The Popemobile, that iconic open-air vehicle designed for popes to greet crowds—first appearing in the late 1970s—may have served faithfully for nearly five decades, but it just met its spirited two-wheeled rival: the BMW Popecycle (our name).
Pope Leo XIV has blessed and signed a sleek BMW R 18 Transcontinental painted in luxurious mother-of-pearl white with the Vatican’s coat of arms proudly displayed. This one-of-a-kind motorcycle will be auctioned by Missio, part of a century-old global Catholic missionary network, via Sotheby’s next month, with every penny going to support children’s aid projects in Madagascar.
The idea for this divine ride came from Thomas Draxler of Jesus-Biker and the team at Motorrad Witzel in Sennfeld, Bavaria. With BMW Motorrad Deutschland donating the bike, Witzel added custom touches to make it a true standout, perfect for a pontiff with a flair for the dramatic.
Imagine Pope Leo XIV, robe billowing, taking the Big Boxer-powered Popecycle for a spin around St. Peter’s Square with a zucchetto-inspired helmet.
The BMW Popecycle began its journey on August 31 with a Peace Ride from Sennfeld to Vatican City. The route wound through Schaafheim, Altötting, and Verona, with church services adding a spiritual vibe to the trip. Riders from Jesus-Biker, BMW Motorrad, and Witzel joined the trek, mostly on BMW R 18s, turning heads wherever they went.
At the Vatican, BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch and BMW Motorrad Germany head Michael Sommer presented the Popecycle to Pope Leo XIV after his weekly audience.
“What started as a wild dream turned into a fantastic charity project,” Flasch said. “We’re grateful to His Holiness for lending his signature to this cause.”
From September 15 to October 7, the Popecycle will be on display at BMW Welt in Munich before heading to auction. While the Popemobile has faithfully served popes since the late 1970s, the BMW R 18 Transcontinental Popecycle offers a bold new vision—the pontiff cruising with holy swagger. Here’s hoping Pope Leo XIV takes it for a ride before it goes under the hammer.
