hooliganism. When BMW announced the new R 1250 R with the HP Billet package, Doug was smitten and saw his opportunity to recreate a legend with contemporary BMW parts. Alas, this bike is neither a prototype nor a production bike, but it could be, since virtually all the pieces come from Munich parts bins.

Doug started with a 2020 R 1250 R, ordered from the factory with the $2,700 HP Billet package. Although expensive, the package is considerably cheaper than ordering the parts separately and if you value aesthetics, the option is worth every penny. The bike was also equipped with the Select Package.

To raise the bike up and give it the Megamoto stance, Doug replaced the forks with those from an S 1000 XR, while the rear shock came from an R 1250 GS. This allowed retention of all the electronic functions of the BMW suspension for damping and ride height.

The approximate three-inch increase in height necessitated new brake and clutch lines; that task went to Spiegler, who make both stock replacements and custom lines as well. Doug moved the rear brake reservoir to allow relocation of the rear ride height sensor to trick the computer into thinking all was normal. Even though Doug can get all these parts at dealer cost, the tally would have paid for another brand-new (but pedestrian) motorcycle. Gearhead Doug scoured eBay until he found pristine XR forks and a nearly new R 1250 GS rear shock.

The new exhaust is an all-titanium Akrapovic exhaust system, including a high-mount GS muffler and custom exhaust hangar bracket. The shift cam boxer engine now announces its presence with commanding authority. Another custom part was the side stand extension. A Sprint high-flow air filter complemented an ECU flash by Bren Tuning. Carbon fiber parts are from Ilmberger. The dazzling blue tubeless spoke wheels were custom made by Alpina and are works of art.

We photographed this bike shortly after completion, before even riding the break in miles. Doug reports the ride and handling are first class and the machine fulfills all his expectations; handling and performance are breathtaking. I only see his smile growing wider as the break-in period ends.

Will some employee at Designworks be looking out the window as Doug rides by? Perhaps they’ll be inspired to bring back the Megamoto for the highly rumored M Series. Comment below and get the conversation going!