Despite only specialising in the older two-valve boxer engines,
Ritmo Sereno
's showroom has the feeling of a modern BMW dealership. The glass-fronted building allows passers by to view the models for sale and inside everything is neat, tidy and organised. Looking above the high metal divide that separates the workshop and showroom, a jumble of petrol tanks hanging from the ceiling give a hint as to what hides behind. Owner Shiroh Nakajima is a well-known name within the Japanese and international boxer community and his two-valve specials regularly appear in the motorcycle press.
Bikes are beautifully minimal and pure
"I started Ritmo Sereno in 2000. The name is Italian and means silent rhythm, I chose it because it sounds nice and reminds me of the boxer motor's sound." Shiroh Nakajima's eyes light up when he starts talking about his passion for BMW boxer engines. "I have always loved BMWs. The second motorcycle I owned was a K75 and I customised it with flat bars and a cafe racer seat, but the problem was there weren't many parts available in Japan. I wasn't skilled enough to make the modifications I wanted so I had to make do with what was already for sale, it was frustrating. That was when I had the idea of opening my own customisation shop solely for BMWs."
Boxing clever
Despite the idea forming in his mind, it was many years later that Shiroh managed to open Ritmo Sereno. "I was 26 when I went into business for myself. Although I originally owned the in-line four K75 I only had this bike because it was cheap, what I really wanted was a boxer-engined BMW but they were very expensive. When I opened the shop I knew that the boxer motor was the one to focus on, it is a beautiful engine."
Showroom is slick and presents public face...
And it seems as though he is not alone in his appreciation for the motor, according to Shiroh there is a huge culture in Japan for the older boxer engine, split into two types of riders.
"A lot of my customers have grown up on the two-valve engine. They have owned the bike for many years and don't want to swap it, but there is also a new breed of Japanese rider who sees the BMW as cool. I am getting more and more younger riders coming to my shop and requesting a two-valve bike. They look at the modified bikes I make and use them as inspiration to create their own custom bike using the parts I sell. I have found the older riders tend to leave their bikes standard, they are not really into the customisation side of things."
Two is company
As well as sourcing spare parts and creating his own aftermarket accessories, Shiroh's reputation for building specials sees him creating around 50 unique bikes a year for customers, the majority of which request them in a cafe racer style. With the increased interest in BMW motorcycles, has the latest boxer engine tempted him to alter his allegiance from two to four-valves?
...but the real action is back in the workshop
"No, I don't like the feeling of the four-valve engine. It is not as pure as the two-valve, the motor has no heart, it is too silent and the two-valve responds far better to tuning. If you tune a two-valve engine you can make a huge difference, with a four-valve motor this is not possible."
To demonstrate this, and his own fabrication skills, Shiroh has built a stunning 1986 R80 race bike that he uses to compete in various race series in Japan, a replica of which would cost in the region of £35,000. With the number 46 on its tail I ask if he is a fan of Valentino Rossi.
"No, the 46 is my name. Shiroh in Japanese can be pronounced Shi which means four and roh which is 6, hence the number."