Custom Motorcycle Builds

[DaveM]

Glamster: Lucky Cat’s Sportster drips with Japanese style

Remember the Sultans of Sprint drag race series in Europe? The man behind this brilliant idea was Séb Lorentz, who runs the Lucky Cat Garage with his partner, the artist and restoration specialist Laurence Chatokhine.

The drag racing is on hold for the moment, for obvious reasons, but Séb has a solid background as a talented custom builder. So he and Laurence have kept themselves busy spinning wrenches and spraying paint.

The latest build to roll out of their workshop in Chartres, 90 km southwest of Paris, is this very classy 1994 Sportster called ‘Glamster.’ And yes, that’s a reference to the retro-styled Shoei lid: the top-flight Japanese helmet manufacturer helped to make this build happen.

At first glance, Lucky Cat’s Sportster is a street bike with custom bodywork and a slightly tuned engine, but there’s a lot more going on under the hood.

The iconic V-twin has been completely refurbished inside and out. There’s a special graphite grey paint for the cases and polished covers, but the real work is inside. And the goal was to create the most torque possible: “For street bikes, that’s where the fun is—in our opinion!” says Séb.

He’s used a 1250 kit from Hammer Performance, with iron-lined, aluminum-finned cylinders and forged pistons. These are combined with ported heads and Buell M2 cams, with an S&S Super E carb sucking air from a classic and rare S&S ‘Two Throat’ air filter. (“It’s genuine new- old-stock, mounted via a one-off Gasbox bracket.”) A Motogadget speedometer is hidden behind the air filter to keep it discreet.

Séb has also replaced all the fuel and oil lines with racing-spec Vibrant Performance black braided hoses, hooked up with black AN fittings. Ancillary updates include a Dynatek 2000i single-fire ignition system and a Daytona oil pump (with reworked engine venting) to keep the engine running cool.

The exhaust is a raw stainless steel 2-into-1 from the Californian company Bassani, with stepped headers and a reverse-cone megaphone muffler. “It’s loud, but not too much for a street bike nowadays,” says Séb unconvincingly.

He’s ditched the belt drive and used a traditional 530 chain setup, via a conversion kit from Lowbrow. There’s also a Speed Merchant billet sprocket cover, with a custom chain protector, and the engine bolts have been upgraded to polished stainless items from Diamond Engineering.

The hardest part of your typical Harley build is getting the top line low enough, because the engines are so tall. Séb has nailed it by using a Harley KR750 flat track racer tank; it’s around 60 years old, and resembles a typical Trackmaster tank. Capacity is not the strong point, so there’s also a Mooneyes emergency tank holding just over a quart, nestled by the right-hand rear strut.

Other mods include a shorty front fender from Lowbrow Customs and a modified ‘Cutlass’ café seat from Airtech Streamlining.

On the left side is an unusual fiberglass saddlebag originally made by Buco for Cushman scooters; it’s finished off with a painted race number, but also carries a Motone polished taillight and the license plate.

Lucky Cat have chosen the wheel sizes to ramp up the chopper vibe without losing the ‘traditional custom’ flavor. The flanged alloy rims are 21 inches at the front and 18 at the back, fitted with an Avon Speedmaster MK2 [F] and a chunky Coker Diamond 4.50 [R].

There’s Brembo braking all round, with a four-pot caliper and floating rotor leading up front, and the Showa fork has been shortened a little to level out the stance.

Séb knows where to find the good stuff, and he’s finished off the build with narrow stainless bars and risers supplied by Fork Co in Japan.

Look closer and you’ll spot other trad custom details like a Biltwell Whiskey throttle, a Bates headlight, polished KustomTech hand controls, Motone mini switches and a heart-shaped Lowbrow mirror. There’s even a custom printed (and gilded) ‘Glamster’ points cover from La Fabrique 3D.

The most unusual aspect of the bike is the paint finish, which is a modification of the ‘aventurine’ lacquer technique—known as Nashiji in Japan. “Using a traditional gilding technique for a modern classic helmet was our first creative idea,” Laurence reveals. “Then we thought adding a matching custom bike would be a nice accessory.” And so the partnership with Shoei was born.

Laurence applied the gilding technique to a Glamster helmet, using a classic Urushi red lacquer base. It’s topped with 24-carat gold flakes and powder—mixed using a traditional method involving honey. The flakes and powder are then blown through lengths of bamboo. “A long process, but the best to create the desired effect,” she says.

While Laurence was gilding the Glamster helmet, Séb was finishing off the bike assembly. They decided that the color should be different. “As with your clothes, we don’t think your helmet should be the same color as your bike!” The paintwork is inspired by the ‘Magicar,’ a legendary top fuel dragster from the sixties. It took a combination of 15 different gold flake types to get a close color match.

Unlike most brand collaborations, this Sportster is not destined to spend the rest of its life in a showroom. It’s Laurence’s personal ride (when she’s not piloting her nitrous-injected dragbike).

“It’s small, rather fast, low, narrow, quite nervous and quite uncomfortable,” Séb freely admits. “But it’s also kinda sexy to watch and fun to ride… and that’s just what she wanted!”

The Lucky Cat Garage | Facebook | Instagram | Shoei Europe | Images by Cyril Casagrande

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[DaveM]

THE GUZZI GURU: Moto Guzzi Bellagio ‘Hadria’ by Officine Rossopuro.

Some people like to start their day with a big hit of caffeine to get going, others head straight for the gym, personally, I hit the snooze button at least ten times. But a rare few have a very good reason to jump out of bed, get suited up and embrace the morning commute. Open the garage and it radiates like the sunrise, flip the starter and the rumble of the big twin clears the last of the sleep...

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[DaveM]

Goes like a bullet: A GT 650 by Goblin Works’ Ant Partridge

Modern motorcycles offer reliability and performance, but usually at the cost of simplicity—and that makes them harder to customize. Which is exactly why bikes like the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 are making a splash in the custom scene.

“It’s simple, clean and not overly complicated with a mass of electronics,” says the man behind Partridge Design in the UK, Anthony Partridge. “Bikes like these are the best to work with, as I get to focus on my craft, without having to plan around rehoming complex sensors and wiring looms.”

Anthony’s wanted to tear into one of Royal Enfield’s new twins for a while, but the timing has never quite worked out. So when he needed a project for the second season of Goblin Works Garage, the Discovery Channel TV series he co-hosts, he put in a call to Royal Enfield. Their head of industrial design, Adrian Sellers, came onboard with a simple brief: “I want you to build a thoroughbred racer.”

“Those words were music to my ears,” says Anthony, “because at the heart of everything I build is performance. That’s where my passion lies. I love to race and ride hard whether on road or track, so naturally all my builds are performance-based.”

“In my opinion if you don’t make a bike lighter, faster and more fun to ride (than the manufacturer originally built it), then there is no sense! Sticking to my performance ethos, I wanted to go balls-to-the-wall and turn this lil’ GT 650 into a bona fide race bike.”

Anthony had a laundry list of go-fast parts planned for the Continental GT 650, but he wanted it to look flash too. So he stripped the bike down and asked his friend Paul of Ziggymoto fame to 3D scan it. From there, the pair designed a body kit that could fit any stock Continental GT.

“I wanted to show all the folks watching the TV show that they can customize their own bike with my body kit,” he explains, “and transform the look fairly quick and easy. I also wanted to make this a commercially viable project, hoping to claw back a little of my investment and also provide Royal Enfield with even more return on theirs.”

Mark Angus at 3Dcnc then machined a pair of bucks for molds, which Anthony modded slightly before sending off to his go-to mold maker. The final parts were shaped in carbon fiber, while GIA Engineering built a custom fuel cell, adorned with a Racefit cap.

GIA also fabricated a burly monoshock swingarm for the bike, which is hooked up to an Öhlins TTX GP Pro shock. There’s a set of Öhlins FGR300 forks up front, held in place by custom triples from FastTec, who also supplied a set of GP-style quick-release axles. The wheels are carbon fiber units from BST, and the tires are Dunlop Sportmax GPAs.

For the brakes, Anthony has combined nickel-plated Brembo race calipers with Galfer discs, Venhill lines and a Magura front master cylinder. And he installed a Magura hydraulic clutch system too, just for kicks.

The work at the back included modifying and bracing the subframe. And since the rear wheel’s now wider than stock, the front sprocket needed an offset—which in turn meant that the frame had to be notched to make room.

The GT 650 was also treated to a 750 cc big bore kit from S&S Cycle, along with a handmade exhaust system, foam filters and a Power Commander.

Before Anthony could finish the project, he had to fly to Albania to shoot another episode of Goblin Works Garage. So he left the bike with Chris at Hard Knocks Speed Shop in Oxford to handle the remaining work.

Finishing touches include a handful of Motogadget electronic bits, Rizoma clip-ons, rearsets, mirrors and turn signals, and a Highsider LED headlight. There’s also an Antigravity Lithium-ion battery, and switch clusters from Reese Racing.

For its final shakedown, Anthony pitted his hopped-up Royal Enfield against a stock version on a sketchy, icy track—with the GT 650’s designer in attendance. “The difference was night and day,” he says. “The custom bike feels like a proper race bike: lighter, faster, way more agile than stock and heaps of fun to ride.”

“So it’s safe to say I managed to fulfill the brief… I stuck to my ethos and built a bike I really like!”

Partridge Design | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Alex Lawrence

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[DaveM]

HonDeath: An insane CL350 with 100 horsepower on tap

In stock form, the Honda CL350 is a mild-mannered street scrambler with 33 horsepower and oodles of vintage charm. The kind of bike you meet the nicest people on.

This CL350, however, is a very different beast. The clue is in the name—HonDeath—and the only figure you’re likely to meet while riding it is your maker. Because a two-stroke Yamaha Banshee ATV motor powers it, bumped up to 472cc and pumping out roughly a hundred horsepower.

This truly unhinged Honda cafe racer comes from Andrew Cecere, a Jaguar Land Rover technician based in Del Aire, California. He’s a multi-talented chap: “I build jet skis, dirt bikes, street bikes, shifter karts, and anything with an engine,” he tells us.

As the enormous expansion chambers suggest, Andrew is a dab hand at fabrication as well as engine building. Probably because he was an aircraft mechanic in his previous life: “I got burned out on night shifts and went to work for Land Rover, but I’m always busy in my free time.”

So what exactly is this mongrel of a motorcycle? It’s a 1971 CL350, although your bearings might be thrown off by the tank, which is from a 1968 CB350 Super Sport. Andrew has grafted on the front end from the same CB350 too, to give the bike more of a vintage look, and laced up matching Akront rims.

But let’s talk about that engine, since this machine has got to have the highest power-to-weight of any CL350 on the planet.

Andrew originally built the bike for a friend, keeping the 350 engine. “Then we started racing stand-up jet skis. Five years later my buddy wanted me to build him a jet ski, so he gave me the bike back in return.”

Honda’s 325cc 4-stroke motor had its charms, despite being crippled by a heavy, inefficient exhaust system that gained good looks at the expense of weight—and a three horsepower deficit over its CB350 sibling.

That didn’t wash with a power junkie like Andrew. “I decided to just replace it with something cool: a 472cc Super Cub engine.” This modified two-stroke mill is well-known in the Yamaha Banshee world: the stock engine was an evolution of the unit used in the RD350 motorcycle, and lends itself to massive power gains.

“I went to work on Craigslist and eBay and found miscellaneous Banshee parts, including a nice set of crank cases with a transmission,” says Andrew. “I ended up buying a new 4mm stroker crank and a 472 Super Cub cylinder, and then found some CPI Racing drag pipes.”

To get everything to fit, Andrew had to cut into the frame and modify the rails to contour around the engine. He also had to cut into the pipes to allow them to sweep under the frame, but given the size of them, that’s understandable.

Andrew has also installed a race-style MSD total loss ignition system (liberated from a jet ski), and a VForce reed valve system, but the 35mm carbs are decidedly street friendly and fuel-efficient. “They carburate very cleanly,” he says. “I also have a set of 40mm carbs for big power, but they eat way too much fuel.” A radiator taken off an RD250 keeps temperatures down.

The drum brakes are original though. “Many people might say they’re not enough for a 100 hp Banshee engine,” Andrew admits. “But the bike is so light—and the brakes are tuned to work very well … for drum brakes.” We’ll have to take his word for it, since everything else is so well sorted.

It all looks absolutely ridiculous, but you just know it will be a hoot to ride. “I love the concept of function and performance,” says Andrew. “The looks are just a by-product!”

Andrew Cecere Instagram | Images by (and thanks to) Jason Stilgebouer

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[DaveM]

THE LORD GIVETH: Harley-Davidson ‘Urban Tracker’ by Lord Drake Kustoms.

High rise hotels, resort-style living and one hell of a nightlife make the cities of Miami and Malaga practically twins, despite being on opposite sides of the Atlantic. In either place you come to play and have a good time, making them the perfect home for a custom motorcycle workshop. So rather than decide between the two, Fran Manen lives it large with a headquarters for his company in both...

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[DaveM]

Obsidian Fighter: A Frisco-ed Sportster from Rough Crafts

Even though there’s been no official word from The Motor Co., it looks as if the venerable Harley-Davidson Sportster is slowly fizzling out. It’s been completely removed from H-D’s European website, and the once extensive range has been reduced to just three models on the US listing. And with H-D currently on a mission to scale down, we’re not holding our breath for a replacement.

But the Sportster’s notoriety will continue long after the last model rolls off the assembly line. That’s because the Sporty is arguably the most prolific custom donor out there.

There’s a plethora of aftermarket parts available for it, and countless custom shops have cut their teeth on it. Rough Crafts‘ Winston Yeh is one name that stands out—he released his first custom Sportster just over a decade ago, and has scored numerous hits since then.

The Taiwanese designer’s latest bike is a 2019-model XL1200CX Sportster Roadster, dubbed ‘Obsidian Fighter.’ And it’s not only a showcase for Rough Crafts’ signature aesthetic, but also an ode to classic Sportster style.

Winston’s customer is a fan of the era of raked-out choppers, but he already had the Roadster in hand—and it’s tall for a Sporty.

“The main question,” says Winston, “was: ‘How do we combine a Roadster with chopper style, wrap it in a Rough Crafts package, and still surprise the owner?’ The answer is a ‘Frisco’ Sportster bobber with race influence.”

Winston wanted to slam the Harley without sacrificing ride quality, so he turned to his go-to suspension supplier, Öhlins. They supplied a set of slightly shorter-than-stock FGRT 206 forks, and a pair of their Blackline HD 757 shocks, in the shortest length available. The forks were blacked out and the lowers customized to run a single brake, and they’re held in place by Speed Merchant yokes.

The 19F/18R wheels were switched out for a set of 19F/17R hoops from the Japanese company Gale Speed, wrapped in Pirelli Angel GT II sports touring tires. There’s a pair of custom-made carbon fiber covers on the back wheel, to beef it up visually.

The brakes are from Beringer, with a rear mounted on a radial caliper bracket from The Sick Shop. The discs are Rough Crafts parts, with custom carriers that match the design of the new wheels.

For the bodywork, Winston wanted to mash up the unmistakable Rough Crafts vibe with some classic Frisco touches—like a high gas tank with air above the frame. He’s had numerous requests for a bolt-on ‘Rough Crafts’ Sportster tank, so he’s been developing one with a supplier, who sent over a prototype for this project. It’s supposed to sit much lower, but Winston asked his fabrication guy to remount it, to nail the right vibe.

The tail’s a far more contemporary, almost tracker-like design, which pulls inspiration from Rough Crafts’ AMD-winning ‘Stealth Bullet‘ bike. Carbon fiber was laid up over a 3D-printed mold to shape it, with upholstery from CR Custom Leather capping it off.

Winston dug into his own catalog for much of the finishing kit. The handlebars are a new design, but the risers, headlight and gas cap are all existing Rough Crafts parts. The finned air filter is a classic—and often copied—Rough Crafts staple, as are the points and clutch covers.

The front LED turn signals and taillight and turn signal combos are new RC parts, made by Koso. Other bolt-ons include Arlen Ness foot controls and grips, and a set of Rebuffini switches that interface directly with the Harley’s CAN bus, without any fussy rewiring. And to keep the cockpit super sano, the speedo’ been relocated to the side of the bike.

The twin exhaust system adds one more old vs new hit. “The idea is from a very classic slash cut chopper exhaust,” explains Winston, “but with a more modern industrial twist, if that make sense.” The system was hand-built by MS Pro, who handled all the fabrication duties on the project.

CT-Garage took care of assembly, while Line & Circle Custom Paint laid down a signature broody Rough Crafts livery, with carbon inlays. 2 Abnormal Sides came to the party with a pair of custom tank badges, and a set of hand-made pushrod collars.

The idea of a ‘modern performance Frisco bobber’ sounds goofy on paper, but in practice, it works. And it looks like a blast to ride, too. “It rides surprisingly better than stock,” confirms Winston. “I mean… a lot better.”

Here’s to the Sportster, and shops like Rough Crafts that continue to show it love.

Rough Crafts | Facebook | Instagram | Photos by JL Photography

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[DaveM]

HOW TO BUILD A MOTORCYCLE: Illustrated Guide by Gary Inman.

These days, when most people need to fix anything, they usually head to YouTube to find the ‘how-to’ video. There’s a million videos on every subject, from ‘how to change your brake pads’ to ‘how to change your underwear in public’ –– seriously, search it. But there’s something gratifying about getting off the screen and reading a manual with beautiful illustrations and step-by-step instructions.

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[DaveM]

Speed Read, 7 February 2021

Good news for muscle bike fans: there’s a new Suzuki Hayabusa coming. We’ve also got details of a stunning new custom from Hookie Co. inspired by NASA, an electric off-roader with big-name backers, and a wild custom R nineT from a pair of Californian BMW dealerships.

Trevor DTRe Stella There’s a still a niggling feeling of vaporware in the electric moto scene. It’s hard to keep up with all the launches and PR these days, or figure out who’s actually buying the damn things. And for every successful maker like Zero or UBCO, there’s a Brammo or Alta fallen by the wayside.

This new venture ticks a lot of boxes, though. Trevor Motorcycles founders Philippe Stella and Jeroen-Vincent Nagels have history in the moto world, and the DTRe Stella has been styled by ex-Alta designer John McInnis in California.

While working together in their home base of Cadaques, a little village near Barcelona, Philippe and Jeroen-Vincent used a vintage dirt bike for local shopping trips and spontaneous entertainment—and that’s where the idea for a ‘clean dirt bike’ came from.

The powertrain (and manufacture, apparently) is handled by the established Belgian manufacturer Saroléa, and the frame was designed by fellow Belgian Brice Hennebert—best known to readers as the man behind Workhorse Speed Shop.

The Stella comes in two versions: off-road only, or road-legal. It’s essentially a fun, light go-anywhere machine with a claimed top speed of 90 kph [55 mph] and weight of just 79 kg [174 lbs].

Power comes from an 11 kW brushless DC 3-phase electric motor with a 1.5-hour riding time out on the trail, and the battery pack is a 2.7 kWh Lithium-ion unit with a charging time of 1.3 hrs with a 3 kW external charger.

The components are top quality, with Öhlins suspension all round, Beringer brakes, and 19-inch Excel wheels. There’s a two-year warranty and pricing starts at €12,995 [US$15,650].

That’s about the same as a Zero DSR dual-sport bike, but that’s a different beast altogether—and weighs well over twice as much as the DTRe Stella. If you’re after something compact, silent and stylish, get the info you need on the Trevor Motorcycles website.

Hookie’s NASA-inspired ‘Tardigrade’ Our favorite Dresden-based workshop has just given us a glimpse of its next project: a futuristic moon rover motorcycle due to be unveiled at the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA this summer. And it’s like nothing else on earth.

‘Tardigrade’ is based on a study by Russian designer Andrew Fabishevskiy, whose slender exploration vehicle concept created waves after NASA announced a new moon mission for 2024.

Fabishevskiy‘s concept condenses the simplicity of earlier moon rovers in a neat two-wheeler, with balloon wheels and “lunar pragmatism.”

To follow the ethos of Fabishevskiy’s design study, Hookie are tapping into some pretty high tech. A thin aluminum sandwich frame will enclose the battery, which is protected by aerospace-grade Kevlar fabric.

The complex wheel designs will come straight out of a 3D printer, and those wheels will be secured by carbon-sprung, single-sided swing arms.

And the name? The tardigrade is a micro-animal, usually less than a millimeter long, that can survive the most extreme environmental conditions. After the failure of an Israeli moon landing in 2019, several thousand tardigrades were lost—but scientists are convinced they can be revived. “Without oxygen and water, they fall into a deep, frosty sleep, which lasts for decades,” says Nico Müller, co-founder of Hookie.

To see Hookie’s own Tardigrade in the metal, we’ll have to wait for the Overland exhibition at the Petersen Museum in California, starting in July. Until then, we’ll be documenting this lunatic project with interest. [Hookie Co.]

‘Rooted 9T’ by BMW of San Francisco We always find artist collaborations interesting, because they usually inject a splash of color without being tied to conventional reference points or established visual history.

This zesty BMW R nineT was built for the Oakland Roots soccer team, and designed with the help of local artist Vogue TDK and stunt rider Kellen Knick.

The ‘Rooted 9T’ began life as a 2015 R nineT, torn down by the BMW dealerships in Concord and San Francisco. The tank, fender and tail went off for a repaint, incorporating the mosaic-style colors and patterns associated with the Roots team.

Mechanical upgrades include Öhlins suspension and a full exhaust system from Unit Garage in Italy. The air box has been removed to make room for an RSD air-cleaner and custom air intakes and multiple other hard parts have been powder-coated, ceramic-coated or anodized by pros throughout the Bay Area.

Prototype carbon fiber clip-ons from Daedalus Designs and a compact Motogadget instrument cluster were mounted to clean up the cockpit area, and there’s an adaptive headlight conversion from Motodemic.

The seat unit was custom embroidered by Luimoto in British Columbia, and the striking wheels are from a BMW HP2 Sport—expertly refinished by Ginger Ann Schmidt of Kiss My G.A.S. Industries.

You’d definitely need to be the outgoing type to ride a bike like this—but it brings a smile to our jaded faces. And hopefully introduces a few more Oakland folks to the thrills of motorcycling. [BMW Motorcycles of San Francisco]

The Suzuki Hayabusa lives on The past year has been full of funerals for older bikes unable to meet stringent emissions standards—or not generating sufficient sales to justify the cost of getting them through those standards.

But there’s good news for muscle bike fans, and folks who like dropping huge inline-fours into small Japanese sports cars: the Hayabusa is here to stay.

Suzuki has just revealed details of the 2022 GSX1300R, which comes with 550 new or redesigned parts, sharper styling, LED lighting, and a pair of colossal mufflers.

The Hayabusa also gets the latest Brembo Stylema brake calipers, more electronics than a SpaceX rocket, and something called an ‘Active Speed Limiter.’ This allows the rider to program a speed that the bike will not exceed, which seems like a rather Kafkaesque move given the legendary status of the ‘Busa in the speed wars.

It’s not a bike we’d put in the EXIF garage for the daily shopping runs, but on the other hand, we’d be foaming at the mouth if Suzuki gave one of these (and carte blanche) to a top custom shop. [Via]

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[DaveM]

Grand Tourer: A Kaffeemaschine Guzzi for the long haul

From burly adventure bikes to baggers, just about every major OEM has at least a couple of touring-focused models in their arsenal. But what if you want to munch miles in style, on something that’s more classic and less tech-y? The German Moto Guzzi specialist Kaffeemaschine might just have the answer.

Meet the Kaffeemaschine GT 1000: a classy roadster based on a 1980 Moto Guzzi 850T4, and designed for touring. The idea was conceived when a tall client asked for a build with more legroom—a request that sparked shop boss Axel Budde’s imagination.

“I always fancied the idea of building a roadster based on vintage V2 Guzzis,” he tells us. “On my most recent long motorcycle trips, I didn’t see any classic or classy bikes—it seems nobody dares to travel anymore, unless they own a GS with the whole survival and luggage package.”

“So it would be a good idea to create an alternative with a reliable, pretty and practical motorcycle… using the frame and engine we love best!”

Kaffeemaschine has a very distinct aesthetic—so the challenge here was to take their signature style, but adapt it for comfort. “The goal was to add seat width and height, and a ‘normal’ handlebar, without losing a nice silhouette and proportion,” explains Axel.

But first, the donor bike needed a proper refresh.

Kaffeemaschine rebuilt the motor, bumping it to 1000 cc with new cylinders and pistons, bigger valves and 36 mm ports, matched to Dell’Orto PHF carbs. The new setup also features a Kaffeemaschine performance camshaft, a lightened flywheel and dynamically balanced crank, and an electronic ignition.

Axel and co. also added velocity stacks, and fabricated a pair of stainless steel exhausts with removable dB killers. Naturally the transmission and final drive were refurbished too, and the bike was rewired with a lightweight Lithium-ion battery.

The Moto Guzzi’s chassis saw some upgrades too. There’s a new set of Wilbers shocks out back, with a rebuilt set of forks and a steering damper up front.

The wheels were re-laced with a set of 18F/17R Morad rims and stainless steel spokes. Kaffeemaschine refurbished the classic Brembo front brake calipers, and installed Le Mans discs and braided stainless steel hoses. The rear drum brake was kitted with the company’s own upgraded torque support arm.

The changes make for a more reliable and better performing base, but the real masterstroke here is the Moto Guzzi’s new bodywork. It’s so tasteful and well executed, it looks more like a stock classic than a custom—which is exactly what Axel wanted. But despite its factory looks, there’s a lot of clever customization going on.

For starters, the tank was built from scratch—but it’s based on a Laverda SF unit. Kaffeemaschine 3D scanned it, modified it digitally to suit the Guzzi, then milled a prototype out of a solid block of Ureol (a polyurethane modeling material). The prototype was used to make a negative mold, and the final part was shaped on that, out of carbon fiber.

A similar process was used to build a carbon fiber storage box, placed under the seat and masquerading as a pair of side covers. Up top is a generously padded seat, with an abbreviated fender and classic taillight just behind it. Every last bit was made in-house—from the locking mechanism on the storage box, to the gas cap.

There are a few nifty additions up top, too. The luggage rack on top of the tank is a custom piece, specifically designed with a quick-release system to attach a tank bag.

The cockpit features a special Kaffeemaschine branded speedo in a custom mount that doubles up as handlebar clamps, plus the shop’s own newly designed throttle and switches. The headlight, bar-end turn signals and single, chromed mirror are all deliberate retro touches.

There’s also a set of heated grips, and the shop has a heated seat system ready to go for anyone that wants it. And there’s even a USB charging port hidden inside the steering nut; give it a twist, and the port will pop up.

Kaffeemaschine’s GT 1000 isn’t a one-off though. In addition to the client’s bike, the shop’s built the two prototypes shown here: ‘KM31’ (bronze) and ‘KM32’ (green). “Both bikes are on display at our workshop and for sale,” says Axel, “although I´d like to plan my next trip to the Alps with one of them.”

Since Axel has two GT 1000s sitting in the shop, maybe he’ll let us join him…

Kaffeemaschine | Facebook | Instagram

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[DaveM]

SPORTSBIKE TREATMENT: Honda CX500 by Tossa R.

Almost immediately upon its release the Honda CX500 was derided and ridiculed, the nicknames were rarely kind and with prices reduced they became the go-to motorcycle for two-wheeled couriers. But with an engine designed by legend of motorsport Shoichiro Irimajiri, it’s clear that a new generation of custom builders have seen the Honda in an all-new light. What isn’t known to many is that in some...

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[DaveM]

Umbra: Crooked’s Harley tracker is straight-up goodness

Crooked Motorcycles is a name worth watching on the custom scene in Europe. Just a couple of months ago, they impressed us with a crisp BMW K100 build that avoided the cookie-cutter ‘flying brick’ vibe. And they’ve now just released details of this intriguing Sportster street tracker.

You don’t often hear adjectives like ‘sleek’ or ‘sharp edged’ associated with the lovably chubby Sportster, but Crooked have absolutely transformed the V-twin icon.

Workshop founders Dominikus Braun and Jakob Müller have known each other since childhood times, when they zoomed around local fields on XT250s.

They started building customs together in 2015, and after a three-month odyssey around north Africa, formally set up the company in 2018. A third member of the crew, Anh, works part-time on the graphic design front.

‘Umbra’—meaning shadow—is based on an XL883 Hugger from 1995, a lesser-known Sportster variant that later became the ‘Low’ model. The compact ergonomics came from a different seat shape, shocks and bar setup.

The commission arrived from the founder of the battery company Intact, which has a high profile in Germany. He already owned the Sportster, and like Crooked, is based in Memmingen—a city about a hundred kilometers west of Munich.

“The client brief was to use different layers of black, and present the battery in style,” says Dominikus.

Visually, a stock Sportster obviously has little in common with the typical street tracker silhouette, so the Crooked team knew that they’d need to change the stance. And they weren’t put off by the fact it was the first time they’d worked on a Harley.

Using longer YSS shocks attached to a newly truncated subframe, Crooked raised the rear end ten centimeters (almost four inches) and clad it with a custom seat and tail unit hammered out of one-millimeter steel.

“At the rear, we love the shape of bikes that end up ‘super thin’,” says Dominikus. “So we used a built-in LED taillight as the size guide, and built the tail unit around that.” The very neat seat pad is upholstered in Alcantara.

Right below is the custom-made battery box, which makes no attempt to hide its contents: the outer cover is made from Plexiglas. It’s the opposite approach to most customs—which attempt to hide the battery—but it doesn’t jar with the overall style. There’s even subtle LED lighting to highlight the battery, which is Intact’s super-robust HVT model.

The juice feeds into a Motogadget motoscope pro instrument and mo.blaze indicators—with the ubiquitous German tech company also supplying the grips, fitted to LSL handlebars. The headlight is a Gazzini LED unit, since the client wanted to keep a round light at the front rather than follow the typical number-board-with-inset-LEDs trend.

The tank is hand-made, and sits nice and low. “The stock tank was way too ugly, so we searched for an aftermarket tank. But after a long search, we didn’t find anything. This is our first complete, handcrafted custom tank, and we are more than stoked about the result.”

The engine breathing gets an upgrade with a new 3D printed carbon fiber reinforced intake holder, and a custom, ceramic-coated exhaust system topped off with mufflers made by Hattech.

It matches the extensive powder coating almost everywhere else, from the engine covers to the frame and even the forks. Crooked have also used 3D printing for the blacked-out fork covers, which incorporate discreet turn signals.

Shod with a fresh set of Pirelli MT60 RS tires, this Sportster tracker is a million kilometers away from the donor bike—and all the better for it. Straight up excellent work.

Crooked Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Dominikus Braun

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[DaveM]

BEST OF THE BRITISH: Triumph Thruxton + Watsonian Sidecar by 86 Gear Motorcycles.

There is no doubt that they’re the odd bod of the motorcycle world, but the sidecar has a history as unique and as compelling as the two-wheeled machines that power them. From sophisticated transport for the elite to crossing continents on the roughest of roads, sidecars are no one-trick pony, having also played a vital role in both World Wars and gone on to provide some of the greatest racing at...

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[DaveM]

Big Sled: A Ducati Scrambler 1100 from Officine RossoPuro

We’ve been lucky enough to ride most of Ducati’s extensive Scrambler range. Of all of them, the Desert Sled is the one we’re most likely to ride in the dirt—and the liter-plus Scrambler 1100 is the one we’re most likely to ride on the street. But what if you could roll them both into one bike?

That’s exactly what Filippo Barbacane of Officine RossoPuro has just done, with this off-road-focused Ducati Scrambler 1100. By mashing up the 1100 with Desert Sled parts and hand-made touches, he’s built the big-bore retro dual sport that’s currently missing from Ducati’s line-up.

Based on Italy’s Adriatic coast, Filippo’s most known for his tasteful Moto Guzzi builds. But when Ducati handed him a Scrambler 1100 to customize, he jumped at the opportunity—mostly because this concept had been milling around in his head for a while.

“The idea from the outset was to create a versatile bike at the highest level,” Filippo explains, “which is also the trend I have been dedicating myself to the most in recent years. In addition to always experimenting, which is the basis of customization in my opinion, there remains a fundamental idea that a bike exists to be used.”

First on the list was jacking the Scrambler 1100 up, to create more ground clearance and compliance.

Filippo scalped the longer forks and rear shock from a Desert Sled, and tuned them internally to compensate for the bigger bike’s weight. The stock front hub was re-laced to a 21” aluminum rim, and both wheels were wrapped in multi-purpose Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber.

Filippo’s goal was for the big sled to “have a strong off-road spirit while having a neat and special aesthetic,” but the low-slung OEM subframe didn’t gel with that concept. So he fabricated a new bolt-on unit, following a classic trellis design, and raising the seat height in the process.

It also meant having to move around a bunch of electronic components, so Filippo did some rewiring, and installed a compact Lithium-ion battery.

Next up was the bodywork. Weight saving was a top priority, so everything was hand-shaped out of aluminum, starting with the fuel tank. “It was the most complex element given the presence of the large fuel pump inside it,” says Filippo, “and also the shape of the frame, since I still wanted to have a fairly good range, given the kind of bike.”

Filippo’s process was decidedly old school, too; he actually built a clay model before bending metal. Other hand-made touches include the front fairing and the rear side panels, which complement the Scrambler 1100’s frontal side panels neatly. And there’s a burly bash plate lower down.

The fairing re-uses the stock Ducati headlight, since it suited the overall style of the bike perfectly. In fact, the whole cockpit is stock, along with a set of aftermarket Ducati Scrambler hand guards and a Desert Sled front fender. Using the factory parts was a deliberate move to not stray too far from the stock bike, but everything suits the overall vibe perfectly.

The seat and tailpiece are custom bits though, and hark back to the big enduros of the 80s and 90s. The tail ‘cover’ pops off to reveal a tool kit, and hosts a neat 3D printed luggage rack up top.

Filippo had to fettle the exhaust system too. The Scrambler was sporting an off-the-shelf Termignoni system, but the revisions to the subframe meant that the muffler’s mounting point no longer matched up. So he reworked the headers to shift it up.

As for the yellow livery, that’s a hat tip to the Ducati Scrambler brand; yellow’s been their color of choice since day one. Contrasted by hints of polished aluminum, it works.

“The bike in motion has an excellent ride,” Filippo tells us, “fast when changing direction on the road, but also off-road it is fun. But above all I think I have hit the idea of having a versatile bike, usable in all situations.”

We’re getting tired of saying this, but: Dear Ducati, please build this motorcycle.

Officine Rossopuro | Facebook | Instagram

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[DaveM]

THE BITSA BEEMER: 1995 BMW R100R Mystic.

‘Bitsa’ was originally British slang for a mongrel, a mutt, a mixed-bred. It soon made its way into motorcycle culture – referring to motorcycles that were built from ‘bits of this and bits of that’ from other brands of bikes. Today’s feature bike is no pure-bred, but as is often the case with bitsas, it happened organically. When professional photographer John Downs was looking for a new project...

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[DaveM]

One-Eyed Racer: a retro CBR600RR from Francis Von Tuto

We’re suckers for retro sportbike style. And if it’s married to classic Honda build quality and engineering, you’ve got an intoxicating mix.

That’s why this 2006 CBR600RR ticks all our boxes. It comes from Italian builder Francis Von Tuto, who has just returned to his homeland after eight years in Queensland, Australia. His tools and personal ride are in transit to Italy right now, but he’s left this latest build behind—and some lucky Ozzie is going to have it in their garage soon, because it’s for sale.

“After using donors from the mid 70s to the early 90s, I decided to ‘take a bet’ for bike number nine: a retro-looking build, starting from a modern base,” Francis tells.

He chose a CBR600RR because it’s a model close to his heart. “The second generation was released while I was working for a Honda dealership in Florence,” he recalls. “I had dozens of these bikes coming through for servicing and upgrades, so I know them quite well. I’ve personally owned four of them, two in Italy and two in Australia.”

Francis originally planned for this 2006 model to be his track bike in Australia. He bought it with cosmetic damage, but it had only 30,000 km on the clock. “Structurally and engine wise, it was absolutely perfect.”

The CBR had been sitting unused in a garage for a long time, so Francis started by giving it a major service—right down to flushing and cleaning the entire fuel system and all eight injectors. “On inline-4 bikes there’s very little space to work—especially around the cylinder head—but the quality of Japanese components is always appreciated.”

Next, he rebuilt the suspension, fixing the leaking seals, and started test-fitting the classic fiberglass bodywork lying around in his shop. “The front fairing is a fiberglass Ducati 900ss race replica—made by Brisbane guru Paul Borowinski, then modified to suit the Honda.”

To fit the new bodywork, Francis fabricated new mounts and a new subframe. “It’s totally detachable, so I could leave the main frame untouched for once,” he said. “Using a sport bike as a donor, lightness is a must—so I’ve opted for aluminum.”

The subframe design is adapted from a unit that Francis built for one of his previous 600RRs. Modified with the help of CSF Welders in Queensland, it’s made from 25mm square section tubing, and also allows space for the electronics box, a lithium battery and the starter relay. The tail hump is also home to 3-into-1 indicators from Purpose Built Moto.

The 900ss fairing underwent major surgery, since the original had way too long side wings, and flow into the airbox was poor. Francis has trimmed it, installed a tinted screen, and cut a hole to fit a 4.5-inch side-mounted Koito H4 headlight, in classic Suzuka 8 Hours style.

The fairing proved tricky to mount, forcing him to go through two complete attempts at fabricating stays and brackets until he was happy. “It’s farina del mio sacco, which translates as, ‘My own flour’,” he says. “An Italian saying that means, ‘I did it all myself’!”

The highlight is a quick release central pin: a solid aluminum rod that slides into a tube welded onto the back of the dash plate, secured by an R-clip for easy removal. “A strong structure and stability are a must, since this rig is capable of well over 250 kph.”

The exhaust system is unusually discreet for a custom build; it’s Francis’ reinterpretation of a Moriwaki RC211V 4-into-2 system. “The headers are standard, chopped before the cat converter, and modified at the end—all in stainless steel tubing.”

Incidentally, Francis uses a drop saw to section his pipes neatly: “I’ve used angle grinders before, and it’s not only deadly boring but also difficult to keep a straight line. So do yourself a favor and buy a drop saw or cold saw, depending on your wallet!”

The ‘shorty’ mufflers are made of 63mm SS tube, and for the undertail joints, Francis used a hammer and a handmade dolly to shrink the diameter down to 44 mm. Both mufflers are packed with ‘little bomb baffles.’ “Man, she does scream over 5,000 rpm! It’s a very clean and angry sound, giving this build a real ‘racer’ personality,” Francis reports.

“When I had a genuine Moriwaki on my previous CBR, the power band totally changed—moving the torque to higher rpms and leaving everything below 8,000 duller. But this system is good across the whole scale. And I’m pretty happy considering that I haven’t fitted an auxiliary ECU, and have used the standard filter and airbox.”

The tank is the factory unit, but since Francis removed the ram air tubes, he’s had to cover the slots with plastic welding. “I hate the process, but it’s better to weld ABS [thermoplastic] with ABS, rather than use fillers or fiberglass.”

The front fender is a genuine Honda carbon fiber accessory from a 2010-model 600RR, but the side covers are handmade. “I liked how the original ones fitted on the frame and below the tank cover, but they had nothing to do with the shape of the tail,” says Francis. The seat was also made in-house with a fiberglass base, and was foamed and trimmed by upholstery master David Webster.

“I wasn’t sure abut the design until the very last minute, but I really like the finished product. It’s fitted to the frame with just one 6 mm bolt at the back and a wide strip of Velcro to hold the front down—which is more than enough, since it already fits snug!”

Francis has finished off the upgrades with a Brembo front radial master cylinder and remote reservoir, and braided lines.

“Fully adjustable rear sets and the rear brake reservoir eliminator add a final ‘racing’ touch, and allow a more aggressive posture while hitting the corners,” he says.

The tires are Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II: “Supercorsa would have been even better, but for road use they’re a total waste. I’ve built this bike with the intent to ‘look cool’ without compromising performance, and still potentially be a daily rider.”

The black and yellow paint is a nod to one of Honda’s many iconic sportbike liveries, and was shot by Jimi Lucas at Extreme Dents. “The silver wings on the tank come from the 2005 CBR color scheme,” Francis reveals, “and the silver tail was used for the 2006 red-and-blue model. I love these colors—I would put yellow elements in every build of mine! It reminds me of Renault competition cars, and 80s motorsport in general.”

When looking at custom builds, we often find ourselves guessing what they’d be like to hustle down a typical road. But we know this CBR600RR will be a fun yet relatively practical ride.

“The beauty of modern bikes is that they are already amazingly fast and handle great, without resorting to major upgrades—unless you’re a really fast rider, of course!” says Francis. “So you can just ditch the unnecessary, add rear sets, an exhaust, braided brake lines, and a good set of soft compound rubbers…and there you go!”

Speed and style in equal measure—what’s not to like? If you’re based in Australia and fancy blasting this stunning machine around your local backroads, drop Francis a line—it’s for sale for a very reasonable AU$10,500.

Francis Von Tuto | Instagram | Images by Dallas Shultz

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[DaveM]

Speed Read, 14 February 2021

This Valentine’s Day, we’re kicking things off with something red: a burly Honda Grom kit from K-Speed. Plus we look at Indian’s new Chief, a Japanese custom show that happened in a mall, a reissued favorite from the gear company Icon 1000, and a pint-sized electric motorcycle from Volcon.

Honda Grom kit by K-Speed Thailand’s most prolific custom shop, K-Speed, has just done the unimaginable: they’ve made the Honda Grom even more cartoon-like than it already is. Dubbed the ‘Super Grom,’ this exaggerated take on Big Red’s beloved mini-bike invokes all of our Gundam and Robotech fantasies, and we love it.

The best part is that most of what you see here, is a simple bolt-on kit. K-Speed is first and foremost a parts company, and so it makes sense that their custom work feeds back into their catalog. So you can buy pretty much anything on this particular Grom from them.

The design takes advantage of the new Grom’s bolt-on bodywork setup. This one’s sporting new tank covers, a chunky headlight nacelle and front fender combo, fork covers, different side panels and a belly pan. There’s also a upgraded seat with a small tail piece behind it, and a rear hugger to hold a license plate.

K-Speed also installed an LED taillight with built-in turn signals, and new front signals.

Other upgrades include the handlebars, lever protectors, and a fly screen around the speedo. K-Speed even threw in a couple of ‘performance’ mods—like a new exhaust system, and upgraded brake lines.

They’re offering the kit ready-to-fit in red, black or blue. But seeing as how it’s Valentine’s Day, we’ll go with red. [K-Speed Instagram | Images by Hipmotography]

Indian Motorcycle’s new Chief The Indian Chief is about to turn 100, and to celebrate, Indian have redesigned it. Sure, cruisers aren’t our normal fare, but we’ve got our eye on the new Chief for a couple of reasons. For starters, this is the American marque’s first major release with our good friend Ola Stenegärd at the helm of the design department.

Secondly, it looks damn clean, with a minimalist aesthetic that eschews the art deco vibe the Chief’s had up until now. Rich Christoph (the same guy that designed the FTR 1200) penned it, starting with the tubular steel gooseneck frame. “We put tons of effort in the frame,” Ola tells us. “Everything starts with the frame—the bones have to sit right. You gotta be able to pull the tank and tins off without getting depressed!”

“We went at it the old school garage way: engine on a crate, wheels where they feel right… then bend tubes and weld up!”

Wedged into the frame is Indian’s Thunderstroke motor, in either 111 ci or 116 ci capacity, depending on the model (there are six in total). It’s good for 142 Nm (111) or 162 Nm (116) of torque, and runs with a six speed box and a wet clutch, and includes three riding modes.

Wrapped around the chassis on the base model Chief (111) and Chief Dark Horse (116) are a four gallon fuel tank, a solo seat and a bobber rear fender, with 19F/16R cast wheels. The Chief Bobber (111) and Chief Bobber Dark Horse (116, above) roll on bubbly 16” spoked wheels, and add mini ape hangers, a headlight nacelle, and fork and shock covers. And the Super Chief (111) and Super Chief Limited (116, below) include cruiser bars, a windshield, a passenger pad, luggage, and lots of chrome.

The overall package is a slick blend of retro style and modern tech. The speedo is one modern touch—it’s a round TFT touchscreen, with a full host of features that includes smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation.

Prices start at $14,499 for the Chief and run up to $20,999 for the Super Chief Limited. That puts it in the mix with Harley’s $15,999 Softail Slim and $20,449 Heritage Classic 114. But what we’re more interested to see what custom builders will get up to with it; we already have some ideas of our own brewing. [Indian Motorcycle]

The Volcon Runt Not too long ago we reported on the Volcon Grunt—a $5,955 electric bike with fat tires and a utilitarian vibe. Now the electric vehicle start-up’s just debuted something even radder: the kiddies-sized ‘Runt.’

The Runt is pretty much just a Grunt for little ‘uns, which is why it literally looks like the Grunt’s offspring. But it’s not just its size that makes it kid-friendly—Volcon have built some pretty sly tech features into it. Via an app, parents can set up geo-fencing controls, monitor usage, limit performance, and get notified when the Runt tips over.

Naturally it makes smaller numbers too. There’s 60 Nm of torque, a top speed of 35 mph, and a seat height of just 27”. The range is around 35 miles, and the Runt will charge to full capacity within two hours via a household outlet. And Volcon will offer different seats and handlebars too, so that the Runt can grow with its owner.

Most importantly, it looks downright adorable, and we’d love a Grunt/Runt combo parked in our garage. Volcon are planning to start production in spring (northern hemisphere), with the first units expected to roll out in summer. Pricing starts at $2,995 depending on how you configure it, and a refundable deposit of $100 bags you a spot in the build queue. [Volcon Runt]

Icon 1000 Elsinore 2 boot Good news for anyone who loves Icon 1000’s gear: one of the Portland brand’s perennial favorites, the Elsinore boot, is back.

With an overall vibe that harks back to the motocross boots of yesteryear, the Elsinore made a splash when Icon 1000 first released it, becoming a fast favorite in the alt-moto scene. Our own editor-in-chief, Chris, still has a pair of first-gen Elsinore’s at home—worn down from years of abuse.

The Elsinore disappeared from Icon 1000’s line-up for a while, but it’s back and slightly tweaked for 2021. Just like before it’s available in brown and black, and features premium leather uppers with a retro five-buckle size adjusting system. But unlike your dad’s old MX boots, the Elsinore also features an inside zipper for easy access, and D30 protection at the ankle. There’s also a reinforced shin plate, and a redesigned oil- and slip-resistant sole.

Part Mad Max and part vintage desert racer, the $225 Elsinore 2 lands high on our wishlist. [Icon 1000 Elsinore 2]

Custom World Japan We’ve lost count of how many events the global pandemic has canceled over the past few months—but in some corners of the globe, perseverance has prevailed. From the 16th of January up until today, Heiwa MC has been hosting ‘Custom World Japan’ in the Pacela mall in Hiroshima.

Hosting the show over a full month, and spreading it throughout a sprawling shopping mall, helped mitigate the number of spectators gathering at any one time.

But Heiwa MC’s founder, Kengo Kimura, opted for this format for other reasons too: hosting a show in a mall meant that the general public would be exposed to custom motorcycles. And spreading it over a month meant that enthusiasts could drop in at any time, and repeatedly.

Kimura-san exhibited his own work at the show, but also pulled in the cream of Japan’s custom scene. The legendary Shinya Kimura had two bikes on display, as did Kaichiro Kurosu of Cherry’s Company, and Yuichi Yoshizawa from Custom Works Zon (including one of our bikes of the year, the BMW K1600B ‘Stealth Crow‘).

Also in attendance were 46 Works’ Shiro Nakajima with a BMW R nineT and a 1970 BMW R75/5, and Hide Motorcycle’s Hideya Togashi with a Triumph Bonneville T120 bobber. Rounding out the show were a Honda CB750 and GL400 from Wedge Motorcycle.

Travel restrictions meant there was no chance of getting out to the show in person this year, but we hope this changes in the future. The chance to see some of the world’s best custom motorcycles wedged in between Prada handbags is just too good to resist. [Images by, and with special thanks to, Kazuo Matsumoto]

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[brooke]

SPORTSBIKE TREATMENT: Honda CX500 by Tossa R.

Almost immediately upon its release the Honda CX500 was derided and ridiculed, the nicknames were rarely kind and with prices reduced they became the go-to motorcycle for two-wheeled couriers. But with an engine designed by legend of motorsport Shoichiro Irimajiri, it’s clear that a new generation of custom builders have seen the Honda in an all-new light. What isn’t known to many is that in some...

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That is a stunning example of what can be done with the CX Honda and I have seen at least a couple of dozen others as good and better . Serious builders love the CX because the engine just plain fits . The heads stick out just a little bit compared to the Guzzi and the pipes exit at a nice angle for perfect exposure. Or you can leave them stock , take them to the Bonneville Salt Flats and run on record right out of the box . Or you can pack the tent and head to the Cabot Trail .

 

[DaveM]

HOLY SMOKE: FTR 1200 by Indian Motorcycle Metz.

Wrist cracking, spine snapping powerbands and an absolute gluttony of tobacco sponsorship made racing in the ’80s and ’90s a dangerous thing, be it for the highsides or the heart attacks. But boy was it a blast and many of the current crop of custom builders grew up on the era, fuelling their passion for two wheels. For Thomas Castany and many of the crew at Indian Motorcycle Metz...

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[DaveM]

Dominatorr: Motoism’s Honda NX650 street scrambler

Boundaries are getting blurred in the custom scene. Genre-hopping bikes are everywhere, and it’s getting harder and harder to pigeonhole many builds. We reckon that’s a good thing, and so do the creators of this very sharp Honda Dominator.

Brothers Lion and Ben Ott, of Motoism in Munich, felt a need for bikes that escape the definition of a classic cafe racer. They felt the urge to build “something different that is comfortable to ride and delivers good performance, but also embraces the dark side.”

There’s a touch of dark humor too: the ‘Dominatorr’ is pitched as ‘a custom bike designed for an art heist getaway.’ And while there are probably bikes more suitable for a quick Kunstgalerie departure, this Honda would do it in style.


Most of the mods are subtle, and don’t affect the well-known functional strengths of the NX650. “We wanted to keep the original look of the bike,” says Ben, “so we improved some lines and reshaped the original fuel tank.”

As with their brilliant nitrous-fueled CB750, Motoism have stuck to monochrome finishes on this 1991-spec Dominator street scrambler. It’s especially effective on the tank, where lighter-colored panels camouflage the unusually tall shape.

Lion and Ben completely redesigned the subframe, though: “We modeled it in CAD, defined the sections and finally TIG welded it all together.” The tailpiece above is a custom design, and was 3D printed using carbon fiber reinforced copolymer.

The fork covers—which also host the turn signals—were tailormade using the same manufacturing process. (The Ott brothers have history with this technique, and most recently made most of the 3D parts on the latest Harley from Crooked Motorcycles.)

The Dominator’s usual F21/R17 wheel set is ideal for off-road excursions, but less so for the tight streets of Germany’s third-largest city. So Lion and Ben have gone for a dual-sport compromise: more road-oriented F19/R17 alloy rims that are now shod with Continental TKC80 dual sport tires, to retain a semblance of dirt road grip.

The stock plastic front brake cover has gone, revealing a Brembo system upgrade. And there’s a new YSS shock at the back, a departure from the Ott brothers’ usual choice of Öhlins.

The donor bike was low mileage and in good condition, so the engine needed little more than a thorough service. It’s also running a Dynojet carb kit, which improves drivability and gives around 10% more horsepower.

The chunky muffler is a free-flowing aluminum unit from GPR that weighs around 1.75 kg, and the end pipe had to be modified to make everything fit neatly below the new subframe.

“One of the biggest challenges was to find a good position for the silencer, keeping it parallel to the subframe as well as to the tail unit,” Ben says, “with enough space for the rear wheel when deflected.”

The plasticky fairing originally fitted to Dominators hasn’t aged well, so Motoism have replaced it with a compact headlight nacelle based on the Controlpit unit they sell in their shop. “The client wanted a round speedometer, so we adapted the part for this project, which worked out well.”

“For the bars and grips we used parts from our partner LSL. The client wanted the switches to stay original, so we refurbished those.” The rest of the electrical items are neatly tucked away though, in a laser-cut box under the seat.

Some of the custom parts on this build are from Motoism’s clever ‘Tailormade’ range. Like most savvy custom builders, Lion and Ben know that it’s essential to develop a range of hard parts to keep the cash flow going—but in their case, these parts can be tweaked to order for a semi-custom fit.

The client originally wanted the Dominator to be painted in a ‘woodruff’ mid green, but Lion and Ben suggested that a classy black-and-white finish would be a better choice. We agree—it’s stark but effective.

‘Dominatorr’ is now the kind of street scrambler we like, combining classic enduro style with the visual cues of a modern day cafe racer. If you’re within distance of Munich, head over to Motoism’s showroom to check it out before it heads off on new adventures.

Motoism | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Philipp Wulk and Stephan Bauer

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[DaveM]

TWO-STROKE OF GENIUS: Suzuki-Bimota hybrid smoker.

From the ancient cultures of Southern Africa to Egypt, Greece and China, there were mythical gods, hybrids, that combined the power and mystique of one animal with another, or even a human, to create a creature of supernatural ability. Those like Minotaur and Pegasus live on in our modern folklore and remind us of the reverence humans have always held for incredible hybrids. Now in a modern tale a...

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