Custom Motorcycle Builds

[DaveM]

GOLD STANDARD: BMW R80 by Incerum Customs.

It’s time to address the elephant in the room; why does every custom motorcycle show, magazine, blog, and workshop feature and build so many BMW Rs? The answer is pretty simple, they’re just a bloody good machine! But in addition to that, they can be turned into absolutely any style you can imagine, the engines are bulletproof, and they are both fun and easy to ride. So, if you find these...

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[DaveM]

Green Machine: Deep Creek’s custom Ducati ST4

For most pro custom bike builders, working to a brief is the norm. So any opportunity to take on a carte blanche project is relished. This brawny Ducati café racer from Kris Reniers is one such machine—which is why it has of his favorite things rolled into one.

Kris is the man behind Deep Creek Cycleworks, based in the Belgian town of Diepenbeek. He’s an experienced endurance racer, enjoys customizing Ducatis, and is besotted with a specific metallic green paint. Which is why he’s just built his third race-inspired Ducati in this color scheme, and dubbed it ‘Green Machine 3.0.’

The commission came from a friend, with a 1998 Ducati ST4 selected as the donor. The ST4 is one of those rare classic Ducatis that favors practicality over excitement—but it has good bones. Sitting inside its trellis frame is the same 90-degree V-twin motor as the Ducati 916, good for 105 horses.

Kris took inspiration for the project from a Holographic Hammer illustration that he’d stumbled across. “I wanted a rough look for this bike,” he explains. “A bit nose heavy, a bit buff. With the headlight as low as possible, and a more sporty and beefed up front suspension, I knew I could get that look.”

To achieve this, Kris started by transplanting the front end from a Ducati Streetfighter 848 onto the older ST4. The upgrade included the Streetfighter’s radial Brembo calipers—but not its wheels. Instead, a set of spacers and bushings were machined to accommodate a set of Alpina wheels, originally designed for the Ducati Paul Smart 1000 LE.

The burly upside-down forks were added for more than just their looks; Kris is a bonafide track racer, so performance was another key factor. To that end, the rear is now propped up on a new Wilbers shock.

The biggest magic trick here, is how Kris massaged the ST4 so much that it almost looks like a Monster now. Remarkably, he did it without tossing away the OEM fuel tank either.

“The fuel tank was not an easy job,” he says, “because all the electrics needed to be kept out of sight—and the perfect place was under the tank. It’s a bit of a Frankenstein tank, welded up using the original as a donor, which was cut and reshaped.” Sitting on top is an endurance-style filler—another nod to Kris’ love for the track.

More heavy lifting went on out back, where Kris hacked off the rear half of the frame. He then shaped up a new trellised subframe, which now bolts onto mounting points on the main frame. The seat is small and waspish—an intentional move to keep things looking racy, and to push the visual weight to the front.

The back end of the bike is neatly finished with a small LED taillight from Wünderlich, and a splash guard to keep muck off the engine. There’s a discreet hand-made tray under the seat too, holding a few of the Ducati’s essential bits.

Up front, a handmade cowl sits over a low-slung led headlight from Koso. The cockpit is incredibly compact, featuring clip-ons with LSL grips, basic switches, and a digital Motogadget Motoscope Pro dash.

Lower down are new rear-sets from Valtermoto, which are actually designed for the Suzuki GSX-R750. “We race the GSX-R in the classic endurance scene,” explains Kris, “and I knew those would look great on this build.”

The final piece of the puzzle is the asymmetrical exhaust system, terminating in twin mufflers from Tyga. “The pie cuts were a handful for me,” says Kris. “I am not used to welding them, and that bit could have been done better by a professional. But nobody is perfect—and this bike is no exception.”

We appreciate the humility, but honestly this Ducati’s stance and proportions are so good, we can forgive a few errant welds. That stunning livery doesn’t hurt either.

“The metallic green is a color that was used way back in the day by Ford USA,” Kris tells us. “It has a gold-ish flake that shimmers when the sun strikes. It’s become a bit of a trademark for me.”

Complementing the green base are gold and white accents, and a textured cognac leather seat, upholstered by Atelier Lepez. “We used that leather to get a bit of a vintage racer look, a reminder of the green Moto Guzzi V8 racer of the 50s.”

This ST4 ain’t no showpiece either. As soon as Kris gets a chance, he plans to take it to the track—with his friend’s permission, of course.

“When I look at this bike, I think about how much I would love to ride it,” he says. “And when think that thought, I know I am on the right track. I promised my friend we would take it to the track in Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and let it rip up Raidillon!”

Deep Creek Cycleworks | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Michele Micoli

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[DaveM]

BISON BOBBER: Royal Enfield 350 ‘Gaur’ by Rajputana Customs.

History truly is one of our greatest teachers and if you’re looking for a guiding light then studying the tale of Royal Enfield, the world’s oldest motorcycle company, will reveal many golden truths. With a history dating back to 1851, the business made everything from bicycles to firearms and even sewing needles. By 1901 motorcycles entered the inventory and perhaps most importantly...

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[DaveM]

Blackbird: Plan B’s stealthy take on the Zero FX

Dirt bikes can make surprisingly good road customs, mostly due to their light weight and the easy tune-ability of most offroad powertrains. But an electric dirt bike? That’s something you don’t often see.

‘Blackbird’ comes from Italian builder Christian Moretti, who runs Plan B Motorcycles from his base in Laveno-Mombello, just outside Milan. Clad in stealthy black bodywork, its inspiration comes from an unusual source.

“The SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most iconic aircraft ever built, and it used the top-notch technology of its time,” says Christian. “Its unbelievable speed allowed it to simply leave missiles behind. Nowadays, electric bikes are arguably the top technology, but are they really working? For sure they can be pretty fast.”

The Zero FX is indeed pretty fast for an enduro bike. When it left the factory, it had a classic dirt bike profile—but Christian has turned it into a sleek road machine.

“It started life as a 2019 FX,” he reports. “The customer asked for a small, lightweight and ‘modern’ cafe racer. And because I love swapping purpose on a bike, the off-road entry level Zero was the perfect choice.” The 7.2 kWh version of the factory FX tips the scales at just 289 lb (131 kg), so the weight box was immediately ticked.

“When working on electric customs, it looks like there are two main directions these days: the ‘retro’ way or the super-futuristic one,” says Christian.

“One of the main goals of this build was to set aside the green argument for a bit to see if a ‘contemporary’ electric custom was possible—and if it would ‘fit in’ without the need for an internal combustion engine.”

Christian has hand-crafted the bodywork in aluminum, with swooping lines that fit within the modern sportbike vernacular but have the simplicity of retro racers. The metal was then ‘ink coated’ by Paint Republic Vignale.

“A crazy job for a crazy couple of alchemists,” says Christian. “It’s a very deep, chrome-like black until the sun touches it. Then you can see the aluminum of the bodywork underneath.” The magic potion was laid directly on top of the aluminum panels for a see-through effect, and not a single blob of filler has been used to smooth things out.

Flipping the ignition will start a ‘pre-flight check’: two air ducts on the side of the new fairing open and close, and they will open up every time the brakes are engaged—working as an active aero/air brake combo. At the same time, two fans inside the lower fairing will spin up to maximize cooling airflow.

“The fan speed is controlled by the throttle,” says Christian. “The more ‘gas’ you give to the bike, the more air is channeled through the fairing, cooling the battery, motor and regulator assembly.” It also makes a jet-like sound, which should alert other road users to the presence of this unusual machine.

To blend with the new bodywork, Christian has remodeled the back of the frame and tweaked the geometry to make it more suitable for the road.

The upper and lower clamps are new, CNC’d from solid aluminum blocks to Christian’s own design and with the right amount of offset. “We ended up with a quite neutral 98mm trail, with some room for adjustment.”

The 41mm Showa forks have been replaced by beefy 50mm Marzocchis, with custom made lowers to accommodate two massive Beringer six-pot calipers and a pair of ceramic 340mm rotors from BriLo Tech. (“Yes, it’s definitely overkill!”)

At the back there’s a fully adjustable monoshock from Gears Racing, and the OEM enduro wheels have been ditched in favor of a set of 17-inch Grimecas shod with supermoto tires.

Due to the Moto3-like dimensions, Christian has also moved the clip-ons so that the leading part of the rider triangle is 50mm forward—allowing for a more laid down riding position, and a bit more weight on the front of the bike.

There’s some pretty considered and serious thinking going on throughout this Zero, but Christian has allowed himself a touch of levity in the cockpit area. “it’s super busy, as a proper aircraft one should be!” he says.

On top of the original digital gauge, there is now an infrared rear-view camera and a top-mounted radial steering damper integrated in the upper clamp. Plus several aircraft switches and an altitude indicator. “Which serves absolutely no purpose, but it’s fun to look at while you’re taking a corner!”

With its low weight and instant-on torque, we reckon this Zero will be fun wherever it’s ridden. And will no doubt attract a ton of attention when parked up, too.

Plan B Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Cristina Pertile

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[DaveM]

Bahnstormer: Workhorse Speed Shop’s custom BMW R18

It’s no secret that we have mixed feelings about the BMW R18. But there’s one thing we’re sure of: in the right hands, it has massive potential for customization. And few hands are as deft as Brice Hennebert’s.

We’ve been following Brice’s career for quite some time—from his early days as one half of Kruz Company, to his current work under the Workhorse Speed Shop brand. And the Belgian custom builder has yet to put a foot wrong.

Brice has a sharp eye, and a penchant for injecting retro racing style into his machines. He’s also not afraid to build them chunky, making his style perfectly suited to the R18’s generous real estate. This particular bike is a side-step from his usual fare though, laced with art deco design considerations.

Since the BMW R18’s design was originally inspired by the BMW motorcycles of the 1930s, Brice went on the hunt for inspiration from this era. “I wanted to bring the R18 to a whole new level,” he says. “One of my biggest inspirations was the R18 concept bike, which, for me is one of the best looking R18s to date.”

While relaxing at home, Brice stumbled across a documentary about the old AVUS circuit in Berlin—a road that was specifically designed to function as both a freeway and a race track. Since the R18 is built in Berlin, it felt like the perfect springboard for the project.

So Brice started gathering furniture, architectural and automotive designs from the era to build his mood board. “I based my design on two famous sports cars from this period,” he says.

“The first one is the Bentley Blue Train from 1949—a high-end racer, famous for being faster than a train. The three seater is a real piece of art.”

“The other one is the Rolls-Royce Phantom Jonckheere Coupe from 1935. The outrageous lines of the Rolls-Royce are so inspiring. I fell in love with this alien which is almost 100 years old, and which was customized in Belgium.”

Workhorse’s R18 is squat and compact, so it takes a second glance to realize that it’s rolling on a sizable set of wheels. There’s a 21” hoop up front, with a 240-wide 18” rim at the back. “The monster rear wheel does not look oversized with such a big engine,” says Brice.

Look even closer, and you’ll notice that the spokes are laced either side of a central ridge on each rim. That design was inspired by aero bicycle wheels, and, by Brice’s admission, Max Hazan’s twin-engined Velocette. So it’s no surprise that the wheels are custom units, made to spec by JoNich Wheels in Italy.

It’s not just the rim edges that are unusual. Brice wanted to keep the design clean, and that meant using an inboard brake set from Beringer. The brake company sent over CAD designs of an existing inboard system, which were passed onto Fabio at JoNich to make sure the new hubs could accommodate the brakes.

Beringer in turn made modifications to the inboard system, to ensure there would be space to re-install the BMW’s OEM ABS sensors. That makes this setup about as one-off as you can get.

Higher up, Brice designed a new set of yokes to split the forks wide enough to fit the upgraded wheels and brakes. They grip a pair of 43 mm fork legs from Öhlins, with a custom-built shock from the Swedish suspension company fitted out back.

The Öhlins bits are not just for show though. Brice’s client is a hardcore race enthusiast, and although this is a cruiser, he wants it to perform as well as possible.

Another challenge was hollowing out the space under the seat, to show off the new shock. “All the usual under the seat moved to a black box behind the gearbox,” says Brice, “and there’s some stuff directly under the seat. It took two weeks of work to relocate all the electrical stuff correctly.”

A couple of components also made their way into one of this R18’s standout parts—its generous handmade aluminum belly pan. Brice fabricated an exhaust system from pie-cut headers and pieces of race car mufflers to run inside it, and added louvered vents as a nod to the Bentley.

The stock fuel tank made the cut, but a lot of attention went into the cockpit and front end. Using 3D design and printing, Brice built a nylon glass fiber ‘fairing’ with an integrated headlight nacelle and fork covers. Packed inside it is a new old stock SEV Marchal headlight, upgraded with LED internals.

“I took some influence from the Revival Birdcage’s forks, and mixed in some pre-war aero inspiration,” he explains. “There’s also a drop of Hugo Eccles’ XP Zero around the yoke design.”

Behind the fairing is a ‘pop-up’ mount for an iPhone—a request from the owner, who apparently wants to run a navigation app since he gets lost often. The switches are custom-made items from Jetprime in Italy, designed specifically to interface with the BMW’s modern CAN bus system.

Also notable are the reverse-style levers, inspired by those on the original Concept R18. Brice put in another call to Beringer, who responded with parts from an old project that was never completed. Brice massaged everything into place, routing the R18’s brake hoses inside the handlebars.

Taking things one more step further, Brice 3D scanned the entire motorcycle, then designed parts like the valve covers, front engine cover, intakes, seat blank-off plate and more. Expanding his knowledge of additive manufacturing, he then 3D-printed castings, for Cedric at Metamagma to cast the final parts from aluminum.

Finishing off the build are a neatly finned rear fender, and a solo seat upholstered by all of Europe’s go-to guy, Jeroen at Silvermachine. Brice also credits Tim at Vinco Racing for doing all the machining work on the build.

Appropriately dubbed ‘Avus,’ Workhorse’s take on BMW’s monster boxer looks like a forgotten concept design from a bygone era—which is why we love it. If you do too, we have good news: the owner’s given him the go ahead to build a limited series of ten.

Workhorse Speed Shop | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Antoine Hotermans

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[DaveM]

Dolce far niente: A Yamaha XT 600 scrambler by Freeride

The sheer diversity of Freeride Motos Racing’s stable makes it difficult to lump them into one silo. You’re just as likely to find a svelte supermoto in their workshop, as you are a 90-year-old Moto Guzzi. Shop boss Pierre Dhers is clearly onto a good thing—so it’s no wonder that he gets return customers.

One such customer is Dakar Rally driver and flat track racer Pierre Lachaume. The two Pierres met some time ago when Monsieur Lachaume wanted a custom bike. He wanted his 1989 Yamaha XT 600 modified at first, but, after some deliberation, Freeride built him a stunning KTM flat tracker instead.

Patience is a virtue that he clearly possesses. Once the KTM was done, he headed back to Freeride’s workshop to get the XT 600 sorted too.

“After having completed other projects together, the subject of the XT came back on the table,” explains Pierre Dhers. “We wanted a simple and refined scrambler, a perfect way to get to the corner bar for a drink.”

If you were unaware, the French once had a booming national motorcycle trade, which pumped out some beautiful machinery (give it a Google). Freeride took inspiration from post-war French motorcycles, by fitting the fuel tank from a 1950s Monet Goyon. The oil tank and toolbox were lifted from a 125 cc Terrot.

The brass fuel and oil tank caps were hand-turned by Pierre’s father. who regularly contributes to Freeride projects. The brushed aluminum accents on the tank and the small luggage rack are period parts that were restored for the project.

The Yamaha’s stock wheels were refreshed, and re-spoked with a new 18” rim up front. This matches the rear rim—which is something you should expect from a flat track aficionado like Lachaume. Looking very modern in new black paint, the rims are shod with Heidenau vintage-style enduro tires.

The almost-40-year-old braking system was upgraded by way of new master cylinders and solid-mounted discs. The discs have been expertly laser cut with the Freeride name, and ‘Lachaume 74’ in reference to Pierre’s racing number.

Another nod to the France of yesteryear is the selective yellow headlight. It was donated by a car from the 1980s, where it was originally a fog light. The stock indicators were shelved and replaced with discrete LED units, hidden between the forks up front, and under the seat out back.

The seat was trimmed by Mr Cannac Christophe of Akotabe in Carmaux, in the south of France. It’s perched atop a custom subframe.

The rider cockpit now consists of new switchgear, throttle assembly and black Renthal bars held in place by polished risers. The front and rear suspension have been lowered, likely to inject just a few extra cc’s of flat-track style.

Freeride also treated the engine to a full tear-down, adding performance improvements by way of a new Prox conrod, Vertex valves and a Vertex piston. The carbs were stripped, bathed and refreshed, and now breathe through aluminum filters from Malossi. Reassembled with fresh gaskets all round, the engine was painted black to match the frame and should be good for another 30+ years of service.

The stainless steel exhaust system is hand-made, terminating in a Supertrapp muffler. It might just be our favorite part of the build; the purple to golden-bronze color really pops against the otherwise monochrome design.

Gone are the original plastic guards of the 1980s—they’ve been replaced by short steel guards, painted to match the tanks. There are leather accents all over the bike, including a taillight and plate ‘bracket’ that harks back to the trials bikes of old. It might not look structurally sound, but it does look damn cool.

Freeride set out to create a minimalist scrambler for bopping around town, and have absolutely nailed it. This XT 600 might be from France, but it’s the physical embodiment of dolce far niente.

Picture the scene: you’re in the south of France and treat yourself to a lie-in, wake up with a strong coffee and cruise around town on your scrambler. After meeting your friends for a drink in the afternoon, you take a scenic detour through the woods on the way home. Bliss.

Freeride Motos Racing | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Clement Lazzaro

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[DaveM]

K-LAB: BMW K100 by Drive-In Workshop x Motoizevro.

A downturn in the global economy can be a scary time for a custom builder, motorcycles might be essentials for many of us, but with less spare cash in the back pocket, lashing out on a new build might not be possible. The last time we checked in with Nikolai of Motoizevro and Leonid Skakunov of Drive-In Workshop, they’d come to share a workspace to reduce overheads as the financial crunch set in.

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[DaveM]

RIDE RETRO: 2022 YAMAHA XSR900 & XSR700.

2021 was one hell of a year for Yamaha, taking out the MotoGP and WSBK titles and also clinching the BSB championship. But back at the Iwata factory in Japan, they weren’t resting on their laurels, with a host of models either getting an all-new redesign or a serious update. The good news for the public is that Yamaha is passing on their track winning performance to the riders of their street...

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[DaveM]

Speed Read, July 3, 2022

This week we’ve got Ducatis old and new: a German-built custom 848, plus the latest factory race bike—the electric V21L. We also take a look at the 21 Helmets show from the US, and a BMW R nineT with vintage rally theming from Munich.

Ducati 848 redux by Motocrew We’re always fascinated to see bikes that are developed and tweaked over time. A year ago, German builder Chris Scholtka wowed us with his super-clean 848, clad in minimal silver bodywork.

He’s since revisited the 848 to give it a classic race bike look—and he’s managed to get it past the very fussy TÜV regulators, too. “The old school racer style was in my head since day one,” he explains, “but the costs and the regulations were horrible.”

The fairing is a 1980s race job from a Kawasaki. “It took a lot of time to get it nearly symmetrical on the bike, because the old fiberglass stuff isn’t perfect,” Chris says. “I also had to build a strong and complex ‘cage’ to install the fairing—an instruction from the TÜV to get it street legal.”

The headlight is now hidden, and so is a new, custom-made radiator that cost €1000. “It was hard to find someone who could build it—the old craftsmanship is nearly gone.”

There’s a new shock from Black-T at the back, and the forks have been refinished in black and upgraded internally with new springs. Chris has also revamped and hidden the electrical system, which now gets juice from a tiny NOCO lithium battery and is wired up to Motogadget lighting.

After finishing the new bodywork in white, Chris has finally got the 848 road legal. “The TÜV boy looked at every lil’ part to make sure it was strong enough,” he says wryly. The next step will be a quick shift system with new engine software—but we’d be happy to take this machine just as it is. [Motocrew]

21 Helmets Show The One Motorcycle Show is an institution these days. Held in Portland, Oregon and organized by See See Motorcycles since 2009, it’s a celebration of weird, rare, custom and classic bikes.

One of the highlights of the show is the 21 Helmets exhibition, and this year, 21 artists were each given an ICON Airflite lid to showcase their talents.

It’s a synergistic collaboration: ICON is known for the wild graphics on its helmets, but the artists have taken the idea to the next level.

The show was curated by local a creative agency, the Lincoln Design Co., and as you’d expect, there’s some truly retina-searing stuff here.

We’re particularly fond of the more conceptual ideas though, such as the military-toned lid with a skull inside, by Lonely Design.

And then art director Dustin Noden came up with a novel idea for a helmet that is past its use by date, or damaged: spray it with terracotta-toned paint and turn it into a plant pot. Explore the designs in more detail here.

BMW R nineT ‘Desertfox’ by Motoism Motoism are based in the city of Munich, but this new R nineT build is destined to work off-road as well as on. It’s an alternative to BMW’s own Scrambler and Urban G/S models—but the Metzeler Karoo 3 tires will give it a little more prowess on the hardpack.

Motoism’s mods don’t involve any grinding, but they transform the vibe of the popular roadster. There’s a whole catalog-worth of Motoism custom parts fitted, including a new headlight mask, enduro-style fender, leather seat and carbon fiber tail unit.

The lighting is new too, from the LED units at the back to the blinkers integrated within custom fork covers. And everything has that all-important regulatory approval.

The new vintage-style paint job is striking, and most of the bare metal on the R nineT has been refinished in black for added effect. A smattering of top-spec aftermarket additions finish the BMW off, including a neatly integrated Motogadget speedo, a high-spec Öhlins monoshock and a ceramic coated Arrow Pro-Race exhaust system—complete with lightweight muffler.

There’s no shortage of mods out there for the R nineT, but this is one of the most attractive and cohesive selections we’ve seen. [Motoism]

Ducati’s first electric motorcycle It had to happen, and it’s finally here. Borgo Panigale has just revealed ‘V21L,’ which is unfortunately a niche race bike rather than a showroom offering. Still, it’s a step towards the future, and the tech will probably find its way into roadgoing machines.

Next year, this machine will compete in the MotoE race series, with Ducati replacing Energica and supplying 18 bikes for track use. That’s why the launch PR includes a clip of former MotoGP racer Alex de Angelis thrashing a V21L prototype around the Vallelunga Circuit.

The styling is nothing to write home about, especially in the context of Ducati’s prettier offerings, but the tech side is interesting.

The battery pack is rated at a hefty 18 kWh; to put that into perspective, the LiveWire claims 15.5 and the Zero SR/S 14.4 kWh. But despite the size of the battery, Ducati’s priority seems to have been weight—the V21L clocks in at just 225 kg (496 lb).

Both the battery and the motor are liquid cooled, which means easier and safer charging, and they sit within a carbon fiber and aluminum frame that weighs a mere 3.7 kg. The Desmosedici-inspired swingarm actually weighs more, at 4.8 kg, and there’s a 20 kW charging socket hidden in the tail.

Ducati quotes power and torque figures of 150 hp (110 kW) and 140 Nm, and says that the bike tops out at 171 mph (275 kph) on a circuit like Mugello.

A Desmosedici MotoGP bike squirts out almost double the horsepower of the V21L, but the MotoE racing should still be reasonably fast and exciting. And given Ducati’s habit of filtering race tech down to showroom bikes, it might not be long before we see a road version. And that will give the consumer sportbike market a real jolt. [More]

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[DaveM]

TOP GUN TRIBUTE: Kawasaki H2R ‘Project Z’ by FTG Moto.

If only I could insert music into an article because if ever a motorcycle deserved a soundtrack, this is it! ‘Revvin’ up your engine, listen to her howlin’ roar, metal under tension, beggin’ you to touch and go, highway to the danger zone, ride into the danger zone’. If that song doesn’t get you pumped up for some Top Gun ’80s action, then you may just be dead inside! And with the recent release...

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[DaveM]

Vinduro: A retro take on the KTM 500 EXC Six Days

Named after the famed International Six Days Enduro, the KTM 500 EXC Six Days is one of the best enduro race bikes money can buy. Highlights include a 510cc single-cylinder motor, a featherlight chromoly frame, WP Suspension parts, and a ludicrous dry weight of 246 lbs.

It looks the business too—if modern off-road bikes are your thing, of course. Most people probably wouldn’t pick it as a donor for a retro-styled custom scrambler. But Aussie Dan Mickan did, and ended up with this spicy take on the KTM 500.

Brisbane-based Dan has been obsessed with motorcycles since he started riding at the age of 10. He’s also a fan of custom bikes, thanks to Australian workshops like Deus ex Machina and Ellaspede. So it was only a matter of time before he took a crack at building his own.

The idea to customize the KTM popped up a few years ago, while Dan was attempting to scratch a very specific itch. “I was looking to buy an old Honda XR600R,” he tells us, “because I wanted a vintage motocross or enduro-type bike to ride at events like Ellaspede’s Dust Hustle, or some local ‘vinduro’ events.”

“At the same time I also had this 2015 KTM 500 Six Days edition sitting in my garage. I thought that if I bought an old XR, then all I would do is ride it, throw money at it to improve suspension and engine performance, and never ride my KTM 500.”

“I was really blown away by the Roland Sands ‘Kurt Caselli’ build, which basically introduced me to the idea that you could customize a dirt bike—which, until then, I never even considered. With that in mind, my plan was to build a 1980s styled vintage enduro machine using my KTM 500 as a base. I would then have a bike that would have the vintage enduro looks, but all of the modern engine performance, reliability and suspension tech.”

Dan kicked off the design process by printing out a bunch of photos of stock motorcycles, custom builds and fuel tank options. He then grabbed scissors and literally cut and paste bits and pieces together, until he had a clear direction in mind.

Next, Dan stripped the bike to its bones and started hunting for local craftsmen and fabrication shops to help him bring his vision to life. “I know my way around a workshop, but I’m not a particularly talented fabricator,” he admits. “I also have three young kids, so finding the time to spend building bikes is a challenge.”

Luckily Dan is extremely good at one thing in particular: project management, because that’s what he does for a living. So he made a list and start farming out the hard jobs.

For the subframe, Dan built a mock-up using plastic conduit tubing—then gave that, and a detailed technical drawing to a local fabricator. He returned an exact chromoly steel replica, which bolted straight to the 500’s frame with minimal tweaking. Extra care was taken to maintain the KTM’s aggressive ergonomics, because the intention is to ride it as it was designed to be ridden.

Next, Dan had to figure out one small, but crucial, part of the build: the fuel tank. “It’s probably the design element that the whole build revolved around the most,” he says. “It’s off an early 80s Honda XL 185, and I love it for its boxy lines and small size.”

Dan once again relied on a local artisan to modify the tank to fit the KTM’s subframe. He had the added challenge of squeezing the OEM fuel pump in there too, but in the end, it all worked out.

Next, Dan had the blocky seat built to match the tank’s lines. Refinishing it in the same blue as early 80s KTM motocross bikes was an easy decision, and eventually informed the rest of the bike’s livery.

To keep things super practical, the OEM air and battery boxes were modified too, so that they could still fit inside the new subframe. For the exhaust, a DanMoto muffler was mated to the modified KTM header.

The fenders and headlight nacelle are all standard Acerbis plastic bits. Dan picked these because they are era-appropriate, but also easy to replace if he should accidentally hurl his bike down the side of a hill. The side covers are custom pieces.

Dan’s last hurdle was to get the livery just right. Working with a designer, he ended up with 1980s-inspired graphics that still retained some of the elements of the original bike’s design. The 2015 model’s decals commemorated the Argentinian edition of the ISDE, so that was carried across too.

Another reason that Dan sourced out individual jobs on this project, is because he didn’t have the budget to dump the bike at a top custom shop to have it done in one shot. In the end, those time and cost restrictions meant that the build took almost three and a half years to complete.

“Along the way I reached out to a bunch of people to bounce ideas off and run design advice by,” says Dan. “The local Brisbane bike community is really full of great people. The final product would not have turned out as well without the input from these people—they all know who they are.”

So was all that time, money and effort worth it? We say yes. If this retro-fabulous enduro doesn’t get your heart racing, you might not have one.

Images by Gabriel Veit

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[DaveM]

Plus One: ShifCustom’s three wheeled BMW R18

Three-wheeled motorcycles get a bad rap, but we can think of a few good uses for them. They’re especially useful for riders who love the feeling of riding a bike, but are physically unable to keep one upright. And if you must ride a trike, you might as well do it in style.

This glorious contraption was built for one such customer, with a BMW R18 as a donor. It’s the work of Yuri Shif’s award-winning ShifCustom workshop, located in Minsk. And if ever there was a style that suited the R18’s monster 1,802cc boxer motor, this is it.

ShifCustom’s reverse trike has all the sensibilities of a Can-Am Spyder, but with a far more classic vibe. Their design riffs off the iconic BMW 328, mostly because their customer is a huge fan of the brand. But we’re picking up hints of the Morgan 3 Wheeler here too.

As you’d imagine, there’s very little here in the way of plug-and-play stuff. ShifCustom’s 15-strong team engineered the chassis and formed the bodywork in-house, relying on aftermarket suppliers for only a handful of parts, and outsourcing only the leatherwork.

Most of the engineering is tucked away under the R18’s new hood. There you’ll find a custom-made front subframe, bolted to the main frame via reinforced mounting plates, and holding a double wishbone independent suspension system. The whole setup was designed digitally before ShifCustom put welding torch to metal.

The system includes an extended steering neck, to transfer inputs from the handlebars to the wheels, and a pair of adjustable shocks. The wheels themselves are modified Audi A3 items, kitted with Nissin brakes.

ShifCustom might have used software to design the suspension, but the bodywork was done using traditional coach building techniques. The most striking feature is the aluminum nose cone; a clear nod to the 328 with its dual kidney front grilles.

Every last detail is stunning, from the BMW roundel up front, to the louvered panels on the top and sides. Take a closer look at the wheels, and you’ll even spot the same style of Rudge Whitworth center-lock nuts as the vintage 328.

Undo the leather belts, and the hood opens in two sections, providing access to the front end and some of the electronic components. Lower down are two Harley V-Rod headlights, remounted in handmade housings. ShifCustom had to develop a plug-in module to make them work, because they wouldn’t play nice with the BMW’s electrical system at first.

Finishing off the bodywork is a set of matching enclosed fenders, hand-formed out of aluminum. The rear wheel is custom too, as are the louvered panels on the BMW’s side covers.

The rider’s view is also rather interesting. Installed in the back end of the nose cone is a Bluetooth-enable sound system, controlled via a remote on the handlebars. A leather pouch on top of the fuel tank offers space for a smartphone, with integrated wireless charging.

ShifCustom remounted the OEM speedo to sit aft of the bars, and swapped the fuel cap for a neat knurled aluminum part. Other add-ons include bar-end mirrors and new turn signals, with the rear units doubling up as taillights.

The R18’s new paint job was done in-house too, and is as striking as it is simple. The classic combination of silver and blue is hard to argue with—especially when you notice how tastefully it’s been carried through to parts like the wheels, valve covers and mufflers.

ShifCustom’s outrageous take on BMW’s boxer cruiser is sure to ruffle feathers, but we’re fans. And considering the R18’s intended audience, perhaps the Bavarian marque should be taking notes.

ShifCustom | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Andrew Schukin

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[DaveM]

LEAD HEAD: ‘Type 8’ by Zero Engineering x Deus.

There is often a sense of mystery that surrounds any great master of their field, from the great renaissance men of the past to the modern polymaths who keep that ethos alive. In our world of wild bikes, few stand as tall in this realm than the incredible craftsman of custom cool, Shinya Kimura. The founder of the globally renowned Zero Engineering has travelled over oceans and started a new...

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[DaveM]

DARKSTAR: BMW R90 by WYLD Garage Co.

Love him or hate him, Tom Cruise knows how to make a great movie. There seems to be no slowing him down and Top Gun: Maverick is now his highest-grossing box office success. And for the second time in the same week, that film has inspired a custom bike, with this once abandoned and aimless BMW being infused with the spirit of one of the movie’s most incredible machines. Arriving at Arizona’s team...

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[DaveM]

The Sand Flea: Sideburn’s Suzuki VanVan 125 beach bike

Growing up in the 1970s, my Fab Four were never John, Paul, George and Ringo. They were Snorky, Fleegle, Droopy and Bingo—The Banana Splits. Conceived by Hanna-Barbera, the show featured four creatures who, like prototype sports team mascots, were blokes dressed in furry outfits and firefighter helmets.

They were a pop band, lived in a shared psychedelic house and got into Three Stooges-style slapstick scrapes. Hey, it was conceived in California in 1968, what do you expect? It was still being shown on UK TV years later, when it served as a sun-drenched 30 minutes of primary-colored eye candy, especially for a kid in a home-knit jumper, growing up in the washed-out, drizzle grey of northern England.

But what stuck in my mind most is the six-wheel Amphicat all-terrain buggies the stars tore around in during the title sequence of the show. It was The Banana Splits and their buggies that inspired this 2003 Suzuki VanVan 125. At least in part. The other part was Sideburn, the magazine I edit.

Sideburn is heavily weighted towards dirt track, but has always found room for street trackers, art, photography, movies, road trips and adventure riding. Still, since becoming the official magazine of the American Flat Track professional race series in 2020, I had been thinking more about the pro sport, and how the mag looked to new readers who were picking it up at races in Texas or Ohio. This Suzuki was a reminder to myself, and potential readers, that Sideburn is about more than just racing.

The basis for the build must be one of the earliest VanVan’s in the UK, being a 2003 model. These 125s are popular with learners, because the seat is so low and they’re supremely reliable. I’ve always loved the looks. They’re comical, lovable, instantly recognizable and as threatening as a gummy bear.

This one had less that 10,000 miles on it, but 20 owners on the logbook. The last owner, an older guy, bought it in lockdown and never rode it.

With the look of Fleegle’s Amphicat tattooed onto my memory for over forty years, the first thing was to find another VanVan rear wheel, so I could have my own two-wheeled beach buggy with chubby rims front and rear.

It soon occurred that Suzuki were almost certainly going to spec the VanVan this way, but backed out late in the development process. The distance between the front forks, the width and shape of the front fender and its mounting all allow the same 180/80-14 balloon rear tyre and rim to fit straight in—and more naturally than the stock, more conservatively-sized 130/80-18 the bike was delivered with.

It wasn’t enough that both wheels were chunky, they were sent to CJ Powder Coating, Grimsby, to be turned two-tone. It was difficult to get the clean line where the two colors met, but CJ persevered.

Then the famous old British company, Hagon, laced the existing front disc hub to the new rim with stainless spokes. I managed to snag one of the last brand new 14″ Dunlop K180 tires in the country.

You might have noticed the defining element of the Sand Flea: the front basket that holds a Dometic Patrol 20 cooler than coolbox, a last-a-lifetime piece of kit I’d been lusting after for a while. JB Fabrication, of Lincolnshire, fabricated a steel tube basket around it. JB also welded on brackets for the 6in projector headlight and a pair of Motone Billet turn signals.

The basket hangs off the triple clamps. How does that affect the handling? Well, it’s not going to win any trials competitions, especially when the coolbox is full of a few beverages, a bag of ice and my sandwiches, but I can live with it.

The deck chair stripe paint job in summer sorbet colors was completed by Paint By Matt, in Leeds, Yorkshire, while the seat was embroidered and recovered by Holy Goat Motorcycle Seats, Devon. The newly powder-coated chassis was bolted back together with a Hagon adjustable mono-shock replacing the corroded original RSU.

The route of the stock exhaust suited the all-terrain feel of the bike, and I liked the oversized stock silencer, but this is a custom bike, so it was chopped to make room for a classic Supertrapp, one of the neatest end cans you can get to fit small diameter exhausts.

Biltwell Mushman pegs, leftover from my Harley Sportster hooligan racer, were made to fit. A Motone Cuda taillight and license plate bracket were bolted to the rear fender, while a KC headlight cover evoked the same 1970s good time spirit in me as memories of imported Saturday morning TV.

And I finally found a home for the hand-tooled leather handlebar pad made for me by Busch & Busch, of Reno, Nevada. I’d had it stored for years ago, just waiting for the right project, and fit it to the Renthal bars.

There was just one last thing: a flag. Not every bike can carry off a flag, but the Sand Flea could, and one was made by my friend, Fionnadh Lyle, with yet more 1970s inspiration, this time in the shape of the SB, for Sideburn, in Cooper Bold font. It’s hoisted on a whippy CB aerial.

With a carrying capacity of 20 liters out the front, a rear rack for a beach towel, and flying its own freak flag, the Sand Flea is a whole 12 horsepower of good times, and a reminder that life isn’t always about checkered flags, winners and losers.

Sideburn Magazine | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Charlie Davidson

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[DaveM]

The Art of Machine: Bike EXIF alumni at the 2022 Malle Mile

Malle London describes their annual Malle Mile event as “a non-stop celebration of the speed, music and art of the motorcycle culture.” To see how that plays out, Bike EXIF will be hopping on a plane in just over a week to attend the 2022 edition of the Malle Mile.

Held at the breathtaking grounds of Grimsthorpe Castle in the UK, the four-day event’s biggest drawcard is its jam-packed roster of inappropriate racing. The Mile has everything from grass sprints to dirt track races; laid-back scrambles around the grounds, and even a hill climb. That’s scaffolded by live music, motorcycle film screenings and a host of exhibitions and attractions.

Bike EXIF will be hosting ‘The Art of Machine,’ a curated selection of customs that have graced our pages in the past, both from the UK and further abroad. To give you a taste, we’ve rounded up five of them below.

Grab your tickets here and make your way down to Grimsthorpe Castle from the 21st to the 24th of July to see these bikes, and more, in person… and to take in the joyous madness that is the Malle Mile.

Harley-Davidson flathead bobber by Bob’C Motorcycles We only recently discovered Slobodan Cirkovic’s work, but when we did, we were immediately impressed. And since the Croatian ex-pat lives in the UK, inviting him along to the Malle Mile was a no-brainer.

Slobodan will be bringing this gorgeous flathead along. A bike 14 years in the making, this bobber features a 1943 Harley-Davidson WLC motor, running with a shovelhead transmission and a Linkert carb.

Everything is wedged into a scratch-built hardtail frame, with the oil stored inside it. But the big win here is how perfectly proportioned, and skinny, this bobber is. The details are top notch too; a Brookes leather saddle, wood trim on the footboards, and countless brass details. [More]

BMW R100RT by 10 ’til 12 Ben Norton will be taking a break from his job as an F1 engineer to bring his supercharged BMW R100RT to the Mile. Not only is it one of the most heavily engineered boxer customs we’ve ever featured, but it’s also only Ben’s second build ever.

The bespoke supercharger setup isn’t the only performance mod here. This BMW’s sporting a 1,070cc Siebenrock kit, twin spark heads, a Setrab oil cooler and a whole whack of custom engine parts. (It doesn’t hurt that Ben has industry friends with CNC machines.)

Custom-made petrol and ethanol tanks hide under a carbon fiber tank cover, followed by a handmade subframe and seat. BMW S1000RR forks prop up the front, with a BMW R nineT swingarm and Ducati Panigale shock doing duty out back. Aggressive and purposeful, it’s one bike that we’re looking forward to seeing, and hearing, up close. [More]

Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport by Foundry We’re looking forward to seeing Tom Simpson’s metalworking skills up close at the mile—and they’re on full display on this svelte Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport.

Tom’s Guzzi features a modified Kawasaki H1 fuel tank, matched to a cast aluminum rear section that carries a custom seat. It’s an elegant design; the exhaust mufflers terminate via the finned section under the tail, while a pair of repurposed Honda taillights sit dead center.

The bike also has custom-made valve covers, and runs through a pair of Dell’Orto PHM40 carbs on modified intakes. The ride height’s been increased too, with a set of Biltwell Inc. bars offering an aggressive upright riding position. And while this Guzzi looks like it’s been painted black, it’s actually a very dark blue. [More]

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 by Rough Crafts Winston Yeh might be based halfway around the world, in Taiwan, but his creations are all over the globe. And luckily for us, one of his biggest hits is currently parked in London.

Sure, this custom Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 was built four years ago—but we’re big Rough Crafts fans, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to show it off. Winston was one of the first builders to get his hands on the then-new Continental GT, and immediately made the affordable 650 look like a million dollars.

The aggressively sculpted bodywork was made from fiberglass and carbon fiber, shaped over 3D-printed molds. The rear was converted to a mono-shock setup, with Öhlins suspension components at both ends. Finished in a signature Rough Crafts livery, this GT 650 looks both elegant and angry. [More]

BMW R18 by Kingston Custom Like Winston and the Continental GT 650, Dirk Oehlerking got his hands on the BMW R18 earlier than most other builders. And he set the bar extremely high.

Drawing on the designs of some of his previous classic BMW boxer builds, Dirk wrapped the R18 in a generous hand-formed fairing. Tasty details include a deep recess for the headlight, and a kidney grill that recalls the BMW 328.

Dirk left most of the bike alone underneath, so as not to mess too much with the R18’s reliability. But it’s neatly dressed with a classic black-and-white paint job, a slim seat, and a set of turned-out exhausts. Finished off with a finned wheel enclosure at the back, it’s the sort of art deco masterpiece that only Kingston Custom can deliver. [More]

Other workshops that’ll be in attendance include Baak Motocyclettes with their handsome ‘bathtub’ Triumph [above], and Bad Winners with their carbon-clad Royal Enfield sprint bike. Newcomers ASH Motorcycles will be there with their Triumph Thruxton street tracker, and Auto Fabrica will be debuting a new build.

Will you be joining us?

The Malle Mile 2022 | Malle London | Facebook | Instagram

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[DaveM]

Speed Read, July 10, 2022

Fancy a picnic? Vespa has you covered. And in other news, an Indian Chief bobber that debuted at Wheels & Waves, a Honda Monkey dustbin racer, a Harley-Davidson Sporty from France, and a Triumph Speed Triple with a Honda RC30 vibe.

Vespa Pic Nic As if scooters couldn’t get more fun or utilitarian in nature, Piaggo has gone and done this—the new Vespa Pic Nic. As you can guess (and as the name suggests) this limited edition Vespa Primavera 150 is all about getting away on two wheels and enjoying the great outdoors.

For an extra dose of Italian flair, details include brown highlights, chrome luggage racks and special wheels. Fitted front and rear, the new luggage racks are designed to carry everything you’ll need for a luncheon, brunch-eon or any other ‘-eon’ you desire.

Up front is a picnic blanket secured with brown leather belts, with a fully stocked picnic basket at the rear. The wood and rattan basket comes complete with cutlery and crockery sets, and a custom-fitted Vespa cooler bag for your foodstuffs.

The two-tone saddle is more than long enough for two, and, being a Vespa, there are plenty of storage pockets for helmets and electronic devices. Chrome-plated bodywork strips, and grey wheels with diamond-colored edges, are also included in the Pic Nic package.

It looks decidedly vintage, but being a modern Vespa you’ll be able to cruise in comfort and peace of mind. LED lighting, a fuel-injected 150cc motor and ABS are certainly a far cry from your grandad’s old Vespa.

This screams fun, and is just begging you to get out and explore with your friends or significant other. Molto bene! [More]

Indian Chief by Tank Machine x Rise Designs Next up is another bike with a blanket belted to the front of it. It’s just slightly different from the last one, though. This brand new Indian Chief was designed and built for Wheels & Waves, the motorcycle, surf and skate festival held annually in Biarritz, France.

Dubbed ‘Grind Machine,’ this bobber was designed by Clément Molina from Tank Machine, in partnership with Antonin Bazin of Rise Designs. Wheels & Waves had teamed up with Indian Motorcycles to commission four European bike builders to submit designs for an Indian Chief.

Grind Machine was voted as the top-ranked design by the public and a panel of ‘super voters,’ and set to be built for the upcoming festival. With just three months to go, Clement and Antonin had their work cut out for them.

Starting with a factory fresh Indian Chief, the design was based on board culture and the skate aspect of the festival. This is reflected in the central tank detail which was made out of a skateboard deck. The foot pegs look like something straight off a BMX bike, and there is a grip tape detail under the new single seat.

There isn’t a lick of chrome on the whole bike, with Clement and Antonin instead opting for wrinkle black paint and raw, brushed finishes. This gives it a decidedly modern, mean feel. Continental TKC80 adventure tires adorn the bike, and while this would certainly make it interesting to ride, it does add to the aggressive styling.

When the bike was unveiled to an adoring audience at the Artride exhibition it was also presented to its new owner, Fabien Orquin. Fabien was one of the people who voted for the design, and by doing so he was entered into a draw, which he won.

Along with the bike, Fabien won a VIP trip to the 2022 festival where he saw his new bike, in person, for the first time. Lucky guy indeed! [Indian Motorcycle | Tank Machine | Images by Thomas Cortesi]

Harley-Davidson Sportster by Milwaukee Twin Milwaukee Twin from Metz, France have built more than a few custom motorcycles to date. This is ‘Kuro Neko,’ one of their latest. Based on a Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight, this bike sports more than a few upgrades over the stock machine.

Firstly, there are the chunky Harley Davidson-branded Dunlop tires wrapped around a set of solid wheels from Rick’s in Germany. The front guard has been discarded, with only a fork brace left to keep the front taut.

The whole front end has been blacked out, even the fork tubes. This theme has been continued throughout the whole bike with only a few touches of chrome to break things up.

An LED headlight is perched in front of new handlebars, with Highsider indicators cleverly hidden under the brake and clutch levers. A Motogadget Motoscope Mini speedo sits in between the bars, recessed into the riser clamp.

The centerpiece of the build (quite literally) is the new tank, built by Guigz Kustom. The bottom face is notched to accommodate the aftermarket rocker covers, and this detail is highlighted by gold pin striping, another stunning touch.

Guigz Kustom also built the single seat, and the aggressively shortened subframe. Recessed into the rear loop are the tail, brake and indicator lights. Longer shock absorbers from ODC jack up the back end for a sportier ride (get it?), sitting in front of a scrambler-style high mount exhaust pipe.

Bloody’s Paint handled the paint job, while La Scarpa tackled upholstery. Milwaukee Twin also swapped the motor for a brand new Sportster mill, upgrading it with an S&S intake and a remap.

Blacked out and bobbed, this is one mean street bike. [Milwaukee Twin Custom | Images by Anastasia Denise]

Triumph Speed Triple by Frédéric Lagarde A casual glance at this bike had me thinking it was a Honda RC30 with custom paint. Closer inspection, however, yields none other than a 2009 Triumph Speed Triple 1050, built by Frédéric Lagarde of Tumulte in the south of France.

Starting with a stock 1050, Frédéric used his experience with GT race cars and motorcycle building to transform it into a 90s-inspired custom. Road racing bikes of the 80s and 90s are some of my favorite bikes, and this is up there with the best of them.

The front fairing, as you can tell, is from a Honda RC30, modified extensively to fit the Triumph. And if the back end also looks quite familiar, it’s because it was based on a Ducati 916. Housing stock Ducati tail lights from an actual 916, Frédéric built it himself out of fiberglass. Even though he claims to not be an expert with the material, he’s done a fantastic job.

Other special parts include Motogadget bar end indicators, Motogadget mirrors and a custom seat. ARP Racing rear-sets were bolted on, as were clip on handlebars. And there is also an offset license plate holder hanging from the swingarm to keep the new rear end clean.

The green, gold and white graphics over the bodywork are sublime, matching the 90s aesthetic perfectly. The single-sided swingarm shows off the rear wheel (just like the RC30) and Frédéric is running Pirelli Supercorsa rubber. And the Twin Arrow mufflers out the back must produce an almighty howl from the inline triple.

With bikes like the MV Agusta Superveloce and the new Triumph Speed Triple RR taking influence from sporting motorcycles of decades past, it’s only a matter of time before 90s influence makes a comeback. Frédéric is ahead of the curve in this respect, and manufacturers have their work cut out for them if they are to top this. [Via]

Honda Monkey Racer Replica There’s very little information out there on this next build, but what we do know for sure is that it’s based on an old racing bike from the 1950s. More specifically, it’s my all-time favorite racing motorcycle, built by my all-time favorite motorcycle company: the 1955 Moto Guzzi Otto Cilindri.

For those who didn’t grow up with an Italian background, that name translates to “eight cylinders.” That’s right, a little-known motorcycle manufacturer from Mandello del Lario in the north of Italy built a four-stroke V8 racing motorcycle—in 1955, no less.

The characteristic green dustbin fairing, brown leather seat and white numberplate with black lettering became an instant icon of Moto Guzzi’s lineup. The 500cc water-cooled, dual overhead cam engine produced 78 hp. With the diminutive engine itself only weighing 45 kg and the entire bike coming in at 148 kg, the Otto Cilindri achieved speeds of 280 km/h.

This feat would not be repeated by another Grand Prix race bike for another 20 years. But despite its blistering pace and being an engineering marvel, the old Guzzi was plagued by reliability issues. It was said to be so fast that only a handful of racers at the time were game enough to ride it.

But that probably wouldn’t be said of the bike we’re looking at here. This replica is the work of the Japanese-Thai team of Ganesha Custom, K-Win and Mr. Note. The winner of the recent Honda Idea Challenge, the base bike is Honda Monkey.

Adorned with a dustbin fairing, new subframe, seat, clip-ons and lowered suspension, the pint-sized Honda has been transformed into a veritable race replica.

The Otto Cilindri wasn’t the only source of inspiration though—fans of the anime series Dragon Ball might also recognize the bike. Right down to the lettering on the tank and the LED lights that poke out of the fairing like gun barrels, it’s a stunning physical rendition of one of Bulma’s motorcycles from the series. [More]

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[DaveM]

DIRT DRIFTER: Yamaha TR1 from Moto Adonis.

An exhaust and its corresponding muffler are perhaps the most fundamental part of any custom car or bike that will come in for some sort of modification or change. In all of these years, I doubt we’ve ever featured a motorcycle on these pages that hadn’t seen some sort of modification to its exhaust system. And when it comes to a high-quality product, few in the world do it better than Daan Borsje...

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[DaveM]

Ctrl Z: Ellaspede rebuilds their first Honda XR600

The Honda XR600 has a cult following across the globe, and for good reason. As the original king of the Baja 1000, it’s one of the best big singles to ever tear across the desert. And while it might look outdated against modern machines, it’s still a great bike to own—and customize.

The Australian custom shop Ellaspede has a particular soft spot for the venerable XR. One of the first custom motorcycles they ever built was based on a 1998-model XR600 [below], way back in 2011. And now they’ve dragged that very same scrambler back into the workshop for a makeover.

“It’s always hard to let go of first loves,” says Ellaspede’s Hughan Seary, “so this XR600 was ridden around and used for promotional duties and shows throughout the years, until the motor was due for a refresh and pulled from the frame. But as customer builds come first, it then sat stagnant for the following years, waiting in the wings for its second lease on life.”

When their tenth birthday rolled around last year, the Ellaspede team decided it would be the perfect time to revive the Honda. Around that time a customer, Tom, serendipitously decided that he wanted a custom XR600 of his own. He already had a suitable donor and a specific direction in mind—but then he visited the workshop, and his plans quickly changed.

“We took a walk with him down memory lane about our original XR600 that we still owned,” explains Hughan. “It seemed like a perfect match to get him behind the bars on this renewed build.”

One of the big ideas for the second pass at the XR involved a bigger electric start motor. Tom hopped onto Facebook Marketplace and found a dismantled NX650 Dominator, complete with an engine rebuild kit. With that, the project was officially underway.

The Dominator engine went off to Wayne at All Carts & Cycles, who rebuilt it with a larger piston, a solid porting job and a whole handful of unnamed internal upgrades.

While that was happening, Ellaspede tore the XR600 down to its nuts and bolts to prep it for its remake. “We’ve learned a lot in the last ten-plus years of building bikes,” says Hughan. “There was plenty we wanted to update or upgrade based on those learnings, to ensure the XR600 was once again the best it could be.”

High on the list was a complete overhaul of the Honda’s suspension. Ellaspede sourced a pair of well-worn Honda CRF forks, then stripped them, cleaned them up and anodized them black. They shortened them by 100 mm too, then mated the XR600 stem to the CRF yokes to fit them to the bike, and turned a new set of spacers to reinstall the original build’s 18” front wheel.

The rear shock was upgraded to a beefier unit with an external reservoir, but it was far from a straight swap. Ellaspede had to rebuild the shock and shorten its stroke, plus they had to modify the upper suspension mount on the frame itself.

The rebuilt Dominator mill was popped back in the frame with a 42 mm Mikuni pumper carb. Ellaspede kept the two-into-two exhaust that they built for the Honda the first time around, but added new baffles and re-coated everything.

Next up, they fabricated a new battery box to make room for the new air filter placement, and to accommodate the extra electrical bits that weren’t there with the older kickstart-only engine. And since neither the XR600 or Dominator wiring looms would have been suitable without substantial mods, they built a new system from scratch too.

Other small upgrades included a Daytona Velona speedo, a Koso Thunderbolt LED headlight, and a Hawkeye LED taillight. Ellaspede wedged the taillight into the same recessed housing that they had built before, and kept the original Posh turn signals. There’s also a USB charge port up front now.

The rest of the work focused mostly on refreshing parts that weren’t up to par, and making small tweaks, like lengthening the side stand. But for the general aesthetic, Tom was happy to keep things mostly the same.

“I really loved the look of the original build, and still to this day,” he says. “Even with the excessive amount of XR builds that are scattered across the web, I haven’t seen an XR quite like it. I put it down to the textbook slender XR600 frame, the unusual color scheme, the 18F/18R wheel combination, and fat tires that really set this bike off.”

With that in mind, Ellaspede kept the original build’s Honda XL500 fuel tank, but added new fenders at both ends. The original seat had large ‘630’ numbering on it in reference to the engine capacity, so that had to go. The crew stashed it away for nostalgia’s sake, and built a new unit from scratch with matching green stitching.

With new Heidenau K60 tires spooned on, Tom’s refurbished Honda XR was ready for delivery. “Now that the bike is finished, it continues to grow on me,” he tells us. “Cheers to the legends at Ellaspede for holding onto this fine machine for me for the best part of 12 years!”

“One thing is for sure, I’ll be holding onto this bike for many years to come—I’m sure it will outlive me!”

Ellaspede | Facebook | Instagram

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[DaveM]

NOT TOO SLABBY: Suzuki GSX-R1100 by Haxch.

If anything truly sums up ‘the agony and the ecstasy’, then racing a motorcycle really has to be it. In one moment, you’re leading the pack, the throttle is pinned, and adrenaline is pulsing through your veins, then before you know it a horrific pain overwhelms your body and a marshal standing over you looks on with grave concern. But one man didn’t let a nasty accident end his racing dream...

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