Custom Motorcycle Builds

[DaveM]

About Turn: Eastern Spirit Garage builds an XS650 bobber

Eastern Spirit Garage have mastered the art of building cafe racers. They nailed the formula when they broke onto the scene seven years ago—and have produced consistently good results since.

But the Polish shop likes to break the mold once in a while, by deviating from their hallmark genre. Because, as shop boss Sylwester puts it, “it just gives us a lot of fun and challenges.”

This latest project is the furthest thing, stylistically, from a cafe racer you can get: a bobber. But clearly Sylwester and co. have that look down pat too, because there’s not a line out of place on this low-slung hardtail.

The bike’s based on an early 80s Yamaha XS650 Special. That was the slightly chopper-ized version of the XS650, and doesn’t quite have the same classic appeal today.

“Building a bobber on an XS required a cheap base,” says Sylwester. “We respect the heritage—it would be painful to cut down a nice XS II, for instance. So a Special seemed like a perfect choice.”

Eastern Spirit is technically a solo project, but Sylwester is regularly helped by his brother, Kamil, and their friend, Lukasz. The crew started by stripping the XS650 down, lopping off the rear of the frame, and fabricating their own hardtail setup.

The floating seat is completely handmade too, and features a very elegant suspension system that uses a mountain bike shock. “It really is surprisingly comfortable,” Sylwester assures us.

To perfect the Yamaha’s stance, ESG tweaked the head angle with a set of custom-built offset yokes. They shortened the forks too, and re-valved them to be stiffer.

Next up, the wheels were swapped out for a set of solid aftermarket 16s, originally intended for the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. Matched up to bulbous sawtooth treads, they created the exact profile Sylwester was after.

If the fuel tank looks sort of familiar, it’s because it’s a heavily modified Yamaha Virago unit. The headlight’s been recycled too—it’s off a Polish-made 1960s WSK, and also hosts the warning lights and ignition switch.

Other than the reverse levers, which are from an unnamed Russian motorcycle, just about everything else is custom. ESG fabricated their own clip-ons and rear-sets, and even built a new side stand.

There’s a ton of hidden work at play too. Sylwester always works with older motorcycles, and that means their motors always get a proper nuts and bolts teardown. This one needed some new bearings, rings and seals, and an almost entirely new clutch.

On the outside, everything was done in black or gold-plated, with a few brass and polished silver touches. ESG also made up a pair of intakes, and built a svelte new exhaust system with hidden silencers.

There’s a plethora of small details to take in, beyond the obvious brass bits. Drilled-out brake discs match the effect on the seat pan gussets and the foot control arms. And note how the rear turn signals are cleverly integrated with the frame.

The tank was painted in a classic gloss black, with a subtle double gold pin stripe adding just the right accent hit. Other than the ESG graphics on the wheels, there’s no loud branding.

ESG’s success with cafe racers has always been thanks to Sylwester’s sharp eye, which gives him an uncanny ability to get a silhouette just right. He’s done the same here, driving the point home further with perfect proportions and a moody color palette.

The result is a slick bobber that doesn’t overtly scream for attention—but rewards it handsomely, once given.

Eastern Spirit Garage | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Mateusz Stankiewicz

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[DaveM]

SUPERMODEL: BMW R nineT ‘Cara’ by Viba



The world of 3D printing has come along leaps and bounds in the last few years, which is good news for the motorcycle industry. The ability to print parts out of stronger materials is a game changer for many bike builders. The latest project from the French based Viba has taken 3D printing to the next level. With the help of the Erpro 3D factory – who offer a large range of manufacturing technologies – they have taken a BMW R nineT and cleverly used a lot of these techniques to create a stealth boxer called Cara. Viba have always been inspired by woman’s names, and their latest has been named after the model Cara Delevingne – and just like her, this bike is a stunner.



Upfront on Cara, the handlebars immediately stand out. Completely redesigned, they were printed with one piece of aluminium, tapered with dimensions allowing to preserve the Nine-T riding position, and mount the combination switch. The chunky looking handlebars hold the speedometer with a custom bracket and a glass with the bikes name embossed on it.



The sleek side fairing panels seamlessly connect to the tank and the cylinders of the 1200cc boxer engine. Printed in polyamide loaded with glass beads for increased strength, these two sculpted pieces subtly hide the LED turn signal indicators in the aggressive looking air intakes.



The tail section has also been completely redesigned to fit with the lower part of the stock fuel tank. Also printed in one piece, it takes its place around the saddle with integrated LED tail light and turn signals. Made in bi-injection of silicone, a pattern is printed on the back which can be changed according to the choice of the customer. This same graphic element can also be found on the fork covers.



As for the seat, it has been made in three parts. Using bi-injection of silicone, under-seat printed in polyamide loaded with glass beads on an laser sintering system and side subframe 3D printed in stainless steel.



Other parts created include the headlight trim, the front fender and air intake, which were all 3D printed in various materials, such as inconel, a super alloy used in aeronautics or competition, with the exhaust muffler. To keep the bike road legal in most countries, a license plate support will be fitted upon delivery which will cover the tire and playing the role of mudguard.



Because of the speed of 3D printing, the Viba Cara is already available in a limited edition, assembled on demand. We are told that the manufacturing run will be limited to only 23 – with lots of different options that can be customised to keep them all unique. With 3D printing becoming so advanced, we look forward to seeing what other clever designs bike builders come up with.











[ VIBA | Instagram | Facebook | Photography by Jeff-Muguet ]

 

[DaveM]

Custom Bikes Of The Week: 22 March, 2020

A show stopping Yamaha GTS 1000 from Italy, a neo-retro Yamaha XT250 from Australia, and a very slick body kit for the BMW R nineT from France.

Yamaha XT250 by Deus ex Machina The Deus Swank rally is a light-hearted off-road event that combines “vintage motorcycles, fancy dress and a can-do attitude.” So when Yamaha asked Deus Australia to build a bike that would embody the Swank spirit, head wrench Jeremy Tagand picked the XT250. After all, it might only be a small, air-cooled single—but it’s capable and bulletproof too.

Jeremy swapped the XT’s 21” front wheel for a 19” unit, and then wrapped both wheels in Dunlop K180 dirt track tires. The suspension was left alone, but the upper triple clamp was swapped out for a CNC-machined arrangement from Ricci Engineering, so that the crew could install Renthal fat bars.

For the bodywork, Deus shaped up a new flat tracker-style tailpiece, then trimmed the OEM side covers to fit with it. The tank covers are stock, but the front fender and classic square headlight are from Acerbis.

The only ‘engine’ mod is a new exhaust—a stainless steel header pipe, paired with an SC Project muffler. Sydney Custom Spray Painting handled the paint, which mimics the original colors, with a few tasteful changes. The ‘Xtreme 250’ looks cute, capable, and the perfect blueprint for Yamaha to design a 250 cc neo-retro dirt bike with. [More]

Yamaha GTS 1000 by FMW Motorcycles Italy is facing hard times right now, so it’s appropriate that this eclectic Yamaha GTS 1000 is named ‘Italian Resilience.’ The name holds real significance for FMW Motorcycles builder, Lorenzo Fugaroli, too. That’s because had to temporarily close up shop, and ended up finishing the project at home.

With a single-sided swing arm system up front, the GTS 1000 is a pretty wild bike already. But here, Lorenzo’s cranked it up to eleven. Taking cues from Roel Scheffers’ GTS 1000 (with permission from Roel himself), Lorenzo’s redesigned the rear end to match the front.

Like Roel, FMV have installed a Honda VFR swing arm and rear wheel, operating with a Buell shock. There’s a new wheel up front too; a mash up of a VFR wheel, with bits lifted from a Honda NSR 180 SP. The front end was upgraded with a Yamaha R6 shock.

Then there’s the most obvious change—all the new bodywork, which was all hand-shaped from aluminum.

Lorenzo also swapped the fuel injection for carbs, and added a custom exhaust system. With some fettling, this GTS now makes 130 hp.

But it’s the details that push this one over the top—like the integrated Daytona speedo, or the cutout in the tank for the custom velocity stacks. Forza Italia! [Via]

BMW R nineT by Viba Just a short while ago, 3D printing was still a very new, and very niche, technology. But now it’s gradually permeating the custom scene and, frankly, it’s a game-changer.

This BMW R nineT from Viba in France relies heavily on 3D printing tech. The build is mostly just a set of new bolt-on pieces for the neo-retro boxer, but they do a good job of tightening it up for a more aggressive look. Viba handled all the design on the project, but turned to Erpro Group for manufacturing.

One of the most intricate parts is the new handlebar arrangement. It’s a one-piece setup printed in aluminum, which tapers to accept the stock controls. It also integrates the bike’s OEM speedo, which is now covered by a custom-etched glass pane. Just in front, a new nacelle flows around an LED headlight.

Other custom bits include a pair of frontal side panels (printed in a glass bead-reinforced polyamide), and the tail section (made with a bi-injected silicon). Plus Viba have designed a new front fender, fork covers, and a new exhaust system.

Everything is plug-and-play on the R nineT plaform. Viba will build you one if you like, but they’re limiting their numbers to 23. As an added bonus, some of the parts leave room for custom etched graphics, too. [Viba]

Yamaha SR500 by Dubstyle Designs Years before he built the sweet KTM street tracker we featured the other day, Garett Wilson threw this SR500 together in his buddy’s garage. And since it’s only really made its way online now, we figured it’d be good to take a closer look.

Visually, there’s nothing wacky going on here. Garret stuck to quintessential flat track cues, with a DT400 tank up front and a Knight-style fiberglass tail section out back. The wheels are 18 inches at both ends, and they wear dual-sport tires rather than dedicated flat track treads.

Garret lowered the front suspension, stiffened it up, and added a pair of Öhlins rear shocks. He also installed an aluminum swing arm and new triples. On the performance side, the street tracker now runs a 36 mm flatslide carb from Mikuni, and a Hoos header with a modified Akrapovič muffler.

Other upgrades include a Magura hydraulic clutch, Renthal bars, risers and grips, and the Brembo front brake from a Ducati. And then there’s that expert paint job, laid down by Dan White—who also convinced Garret to let him paint the graphics by hand, rather than use decals.

Fun fact: that’s the same gold on the bodywork and wheels, except one’s finished with a metalflake, and the other is matte. [More]

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[DaveM]

Laid Back: Proof that you can turn a Cub into a chopper

They represent a thriving sub-culture, but we don’t feature a whole bunch of custom scooters here. And we probably showcase even fewer choppers. But the cult Taiwanese shop 2LOUD Custom has just mashed the two genres together, and we’re blown away with the result.

This super cute scoot is right on brief. 2LOUD’s customer, a young woman, was very clear on what she wanted: “Cub plus chopper plus love.” And builders Ma ‘Max’ Yicheng and Lu Yongyu were all too happy to oblige.

They picked a SYM Cub clone as a donor. SYM is a Taiwanese manufacturer that built the beloved Honda Cub under license from Honda in the 60s, and then carried on using the blueprints after the deal ran out in 2002.

This one came with a 90 cc motor and a three-speed gearbox, but Max and Lu quickly wedged in a 190 cc Zongshen mill with a five-speed box. With most of the bodywork gone, the engine’s now on full display. It’s been ‘upgraded’ by way of a new filter, and a simple, yet elegant, custom-made exhaust.

The big trick was perfecting the Cub’s stance. 2LOUD ditched the original front-end, and installed the forks from a Hartford HD200. That helped lift up and rake out the front, with a new set of aftermarket shocks adding more compliance at the rear.

Max and Lu upgraded the wheels too, by lacing a set of 18F/17R aluminum rims to the stock hubs, with fresh stainless steel spokes. The guys kept the stock drum brakes, but refurbished them, and picked a set of vintage treads from Duro for the tires.

All of the original Cub bodywork is gone, save for the bit around the fuel tank. 2LOUD trimmed it down though, leaving just a hint of a fender at the back. Then Max shaped up a backrest for the new seat, integrating it seamlessly into the existing bodywork.

It’s capped off with a gorgeous caramel-colored leather seat, which has a custom-built opening mechanism to access the gas tank. A knurled stainless steel knob up top releases the seat, which then hinges forward on a stylish hand-made stainless steel hinge at the front.

There’s more detail out back, with an integrated tail light and ignition switch, and a license plate bracket that has the shop’s ‘2’ logo cut out of it. Peek lower down, and you’ll spot a pair of LED turn signals embedded into the sides of the swing arm.

With the scoot’s original side panels gone too, Max and Lu had a couple of holes to fill on the sides of the bike. So they fabricated a pair of 3D heart-shaped covers to fill in the gaps.

The SYM got another chopper hit courtesy of ‘bunny-ear’ handlebars. Max shaped them from stainless steel tubing, then polished them up. They wear diamond grips to match the seat, a simple switch for the turn signals, and classic levers. The headlight’s an off-the-shelf part, mounted upside-down on a custom bracket, and adorned with a 2LOUD badge.

Thoughtful little details are strewn throughout the build, just as we’ve come to expect from this Taiwanese powerhouse. Note the cross-brace on the bars, the exhaust hanger and the main frame tube gusset; all of them have been drilled out to complement each other.

Finished off with a simple cream paint job, this chopped Cub has to be one of the cutest two-wheelers to grace these pages. If you aren’t smiling right now, check your pulse.

2LOUD Facebook | Instagram | Images by Double Photography

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[CarlS]

Not for me; but very clever!

 

[DaveM]

DAILY BURN: Triumph T120 by Thornton Hundred Motorcycles



Written by Martin Hodgson

When the custom culture began to boom again a decade ago there was a large element made up of middle-aged men rebuying the bikes of their youth and younger folks taking advantage of cheap and cheerful ’70s machines. Fast forward to 2020 and there is a new generation of builders who grew up with this culture inspiring their teenage minds and a select few have gone on to become the elite builders of today. Jody Millhouse is one such man, exploding onto the scene with an incredible catalogue of custom creations. The latest from the Thornton Hundred Motorcycles workshop is this celebrity commissioned Triumph T120 Ace, with bulk attitude to burn.



While most of us spend our early twenties stumbling around trying to find our place in the world, traveling, dropping in and out of uni or giving a trade a go. Jody clearly knew exactly where his future lay and was producing incredible creations at just 21 years old. Still in his early 20s, he’s already wowed the scene with bikes as diverse as a Honda CR500 tracker to a Ducati Panigale with plenty of 3D printed parts. So it’s little wonder then that Joe Wicks, TV presenter and Social Media star of the fitness industry should come calling, wanting a Millhouse machine of his own.



The Body Coach as he is known, had his eye on the Triumph and clearly wasn’t interested in blending in with the crowd. “Joe wanted to build the coolest T120 custom on the planet after lusting for the bike and not finding much inspiration from already completed builds,” Jody tells us. And in Millhouse he found the man with all the skills to bring to life a motorcycle like no other, built to incredibly high standards. Located in Milton Keynes, Jody has just moved Thornton Hundred into a new shop and surrounded by half the teams from the Formula 1 paddock, it’s the perfect place to shine.



Starting with a 2020 Triumph T120 Ace provides a base for a build that is quality from top to bottom. But with those traditional Bonneville lines, while stunning for a factory bike, they’re still all too easy to get you lost in the crowd and they definitely don’t pack much in the way of on-road presence. Enter Jody’s wide wheel conversion kit and yes, that is a 180 section tyre on the front, with the tread showing off its mean intent. But it’s no slap together job, with Thornton Hundred using the latest in CAD and CAM manufacturing technology to create this incredible design.



Spreading the factory KYB cartridge forks apart is a set of custom made triple clamps to create the room for that tyre. The next step in the process is Jody’s own CNC’d hubs, which are simply a work of art, with the shop logo and the client’s name engraved on the inside. At each end these are then laced up with quality black spokes to a set of lightweight Excel rims, that help pare back some of the unsprung weight. Before they’re all wrapped up in the enormous Pirelli MT60 RS tyres, measuring a car crushing 180/55/17.



But while they dominate the show, the rest of the build is no less impressive. Take the custom front guard, the small chopped down unit might look like any other from a distance. But get up close and the individual mounts are a work of art in metal fab form. Above, the black ringed Triumph Bobber headlight conversion adds to the badass feel while retaining factory quality and the gaiters limit the amount of chrome on display. With the rear suspension going all black too thanks to a set of high-end Fox shocks giving full adjustability to set the bike up perfectly to Joe’s liking.



Bringing a little colour to the party the paint is all done in house and the black and blue finish with custom stripe and re-designed badging has the tank and side covers popping from miles away! At the rear the quality continues and the seat base is shaped from carbon fibre no less, with an all-new custom subframe loom. Up top the upholstery is first class, with Jody finally letting someone else touch the bike with the good folks at Viking Motorcycle Seats cooking up an Alcantara special with matching blue and white diamond stitching.



The big twin-cylinder 1200cc engine packs plenty of grunt and now looks the part with a set of side covers that add to the mean motorcycle aesthetic. But once again the platform offers up a chance for Jody to show off his incredible skills and there are few who can match him in the exhaust department. Anyone who watches his Instagram stories will know the hundreds of pie cuts and nearly as many hours that go into crafting such a masterpiece, with the welding talent truly defying his young age. The sound is just as impressive and from concept to completed product it’s little wonder that those who could have any bike of their choosing turn to Thornton Hundred Motorcycles for their own slice of nirvana on two wheels!



[ Thornton Hundred Motorcycles | Photography by Alex Mckenzie ]

 

[DaveM]

Sur-Ron custom: A Firefly built for Nike Air Max Day

It isn’t only regular Joes who keep the grinder sparks flying in custom workshops. A small but generous group of brands are also happy to commission bikes—because they’re a darn sight more interesting than most promotional vehicles or stunts.

The German sportswear label and retailer BSTN is one of those farsighted brands, and this is the second custom they’ve commissioned from Philipp Wulk of Impuls.

The base vehicle is a Sur-Ron Firefly: a popular and surprisingly powerful little scoot that sits halfway between an electric bicycle and electric motorcycle.

Also known as the Light Bee, it has a top speed of 73 kph (45 mph) and a real-world range of around 70 kilometers (43 miles). The build quality is exceptional—reportedly better than that of most motorcycle makers, and approaching Honda levels, according to some testers.

Impuls have worked with BSTN before, creating a striking Ducati 916 to celebrate the Air Jordan sneaker. This time, the custom project is tied into Nike’s ‘Air Max Day.’

“After our last collaboration with the Ducati 916, BSTN wanted to build a bike to match the Nike Air Max 90 Duck Camo and Max 2090,” Philipp says. “The general theme was ‘sustainability,’ so to go electric was the obvious choice.”

“We did some research and decided to go for the Sur-Ron Firefly: it is street legal, and you can ride it with a regular car license. We tried one out and really liked the punch and general look it had. It’s neither bicycle nor motorcycle, and we liked that. BSTN also wanted to raffle one off, and it made sense to not limit the audience to the motorcycle community.”

After testing the Sur-Ron with the 1.90 meter-plus (6’2”) guys at BSTN, Philipp decided not to change the stance or the suspension. “Both were just fine. We just had to change the stem to make the bike more suitable for taller riders.”

If there’s a weakness with the Sur-ron Firefly, it’s the detail of the styling. “The part right behind the handlebars and in front of the seat looks odd, as if something is missing,” says Philipp. “I don’t like to have stuff in my pants when I ride, so we built a luggage rack in front of the seat.”

That meant reinforcing the battery cover, and contracting expert leather specialist Kruno Nakic to design the luggage itself.

At the rear, the frame is reworked with a new license plate mount, and a Supernova M99 taillight with custom laser cut acrylic screens.

The wheels have been re-spoked with black spokes, and there’s an aftermarket black sprocket to match new black powder coat elsewhere.

Philipp has upgraded the stock brakes to Magura’s four-piston MT5 eSTOP units for better feel. The original headlight also had to go, and has made way for a sleek Supernova M99 Pure+ unit. It’s fitted with a MonkeyLink adapter, so it can be taken off easily for off-road use.

The seat has been rebuilt by Kruno Nakic, who trimmed off the front and sides, and the battery cover was raised to enhance the silhouette of the bike. “It might seem like a minor detail, but it helps the looks a lot.”

Kruno wrapped the grips in leather, too to match the color of the bag … and the tire warmers. “Those were obviously absolutely necessary to get the tires to the right temperature before the daily race on the trails!”

The biggest issue Impuls had to deal with was not on the Sur-Ron itself. “It was the lockdown due to the Coronavirus,” Philipp says. Like all the German workshops, Philipp had to prepare for rapidly impending quarantine.

“Some parts didn’t arrive in time, but fortunately the headlight arrived on the day of the photo shoot and we were able to work around the missing parts and get the bike ready before the final lockdown.”

“After I bought the last can of paint, the shop closed down. The last parts arrived via express courier on Saturday morning. Crazy times!”

Let’s hope there are plenty more fun bikes like this to enjoy in the coming weeks—and kudos to the companies that are prepared put the dollars into commissioning them.

Impuls | Facebook | Instagram | BSTN product page | Images by Philipp Wulk

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[DaveM]

RAGING BULL: Honda CB750 by Bull Moto Custom



Written by Martin Hodgson

They say you have to go big or go home; and as last year was drawing to a close we featured a high quality custom build from a new shop in Bulgaria. With the scene just getting starting in the country it was hard to know when we might hear from the workshop again. Well, we didn’t have to wait long, as Bull Moto Custom has had huge success since their opening salvo was fired with the company already tripling in size. Back with another Honda, the crew headed up by Ivan Mushev isn’t playing around, giving an old favourite a full makeover. With just their second full build they’ve added their unique Eastern European design to a Honda CB750 and come out with a trick sports tourer they call GT2.



Based in the large town of Kyustendil in the far west of the country, the home of Bull Moto is a mix of modern manufacturing and ancient sites dating back to Roman times. There are still buildings in pristine condition from the 11th century, so you don’t have to look far for inspiration and with warm summers with little rain it’s a perfect place to ride. So despite a love for the craziest of creations that come from Japan, Ivan is insistent on building bikes that are first and foremost nice to be on and with Svetoslav Kostadinov and Vasil Pinev joining the team they’re ramping up for the coming riding season.



The CB is the first of the bikes ready to hit the tarmac but it was initially sourced from their local bike dealer as a 1981 stocker with plenty of work needed to bring it up to scratch. Inspiration for the build came from the Black Ford GT40 MkII and not only did that influence the aesthetic but the boys desire to create a GT style motorcycle. That means you need a quality foundation and to achieve just that they stripped the chassis back and got to work. The back end was entirely cut off, the swingarm ditched and the pivot point re-inforced to accept a stronger mounting arrangement.



Then an entirely new rear subframe was fabricated from scratched and welded on, with a beefy design not lacking in physical strength and a strong presence. The all too common hoop tail was given a miss in favour of a more squared-off design that best matches the bikes ’80s lines. With the very clever integration of an LED taillight in the back and matching turn signals on the angled sides all having to be slotted in before final welding took place. Then before the gloss black was applied to give a uniform finish to the chassis, it was all smoothed out and plenty of brackets tossed aside.



To update the handling Ivan wanted to go much further than just improved shocks and instead sourced a 1994 Honda VFR750 single-sided swingarm. With the standard upper shock mounts left off the new subframe, a new mount was fabricated and welded to the centre post, while the braced frame utilises custom machined bushings to accept the legendary swingarm and all it’s more modern components. But wanting a long and low look for the bike the factory shock was removed and replaced with a Honda Hornet item that still works brilliantly with the pro-link setup.



Such a drastic change would be let down in form and function if the spindly stock front forks were left in place. So the search was on for the appropriate front end and rather than use the typical sportsbike items the boys chose instead to take from a bike more closely related in handling characteristics. So with a bearing and stem change they slotted in the entire front end off a Yamaha FZ1 from 2009, fully adjustable and complete with its front wheel, big twin disc brakes and then wrapped both ends in the appropriately named Pirelli Angel GTII rubber.



Moving onto the look and again the desire to do what everyone else is doing was ignored to go in their own direction. The rear cowl is a beautifully fabricated piece with its own aggressive lines that wouldn’t be compromised to store the electronics. Instead, it is the reshaped tank with heavily defined knee dents that is modified internally to hide away the cables and the battery. There are also two seat options for the rider, “The seat with red edging is Alcantara and was made by MGDesign, the other leather one is more comfortable by CrazyCust,” Ivan explains. The matte black paint has some green pearl mixed in while the no. 2 lettering is a direct GT40 replica.



The old faithful 750cc engine has been rebuilt, repainted and given a set of filters for the carbs and a stunning 4-1 exhaust with twin chrome mufflers for a cracking sound. The client likes quality and the accessories are dripping with it, Sato racing rearsets, clip-ons from Vortex, Rizoma red and a trick LED headlight from Wrangler. Even the top clamp is a work of art, now acting as the dash with a Daytona speedo, lights and mini gauges all built in. The owner is understandably thrilled and on the first outing the biggest motorcycle equipment dealer in the country presented the Bull Moto boys with a matching Biltwell helmet, a nod to the crew who are causing a new boom in Bulgaria.



[ Bull Custom Moto | Instagram ]

 

[DaveM]

T 22 Synthesis: A twin-engined Kawasaki drag bike

There’s something pure and extremely entertaining about drag bikes. They’re hopelessly impractical, usually dangerous, and invariably ridden by folks with a scant regard for personal safety.

It’s hard to take that genre up a notch, but the top Indonesian shop Thrive has just gone one better than the typical eighth-miler. This extraordinary machine, nicknamed ‘T 22 Synthesis’ has not one but two engines. And those engines are tiny two-strokes, with a power band only slightly less forgiving than a light switch.

We suspected there might be a good story behind this build, and the Thrive crew confirmed it.

“The guys from Suryanation Motorland approached us with the idea of a contest called ‘Wheels of Inspiration’,” says Thrive spokesman Putra Agung. Entrants would write a story about their biggest dream bike, and the winner would be picked by Thrive, the local magazine GasTank, and the custom shop Lemb Inc.

Thrive suggested a theme of Sprint Racing to the organizers. “In Indonesia there are a lot of 1/8-mile street races, held illegally on main streets from midnight until the sun rises,” Putra reveals.

“It happens in many major cities, which means a huge number of potential fans. We admire the racers’ courage and enthusiasm, using creativity that exceeds the budget.”

One story submitted to the contest came from Adhi Saputra, a guy in his 20s with a strong connection to street racing culture in the Depok, West Java area. “Adhi idolizes Burt Munro and salt flat racing, and owns a Ninja 150RR two stroke,” says Putra.

“He’s dreamed about salt flat racing since his college days, and we agreed to choose him as the lucky winner.”

The crew at Thrive started digging into history, and came across ‘Dubble Trubble,’ the twin-engined Triumph built in the 1950s by Bud Hare. “Here in Indonesia we’ve seen some people add more pistons to an engine,” says Putra. “But as far as we know, we’ve never had two small-cc motors in one frame.”

Thrive decided to revive the old glory days with a modern approach, and brought Adhi’s bike into their Jakarta workshop. The perky 30 horsepower two-stoke 150RR motor went off to ace tuner and engine building Yosef Gumilar of Prama Motorworks: “He’s well known for restoring many XS650s using his knowledge as a racer from 90s,” Putra explains.

Yosef successfully created the most unlikely twin-engine setup, with heavy mods to the ignition, ported and flowed heads, 270 degree racing crankshafts, a lightened flywheel and a quick-shifter. “There are few more secret things going on that we can’t tell you about!” says Putra.

“All that work makes a bangin’ short range cruise missile. We also called Lectron to order the specific carburetor for our engine configuration, and they did a great job on it.”

At the exhaust end, the lengthy pipes and expansion chambers were crafted by local racebike specialist Kawahara from stainless steel.

At a glance, the stock Ninja 150RR looks like any other plastic-clad teenager screamer, so Thrive have ditched everything except for the drivetrain. Then a new frame was built with aluminum tube, following cues from old-school drag bikes, and using Thrive’s first custom frame jig.

“The idea was to create something light—for the best power to weight ratio. And staying low, to reduce wheelies off the line. It’s 168 centimeters [66 inches] from center wheel to wheel, only 6.5 cm from the ground, and 60 cm at the highest point.”

“It was designed and built the old-fashioned way.”

The old-fashioned way was also a difficult way. Thrive have used a top yoke from a Suzuki RGR 150, another mostly Asian model, merged with a Kawasaki fork shortened by 100 mm.

The rims are 17 inchers, with an aluminum disc cover at the back, and shod with Goodyear Eagle tires

The cockpit is bare, with an RPM, voltmeter and temperature gauages from AutoMeter and Koso. Ahead of the custom bars, outfitted with controls from local specialist KTC, is a mesh fairing that echoes the shape of the chunky radiator behind the front wheel.

The monocoque bodywork is brushed aluminum and handmade, with a lengthy seat pad made in house and offering plenty of room to move around on. The metalwork is finished off with paint by Agung Castavo, one of the top pin stripers in Indonesia.

Thrive has a reputation for being one of the world’s most inventive builders, but this twin-engined Ninja takes things to a whole new level.

It might not be as fast as ‘Dubble Trubble’ and it’s unlikely to make it across the Pacific to the salt flats. But we reckon it’s going to cause a stir on the street racing scene in Jakarta.

Thrive Motorcycle | Facebook | Instagram

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[DaveM]

MIRACLE MISTAKE: Honda CB750 ‘Tuna’ by FingersCrossed Moto



Written by Paros Huckstepp

The thing about making mistakes is they usually lead to interesting places. The journey down the path reveals more detail, more possibility, and more to learn. FingersCrossed Moto has forged a path by running a small community garage in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and helping members learn to create their own. Yet, for founders Matt, Matt, and Joseph, continually forging that path means finding new mistakes to make. This bikes journey begins with one trusting dude and an incorrectly ordered swingarm.



The swingarm in question is from a fifth generation Honda VFR800. The problem was in marrying the mounting point to the rear of the frame. “We decided to custom fab the entire rear half of the frame” Matt explains. When you run an outfit that’s built on teaching others the journey of learning never ends. So the design was modelled in CAD then stress tested using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Step by step the shape of the new frame revealed itself.



“The basic idea was to make this 99-00 CB750 Nighthawk look as close to a lofty OEM concept as possible” they say. What this equates to is an assembly line of beautifully detailed additions. New subframe, custom. A new seat, custom. Side covers, headlight mount, and an elegant chainguard, you guessed it, custom. Each part tells the story of finding your own way.



There is no mistaking the GSXR 600 front end with equally sports-focused All Balls Racing bearings. The front and rear are wrapped in Avon Trailmaster rubber. No matter what path is laid in front of this machine the power out of the 750 will be firmly dug into the earth. “Giving it a little extra boost is a custom set of Murray’s Carbs, 4 into 2 Mikunis” Matt adds. It lets all that power out through a Mac exhaust and custom muffler.



In focusing in on the detail of their mistake the possibility of a beautiful bike emerged. Finishing with a full LED lighting system, signals by Morimoto, and a flawless shade of Honda Desert Silver on the tank, this bike was a journey worth taking. If these guys can teach every man to build, we may never be bored again.



[ Fingers Crossed Moto | Instagram ]

 

[DaveM]

Now that’s slammed: A BMW R nineT from Zillers Garage

There’s a special place in the custom motorcycle scene for motorcycles that eschew practicality, in order to push boundaries. This BMW R nineT from Zillers Garage in Russia is hardly the ideal grocery getter or tourer, but the level of craftsmanship at play here is on another level. And that’s why we love it.

Zillers Garage is run by Dmitry Golubchikov—an AMD Championship winner who wowed us with his custom Vincent a few months ago. He mostly works alone, but occasionally calls in reinforcements on bigger projects. The commission for this R nineT came from BMW Motorrad Russia, but the inspiration came from the world of aviation.

Dmitry started out with a 2016-model R nineT, but all that’s really left now is the motor, final drive arm and part of the frame. Just about everything else was created in-house, with the bike taking a full ten months to complete.

The R nineT’s most striking feature is undoubtedly its retro-futuristic bodywork. With the exception of the boxer cylinder heads still poking out, the entire bike is wrapped in hand-formed aluminum sections. And the lines are inspired—from the robotic visage up front, right through to the classically styled tail section.

It’s sci-fi in the best possible way, and it’s neatly put together too.

That arch that runs over the top of the bars acts as a functional cockpit, with a Motogadget Motoscope Mini speedo and a set of push buttons all seamlessly integrated.

Dmitry also built the head and taillights into the bodywork, along with four LED turn signals on each side. There’s even a slide-out storage compartment in the tail hump. It has a phone charging port in it, along with a socket to plug a battery charger into.

By now, you’re probably wondering where the R nineT’s ground clearance went. You’re actually looking at it parked. It has no side or center stand—instead, it’s designed to rest on the lower part of the belly pan.

A couple of buttons on top control a pneumatic system, lifting the bike when it’s time to ride.

Zillers built the entire system from scratch—from turning the pneumatic cylinders, all the way to creating the control mechanism. The system runs inside the forks at the front, and with a revised shock linkage at the back.

Between the body kit and the hydraulics, it’s already an impressive build. But Dmitry’s in the habit of paying attention to every last detail—so this BMW has some sweet trim too. The machined aluminum wheels are fully custom; 18” units designed to resemble turbines.

Dmitry also fabricated a stainless steel two-into-one exhaust system, which snakes into the bodywork before emerging in a single muffler on the left. The bulges on each side of the main fuselage hide twin 3D-printed air boxes, kitted out with car air filters.

Under the hood, he’s left the R nineT’s engine internals alone, but the wiring loom is all new.

The foot controls and clip-ons are custom, and Zillers went as far as making one-off controls too. The hydraulic clutch and brake master cylinders were machined from scratch, along with integrated switches and some pretty wild detailing in how they mount.

There’s a even license plate bracket mounted off the swing arm at the back, so this might be street legal, depending on Russia’s roadworthy regulations.

The outlandish design is complemented by a muted monochrome paint job. Everything wears the same shade of grey—from the body, through to the fork legs, engine and wheels. It’s accented only by subtle pin striping in a lighter grey. A set of oversized BMW roundels add the only glint of color.

A simple side stand will always beat a bespoke pneumatic system as a method for parking a bike… but that’s not really the point here. Zillers’ R nineT is outlandish and memorable, and a great reminder that we need builders that are willing to throw convention out the window.

Zillers Facebook Group | Instagram | VK.COM | Images by Vlad Klepach

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[Vector]

I am "riding" something a bit different as of a few weeks ago.


View: https://youtu.be/np8_tlqqo7o

 

[DaveM]

BOUNDLESS IMAGINATION: The Zero Zero by Vtopia Design



Written by Gerald Harrison – Owner of the The Zero Zero Ducati Hypermotard.

Meeting Giorgio Cerrato for the first time in the Spring of 2017 was a memorable moment, he was delivering The Zero Zero, his first Ducati Hypermotard under the guise of Vtopia Design, a bike he had been tinkering with for 7 years. The man is tall and waif-like, with a shock of black hair and more than a hint of a Tim Burtonesque caricature. The boy started competitively racing motorcycles at the tender age of six, reaching national championships and ultimately teaching circuit technique at a professional level, he subsequently graduated from Politecnico di Milano as an architect. His bikes are therefore a beautiful amalgamation of finessed design and the brutality of a full blooded race weapon.



Steering away from the all too common retro custom, Giorgio is futuristic in his design, employing a carbon fibre monocoque, low poly forms and geodesic shapes. The result is a bike that looks wonderfully unusual and beautiful, in the same way as one of those oddly beautiful models you see in a high fashion magazine, it’s also mind bogglingly quick but not in the least bit frightening, easy to ride fast and instantly gratifying. When sitting astride a powerful bike I often feel intimidated but with the Zero Zero I am instantly at home and within the first few minutes of my initial test ride able to enjoy all of that tremendous torque, the majority of which is released low down the rev range so one doesn’t need to ring the neck of the beast to feel the effect.


In good company. The Zero Zero with Shinya’s Agusta.

In Giorgio’s words, the engine is “very angry,” (say it with an Italian accent) its rawness and the incredible noise coming from that single tailpipe is nothing short of biblical, it dissects the valley road near my house piecemeal, the short straights are made shorter and the corners are dealt with with incredible efficiency and precision. However, the bike is not without some quirky Italian flare; the front headlight which was peaking out from behind a number plate when I initially received the bike had some lyrics from a track by Israeli psytrance duo “Infected Mushroom” inscribed on the back, why? Giorgio only knows!



Giorgio’s father, a keen Ducatista himself, supplied him with the donor 1100S in 2010, initially the bike was pressed into regular service but Giorgio found the stock bike too heavy and he yearned for more agility so, in short order, started adapting the bike and developing the kit which would form the basis for his business Vtopia (using the Roman spelling V, it’s pronounced “Utopia”) Design, which has since produced 3 Scrambler, 4 Vyrus and 12 Hypermotard kits that have either beeen built by him or posted to the client ready to install.


One of the Hypermotard Kits by Vtopia Designs.

The Zero Zero being the prototype, was a rolling test bed and after five years of research Giorgio consecrated two years, full time, to produce that first example. With a near-maniacal attention to detail every single component of the machine has been considered and often upgraded usually with one-off components, using cutting edge technology to do so. You will not find an English Wheel in Giorgio’s workshop, instead a battery of computers, a 3D printer, CNC machine and vacuum former as well as the usual array of mechanic’s accoutrements. The majority of the workmanship can be found in the headlight frame, subframe, tank and of course that spellbinding monocoque body. A simple example of the seven year process would be the handlebars; not happy with the first handlebars Giorgio put on the bike, nor with the second or indeed the first fourteen pairs he tried, he finally found satisfaction with an American built item. Now just multiply that level of fanaticism with the entire bike.



The position of the exhaust outlet was also a serious consideration for the master at work as its position effects the torque delivery, as a non-mechanic this blows my mind! The exhaust was built in house, in conjunction with Spark and a custom ECU installed. What does this give you? More Ducati with a little taste of Vtopia, the bike tips the scales at a mere 132kg an almost unbelievable 40 kilo weight saving on the original bike and 100bhp on the dyno, the engine remap delivers all the torque in a massive dose almost as soon as you twist the throttle, the acceleration is explosive and sitting bolt upright it feels otherworldly fast.


The Zero Zero sits proudly in the Harrison Collection. (The other bikes are too scared to go near it).

Please allow me to now fast forward to the 7th of February 2018. Whilst filming for Oil In The Blood, after a long day of endlessly riding up and down the same stretch of road in the biting cold it was eventually time to head home. As we rounded a corner, a large pile of rocks had slipped off the mountainside onto the road, determined to point these out to my compadres following, madly gesticulating towards the rocks I took my eyes off the road and ever so gently merged onto the other side of the road. My awareness of the oncoming Jeep Wrangler somehow second on my list of priorities, I only noticed it moments before impact. I had time to jam on the back brake, my right hand too busy feverishly pointing out the stupid rocks, and the back end of Giorgio’s beloved Hypermotard connected with the unforgiving front bumper of the SUV.



Now, everyone always says “so long as you’re not hurt, everything else is fixable” thankfully I did walk away from this accident virtually unscathed but bear in mind that for Giorgio this is near as damnit a member of the family, he only sold it to me because I live so close to him and he can come and visit it whenever he wants to, he shed several tears that day, God only knows how he’s going to react to this catastrophe. I briefly consider seducing his mother as a perhaps more acceptable distraction! In the end Giorgio, who by now is a firm friend, was more worried about me than his bike. Within a few days I unceremoniously dumped the twisted carcass in my trailer and drove the sorry mess to his garage. A combined speed of about 80 miles an hour had snapped the back end off the bike, I shudder to think what it could have done to me had any part of me got in the way of the impact.


The Zero Zero before the accident.

A year later Giorgio brings the bike back to me, I had given him carte blanche to do whatever he wanted with what I still feel is “his” bike and what comes back to my garage is quite breathtaking. When I received the bike in 2017 it looked like a child’s candy, bright blue, for no reason whatsoever Giorgio thought it would be nice to give me a second body, it was dark blue and hazy gold. The third iteration now stands before me; a stealthy black machine, the number plate has been replaced by the Darth Vader face of the standard Hyper but other details have been worked upon, a pair of beautifully crafted carbon fibre levers up front and the belt cover is now transparent, it has been formed from carbon fibre, the intricate work and eye to detail is not lost on me. One thing that has been left untouched since that dreadful day is the frame, of course it had to be quite literally bent back into shape but it still bears the little surface scratches and scuffs as a poignant reminder to always keep my eyes on the road. The gearbox is now upside down, which is a revelation to me, I now wish that all bikes were built this way.


How the Zero Zero currently looks.

Needless to say, Giorgio’s baby is not in mine, but currently his garage. Not that there’s anything wrong with it but because he wants to 3D scan it, I think he just wants to spend some time with it! With this Hypermotard, as with all his work, Giorgio strives for a Utopian result and I can certainly vouch that this is my idealistic riding machine, for a young chap his accomplishments are astounding. His current and future Vyrus framed bikes are headline grabbers, with boundless imagination, we’ll certainly be seeing more extraordinary creations from his workshop in Pavia before long.

Although the Zero Zero was Vtopia Designs first custom motorcycle build, they haven’t stopped since. Below are some of Giorgio’s creative and downright mind blowing machines.


Vtopia Designs take on the popular Ducati Scrambler.




The Vyrus 984 C3 2V – the only Vyrus you want these days.




Another spectacular Ducati Hypermotard 1100s



[ Vtopia Design – Instagram | Harrison Collection – Instagram ]

 

[DaveM]

Ice Blue Racer: A Fantic Caballero destined for flat tracks

If you live outside Europe, one of the most interesting bikes you can’t buy is the Fantic Caballero Flat Track 500. The Italian manufacturer has been in business since the late 60s, and is best known as a maker of enduros and motards—but its most interesting creations are the ‘Caballero’ machines.

‘Caballero’ is a sub-brand, using the same approach as Ducati did with its Scrambler. The range taps into a similar ethos as well, with ‘Rally’ and ‘Scrambler’ models as well as the ‘Flat Track’—but the engines are smaller, with 125, 250 and 500cc capacities.

All the bikes look good, but none are as crisp and cool as this ‘Ice Blue Racer.’ It’s a custom Flat Track 500 built by Toshiyuki Osawa—the man behind the Cheetah workshop, and one of the most reclusive builders in Japan.

Osawa-san first registered on our radar when the German photographer Marc Holstein managed to wangle an invite to his Tokyo workshop a few months ago.

We now know that Osawa is also part of the seven-strong (and wonderfully named) Have Fun flat track team: a bunch of racers who are also accomplished builders.

Fantic Japan supplied them with a donor bike to mark the launch of the machine in the local market, and the whole team chipped in with their skills to complete the build.

In Japan, flat track races are short, and the Caballero has most of the right ingredients for success. “It has a simple chromoly steel frame, and a water-cooled engine that is easy to work on,” says Osawa. “Plus 19-inch front and rear wheels—the best to base a flat tracker on.”

The bodywork is the obvious visual change, with a new tank and seat unit hand-made by Osawa himself. “The silhouette is the traditional flat tracker style,” he tells us, “a monocoque tank/seat unit with a shroud for the radiator.”

The new seat makes it easy for the rider to shift forwards and backwards at will, with the upholstery by Skunk Kubota riding right up the tank.

Everything is tightly wrapped: so tight, there’s a bulge on the left side to accommodate the fuel pump. The fuel cap is a race-style port.

The Caballero has plenty of zip: it weighs 145 kilos (319 pounds), and the low ratios of the six-speed gearbox make the most of the 40 horsepower short-stroke single.

Osawa has left the engine internals alone, but his compatriot Ducktail Watanabe has built a complete new race exhaust system to free up the breathing and get rid of the regulatory cat.

“The exhaust pipe is welded together from sections of stainless steel straight pipe,” Osawa says. “It’s a masterpiece with more than 30 welds; I wanted to create a smooth curve.”

The sleek muffler is also one-off, “with good sound and performance,” we’re told.

Fantic’s own suspension is up to scratch, as you’d expect from a brand with an off-road pedigree. So Watanabe has lowered the 41mm forks and retained the rear shock, which has enough adjustment to give a good setup for the track.

All that was left was to strip the bike of road-legal ancillaries such as the lights and instruments, and add custom handlebars to optimize the riding position.

Then the bodywork went off to Happy Fun rider ‘Shakin,’ who sprayed it in ice blue metallic with intricate monochrome lettering and logos on top.

We’re wondering how long that lovely hand-made bodywork will last, though. Judging by the way the team riders have been throwing the bike around, they’re certainly living up to the ‘Have Fun’ name…

Cheetah 4D Studio Instagram | Have Fun flat track team | Fantic Caballero | Images (static) by Kentaro Yamada and Uribou (riding).

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[CarlS]

I like this flat tracker. I enjoy flat track racing.

 

[Vector]

[ Thornton Hundred Motorcycles | Photography by Alex Mckenzie ]
Oh my what sweet rides

 

[DaveM]

AS GOLD: 2019 Husqvarna Svartpilen ‘Black Arrow’ by See See Motorcycles

Written by Thor Drake – See See Motorcycles. There’s something extra special about starting with a pile of crap and building it into a prized possession. It’s this understated story that once there was nothing, or little to nothing and now there is something. An idea that the object was saved from trenches, resurrected and admired. This idea of rebirth is something I believe in...

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[DaveM]

Analysis Paralysis: The BMW R100RS two ways, by Deus

Ever heard of analysis paralysis? It happens when you’ve got so many ideas, your project stalls because you can’t make your mind up. Tomoyuki Soeda at Deus Ex Machina‘s Japanese outpost had a dose of it when he designed this R100RS—but then he hatched a plan to overcome it.

Soeda-san managed to distill his ideas down to just two concepts. And they were close enough for him to pull off an inspired move: build two customs on one base.

You read that right: you’re looking at a single 1982-model BMW R100 RS, dressed up in two ways. Although they look strikingly different at a glance, close inspection reveals that there are only a handful of parts that separate them.

Those are the tank, headlight shroud, tail cover and exhaust system—and it takes only an Allen key and a wrench to swap them out.

Tomoyuki had owned the R100RS for a number of years, waiting for the right moment to customize it. Remarkably, it had only 4,000 kilos on the clock; barely broken in.

But that didn’t stop the motor from getting a major cleanup, complete with a set of ‘peanut’ valve covers and fresh black and polished finishes.

The air box is gone, replaced by a custom-made cover that now houses the battery. It’s a common mod, but it’s usually done in such a way as to mimic the original design. Here, Tomoyuki opted for a more elongated effect, filling the space under the tank in a unique way.

He also tweaked the BMW’s stance, by installing new rear shocks and taking 7 cm out of the front forks, which have been modified with external springs. The OEM wheels and brakes were refurbished, and a set of Shinko dual-sport tires thrown into the mix.

Tomoyuki built a custom subframe, then neatened up the adjoining bits, including the shock mounts, and the unsightly stock passenger peg brackets. The arrangement is well braced too, and is finished off with a neat plate bracket, and an embedded LED taillight from Kellermann.

A one-off red diamond stitched seat sits up top; it’s the only bit of bodywork that the two designs share. There’s a removable rear cowl that mounts over the hump, that’s been hand-shaped from aluminum with a chic ducktail design.

It’s matched up to a handmade aluminum headlight nacelle up front, which bolts on over a 60s tractor headlight.

The white fuel tank is a custom-made unit—adorned with an aluminum ‘strap’ that matches the tank and tail, and throwback BMW colors. But the black fuel tank is actually the original R100RS unit, that’s been redone in a satin black, with gold pin striping. Despite their radically different proportions, both fit the Beemer like a glove.

The other optional setup is the exhaust system. You’ve got the choice of mounting two custom-made slash-cut mufflers high or low, by way of a pair of swappable header extensions.

But the best part is that all the parts are interchangeable—so you can swap them out individually, depending on your mood. By our calculations, that gives you sixteen different ways to configure this handsome boxer.

Both designs share the same finishing kit: vintage chromed handlebars with stock BMW controls, bar-end turn signals, a single mirror, and a small digital Motogadget speedo. And since a vintage tractor light is bound to be woefully inadequate, there’s a 4.5” Bates-style headlight mounted lower down.

No matter which way you cut it, ‘Two Face’ is a handsome street tracker that should provide its new owner (it’s jut been sold) with hours of fun—both on the street, and in the garage.

It’s also a fitting farewell build for ‘The Residence of Impermanence’ in Tokyo’s buzzy Harajuku district. They’ve just shut those doors, and will soon be opening a new shop half an hour away in the historic Asakusa area. And we’re glad to hear that Tomoyuki is already buttoning up a new build to be displayed there.

Deus Japan | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Akira Kuwayama

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[DaveM]

Missing Link: A Ducati Pantah built for a car designer

If there’s something missing from Ducati’s current lineup, it’s a modern cafe racer with strong ties to the past. Sure, there’s the oddly named Scrambler Cafe Racer—but that submodel doesn’t evoke as much nostalgia as a SportClassic or MH900e. What Ducati really needs is something in the same vein as this magnificent Ducati 600SL Pantah.

Built by Ruamachines and based on a 1982 Ducati 600SL Pantah, it’s an effortlessly cool cafe racer with a better-than-factory vibe. Highlights include Italian colors, upgraded suspension, and a minimalist design that puts the unique frame and Desmodromic L-twin motor on full display.

Ruamachines founders Armando Fontes and Victor Rocha are based in Esmoriz, just south of Porto on the Portuguese coast.

They have very sharp eyes, but this project had to be even more clean and tasteful than usual: their client was an interior designer at a major Scandinavian carmaker. “It had to be a simple and pure cafe racer,” explains Armando, “always bearing in mind that less is more.”

Ruamachines pulled it off by stripping the classic 600SL Pantah down to the bare essentials, before borrowing upgraded parts from a couple of other Ducatis to build it back up.

There’s a set of upside down forks from a 1996-model 900SS up front, and the swingarm off a 1985 750 F1, with an upgraded shock, out back.

Getting the swingarm to fit didn’t require major surgery, since the spacing was the same on both bikes. All that was needed was a new upper shock mount below the fuel tank—so the guys fabricated that, then built a new subframe to finish the back end off.

The wheels are stock, but are now wrapped in modern Avon Roadriders. The front brakes are from the 900SS, adapted to the Pantah wheel by way of custom-made spacers and new rotor mounts. But the rear brake’s from the 750 F1, and bolted straight on without any fuss.

Despite its age, and the fact that it was raced extensively, the Pantah’s engine was still in good nick. But Ruamachines treated to a light refresh anyway. The air box was also traded for a pair of K&N filters, and a new stainless steel exhaust system was fabricated in-house.

To keep the overall layout super-sano, Armando and Victor have hidden the battery and rewired everything around a Motogadget m.unit controller. They also used a Motogadget Motoscope Classic speedo, push buttons, and small LED turn signals at both ends.

Every last detail is neatly integrated: the front turn signals sit on the bolts that mount the front headlight to its hand-made bracket, and the rear signals flank the license plate bracket. Ruamachines also installed a short front fender, a clean top yoke, new clip-ons, and bar-end mirrors (not pictured here).

But the real winner here is that livery—and the bodywork that it’s adorning. The Pantah’s fuel tank is one of Ducati’s quirkier designs, but also one of its best looking and most recognizable.

So the tank sits completely unmolested, complemented by a perfectly proportioned aluminum tail hump that echoes its lines.

In between them is a leather and Alcantara combination seat, with a design that masks the frame rails to keep things sleek. Finishing touches include period-correct Ducati logos, which, together with the gold wheels, are a clear nod to the original bike.

Ruamachines have successfully delved into the 600SL Pantah’s heritage, and emerged with a contemporary cafe racer devoid of anything superfluous. If we were sitting in a design office in Bologna right now, we’d be taking notes.

Ruamachines | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Victor Hugo

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[DaveM]

COMING IN HOT: 2002 Honda XR650R ‘Retro Tracker’ by Parr Motorcycles.

They say when you’re on a good thing you should stick to it, and Spencer from Parr Motorcycles is definitely on a good thing. He came in hot last year with two outstanding Suzuki retro-styled builds that spread like wildfire around the world wide web, although this time he decided to use a different brand of bike. “Going into this build I knew two things: it’s going to be a Honda and it’s going to...

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