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The tradition of self-gifting on one’s birthday is a familiar one. Perhaps a designer watch, a tailored suit, or an indulgent getaway. However, for Cihan Sel, Executive Director of Marketing & Communications at OMNIYAT, the gesture took on an entirely different scale. A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who has been riding since 2005, he decided to mark his birthday with something extraordinary: a custom-built motorcycle, one that wasn’t just his but reflected him in every detail.
To bring this vision to life, he turned to Ertuğrul Altun, the mastermind behind Dubai Chopper. A master craftsman with over 25 years of experience, and a longtime friend of Cihan, Ertuğrul was the perfect collaborator. For five months, they worked meticulously before ELEVEN was born.
Why ELEVEN? The name carries personal and symbolic weight. Cihan’s birthday falls on January 11, but beyond that, the number itself represents glory and power; qualities built into every inch of the bike. Nearly 90% custom-made, ELEVEN is a raw expression of character and craftsmanship. Beneath its sleek, jet-black frame lies a Porsche-powered 146 HP engine, complete with a hidden air-ride suspension for a seamless glide. Its single-sided swingarm exposes intricate custom components like a rolling exhibition piece, while CNC-machined rims and a titanium exhaust give it an edge that’s both aggressive and refined. The finishing touch? Ultra-rare dual 14-inch LED front lights, ensuring ELEVEN is just as striking at night as it is under Dubai’s relentless sun.
“This is not something you can buy off the shelf,” says Cihan. Every detail is bespoke, every element deliberate. At 2.8 meters long and weighing 370 kg, ELEVEN commands attention before it even moves. When it does, its Porsche engine roars, its titanium exhaust gleams, and its headlights slice through the darkness like twin supernovae.
A bike like ELEVEN turns heads. Quite literally. Cihan tells me that as he rides through the streets, people hundreds of meters ahead turn around, trying to catch a glimpse of what’s coming.
The overwhelming response to ELEVEN, combined with the thrill of the creative process, has pushed Cihan to take things even further. What began as a personal passion project has evolved into something much larger. Now, in collaboration with Dubai Chopper, three more custom motorcycles are in the works, each just as meticulously designed, each pushing the limits of form and function.
Among them is Pardus, inspired by the African black panther—sleek, powerful, untamed. And while this started as a personal pursuit, it may not stay that way for long. With designs this bold and a growing appetite for more, Cihan is considering turning his passion into something bigger, perhaps even a business.
“Dubai is a land of opportunity. It allowed me to build my first custom motorcycle for myself and now Dubai is allowing me to build three more bikes for my collection, and watch my dreams come to life.”
Though he takes it out on weekend rides, for most of the week, ELEVEN sits in his living room. A mechanical masterpiece to admire in full view as he sips his morning coffee.
In a world of mass production, ELEVEN stands apart: bold, deliberate, one-of-one. Some gifts collect dust. Others leave their mark. ELEVEN does the latter, beautifully.
