Custom Motorcycle Builds

[DaveM]

Speed Read, November 20, 2022

An adorable little Honda ST90 holds its ground against four liter-plus bikes this week. We’re looking at an Indian Scout Rogue from HardNine Choppers, a 1,190 cc Buell dirt bike, the limited edition Ariel Ace Black, and a stunning Kawasaki from Japan.

Indian Scout Rogue by HardNine Choppers The King of the Baggers race series is an absolute blast to watch. With full-fat factory baggers hopped-up and hurled around a race track, MotoGP style, it’s easy to see why.

Indian Motorcycles are into the series—and even though this custom Indian Scout Rogue isn’t actually a bagger, it is inspired by their race entry. The Rogue is the cut-down, bobbed version of Indian’s popular Scout model, and the last bike you’d associate with racing… but here we are.

To pull this off, Indian turned to Danny Schnieder from HardNine Choppers. Danny has a background in freestyle motocross, and is an award-winning custom motorcycle builder. He’s also blisteringly quick on two wheels, so he wanted to bring that performance mindset to the Indian cruiser.

The most obvious upgrade is the new Öhlins suspension. Danny modified the yokes to fit the larger-diameter Öhlins forks, and replaced the factory shocks with longer, plusher units.

A set of Roland Sands Design performance tracker wheels were bolted on too, with a slew of braking upgrades supplied by Beringer. The new wheels allowed for a second disc to be mounted up front, providing more than enough stopping power. Danny also added a Dynojet quick-shifter, and a two-into-one Jekill and Hyde exhaust.

A new set of ProTaper bars was installed, along with a Beringer clutch lever and soft ProTaper grips. The Scout Rogue’s original bubble fairing was adapted to the handlebar setup. Danny cut down the primary cover in pursuit of weight saving, and bolted on wider foot pegs.

The stunning livery (by Vince Customs) was inspired by the Indian Challenger King of the Baggers race bike, and the Scout wears it well. The gold leaf details, and gold stitching on the new seat, are particularly nice touches. [Indian Motorcycle | HardNine Choppers]

Buell tests the Baja 1190 From baggers on a race track to a large capacity American-engined dirt bike… pigs truly are flying!

This is the Buell Baja 1190—and to be honest, we don’t really know how to feel about it. What we do know, is that if this bike goes into production, it will be the maddest thing on the trails.

You’re looking at a trellis-framed, liquid-cooled, V-twin-powered dirt bike, designed and built in the USA. Other than the engine, it has a somewhat conventional steering geometry; the seat height is 37.5 inches, the rake angle is 26.75 degrees, and the swingarm is generously adjustable for length. Oh, and it puts out 185 hp with 138 Nm of torque.

Bill Melvin, Buell Motorcycles’ CEO, is positively beaming. “We’re engineering the world’s fastest, solely US-built, off-road bike,” he says. “Less than 1% of the world is covered in pavement—Buell’s Baja 1190 is designed to dominate the other 99.7%.”

“This bike elevates the Buell brand to even greater heights and brings back the passion for American performance motorcycles. Buell engineers have created a beast of a motorcycle—the fastest, most agile 1,200 cc class dirt bike ever made. Enthusiasts will be blown away.”

That’s a lot to take in—especially the part about the 1,200 cc class of dirt bikes. We’re no experts, but wouldn’t the Buell Baja 1190 be competing in a class of one? [More]

Ariel Ace Black Edition Based out of the UK, younger readers will know Ariel Motor Company for producing some of the most face-bendingly fast cars in the world. Stripped down to the bare essentials, their cars are studies in lightweight design.

But if you cast your mind back to the early 1900s, you’ll see that Ariel produced motorcycles. And rather good ones, at that.

Building on their lightweight, performance-oriented expertise, Ariel has just released their latest motorcycle: the Ariel Ace Black Edition. The Ace Black Edition is based on their current Ace model, finished mostly in black (obviously), but with just five examples being built. Exclusive is an understatement.

Each bike is built to order, with Ariel fitting it perfectly to each buyer. How do they do this? By painstakingly building (almost) every component in-house.

The perimeter-style frame is CNC-machined in parts, then welded together by hand. The Black Edition goes one step further with a satin black Cerakote finish, which is just seven microns thick. The tank, radiator shrouds, belly pan, mudguards and seat panels are all composite, and owners can have these parts finished in either black or black carbon.

As for performance, the engines are supplied by Honda—and, thankfully, Ariel picked a good one. The Honda 1,237 cc V4 produces 173 hp, and is mated to a six-speed transmission and a shaft drive.

The suspension is top shelf as well. The 43 mm Showa front forks are fully adjustable, as is the Showa shock absorber out back. If this is too traditional for your liking, you can spec your Ariel with black girder forks, or even black carbon wheels.

We wouldn’t say the Ace Black Edition is the prettiest motorcycle out there, but it is intriguing. And even if it doesn’t tickle your fancy, you have to admit that it’s great to see the Ariel name living on. [More]

Honda ST90 by Drake Speed The original ad for the 1975 Honda ST90 listed it as a “range rider, runabout and sightseer.” It was something that the whole family could enjoy—and it’s still every bit as charming today.

This particular example comes from Drake Speed out of New Zealand. Receiving an original Honda ST frame with front forks, rear shocks and rear wheel, Marcus Drake knew he was in for a restomod rather than a full restoration.

14” Honda CRF rims were laced to the original hubs, with new tires spooned on. The fenders are custom, as are their mounting brackets. A larger engine was fitted, but Marcus doesn’t know the exact capacity.

The exhaust is custom, and the wiring was simplified for reliability purposes. Tall handlebars and new, longer rear shocks keep the ride comfortable, as does the new seat.

The beautiful paint is a result of Marcus being a fan of 70s paint jobs. The purple powder was imported from the USA and laid down over the frame. The custom decals are from Doozi, while the yellow headlight is another great nod to the 70s.

Marcus debuted his ST90 at the Annual Syd’s Moped Run in Christchurch, New Zealand. The event was the vision of the late Syd Falconer, who started the run in 1995 (on his 70th birthday, no less). The event evidently still runs today, and we couldn’t think of a better place for Marcus to show off his new Honda. [Source]

Kawasaki Z1000 by Bull Dock No ifs, ands or buts—restomods are damn cool. And although we like nothing more than seeing a classic Ducati or Moto Guzzi outfitted with modern suspension and performance upgrades, this rule especially applies to 70s and 80s Japanese bikes.

This tangerine dream comes from Bull Dock—the Japanese workshop run by Masashuiko Wakui. They’ve been building restomods for 20 years, and this is their take on the legendary Kawasaki Z1R.

The donor engine for this build actually came from a Type 1 Kawasaki Z1000, but it’s been fitted with a Z100J-type head. This meant that Bull Dock could install larger valves, and port the intake and exhaust chambers. 76 mm Cosworth pistons were fitted, along with an ST-L1 cam from Yoshimura.

A hydraulic clutch helps the new Kawasaki six-speed box, while fueling comes from a brace of Yoshimura Keihin FCR-MJN carbs. The showpiece of the engine—the exhaust—is a Win McCoy Neo titanium system. Bored out to 1,197 cc, this Z1000 most certainly produces more than the 90 hp it came out with back in 1978.

Bull Dock also added extra gussets to provide extra rigidity throughout the frame, aiding in the handling department. Reducing unsprung mass are the Marchesini M10RS Corse magnesium wheels, stopped by new Brembo brakes. The swingarm is aluminum, and the suspension is from Nitron, with 43 mm front forks and fully adjustable piggyback rear shocks.

It’s lighter, faster, stronger and more orange. It’s motorcycling perfection. [Source]

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[DaveM]

ORIGINAL STILE: BMW R100GS by Stile Italiano.

Whether you did it physically or virtually, walking the halls of this year’s EICMA trade show, it was clear that the adventure section of the market is where the big things are happening. You have to go back more than thirty years to the Dakar wars to find a time when manufacturers were pouring so much money and marketing into the adventure sector. And front and centre of the fight and claiming...

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[DaveM]

Lean and Green: A slick Suzuki GS500 from Slovakia

Earth Motorcycles only popped up on our radar within the last two years, but the Slovakian shop has already made their presence known. With just a handful of builds to their name so far, they’ve managed to establish a strong signature style. Their vibe is low-key chic, with bikes that are restrained, slick and perfectly proportioned.

It’s a style that this vintage Suzuki GS500E wears extremely well. First released in 1979, the GS500E was the younger sibling of the more commonly known GS550. Built specifically for countries where regulations favored sub-500 cc motorcycles, it used a re-sleeved version of the GS550’s four-cylinder power plant.

This particular GS500E is a 1979 model, and was well and truly showing its age when its owner rolled it into Earth Motorcycles’ workshop. “The bike was a wreck, unused for a years,” says Aleš Tomis, who runs the shop alongside Vladimir Dinga. (Aleš is the resident wrench, while Vlad takes care of the company’s design and marketing.)

The customer originally wanted something flat tracker-esque, but was ultimately happy for Aleš and Vlad to take the project in any direction they wanted to. With an open brief, they envisioned a stripped-down daily runner with the compact proportions of a street tracker, but a more traditional aesthetic.

Aleš particularly liked the idea of perching a narrow, tapered fuel tank—the sort you’d find on a flat tracker—above the GS500E’s broad inline-four motor. So he rummaged through the shop, and found a 2,4 gallon unit of undetermined origin that fit the bill. With a bit of encouragement, the tank eventually fit the Suzuki’s frame.

“I’ve always wanted to build a bike with such a narrow tank, so that I could see the edges of the four-cylinder engine while riding,” says Aleš. “Also, the rather small 500 cc engine looks much bigger now.”

Next, Aleš lopped off the Suzuki’s subframe, to eliminate the ‘dip’ in the bike’s silhouette. He then fabricated a new subframe to replace it, leveling out the transition from the tank’s baseline to the seat’s. The seat itself is also a one-off, upholstered in a faux leather fabric.

If the idea of open space underneath a custom motorcycle’s seat leaves you apoplectic with rage, look away now. The only visible component here is the rear brake’s upgraded master cylinder; Aleš went to great lengths to tuck everything else away. Hiding under the seat are a Motogadget mo.unit Blue controller and a tiny Lithium battery from Aliant.

Moving to the chassis, Earth Motorcycles kept the GS500E’s star-shaped wheels—but powder coated them black. They’re not the prettiest stock wheels out there, but with a fresh coat of powder, and within the context of this build, they actually look great. Avon Roadrider II tires add modern levels of grip.

Aleš managed to sneak in some suspension upgrades too. The forks are from the newer (and bigger) 1994 Suzuki GS1100. They’re a couple of inches shorter now, and are held by the yokes from an even newer Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.

A tiny front fender sits on a new fork brace, which Aleš made from 10 mm steel for maximum rigidity. “The original forks were so weak,” he tells us, “that I could easily twist the front wheel about 30 degrees away from the handlebars.”

The Royal Enfield also donated its rear shocks, but the zinc-plated bits were stripped down and chromed instead. Aleš overhauled the stock brakes, and fabricated a pair of brackets to match the calipers to the GS1100 forks. He also installed new Venhill hoses, banjo bolts and bleeders.

As for the bike’s 43-year-old engine, it now looks clean enough to eat off. Earth Motorcycles treated it to a full rebuild, with some judicious vapor blasting for a better-than-factory finish. Look closely, and you’ll spot the edges of the fresh seals and gaskets; it’s hardly been run in.

The stock carbs were upgraded with bigger jets, and tuned to compensate for the pod filters and new stainless steel exhaust mufflers. The guys kept the stock headers, but Cerakoted them black.

Aleš took care of modernizing the cockpit too, with a combination analog/digital Daytona speedo, new Biltwell Inc. grips, micro switches and neat Discacciati levers. The LED turn signals are from Highsider, mounted in CNC-machined aluminum brackets up front, and on a custom-made license plate holder out back. (As an added touch, the wiring for the rear LEDs runs through the tubes of the license plate holder.)

Curiously, the new headlight uses a good old fashioned H4 bulb, despite the number of good LED options currently on the market. “The customer said ‘no LED, I want to be able to change the bulb on my own’,” explains Aleš.

That was one of only a few requests that he made. Another was the color scheme; a simple coat of British Racing Green, with a hit of brown on the seat. Perfect for a handsome street tracker designed to amble around town on.

The project wasn’t without its hiccups though. Before Earth Motorcycles could button it up, the client’s financial situation changed, and he couldn’t continue funding it. So the guys arranged to buy the donor bike from him, and got it over the finish line on their own dime.

Aleš and Vlad are stoked with how it turned out in the end, and have already snuck in a few test rides. “The bike is very light and very easy to ride,” says Aleš. “The sound is wonderful, not too loud, and it is a joy to shift through the gears.”

He’s not getting too attached though, because this Suzuki GS500E is now for sale. Interested parties, please form an orderly queue.

Earth Motorcycles | Instagram | Images by Marian Svitek

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[DaveM]

SWEDISH SCRAMBLER: Suzuki XF650 Freewind.

When a new motorcycle fails to sell and is soon pulled from production, it’s usually the case that the manufacturer simply missed the mark! But aside from its questionable name, the Suzuki Freewind, first launched in 1997 was an excellent machine at a bargain price and yet it sat idle on the showroom floor until they were discontinued and sold off for next to nothing. One Suzuki dealer said...

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[DaveM]

Stealthy style: Vagabund’s custom KTM Freeride EX-C

Modern dirt bikes are the epitome of form following function. Narrow fuel tanks are easier to grip with your knees, flat seats enable you to shift your weight around, and plastic bodywork can be replaced after a crash. It’s why they’re so formulaic in their design.

Vagabund Moto are here to inject some style into the genre. Founded by Paul Brauchart and Philipp Rabl, the Austrian outfit is part of a growing breed of custom shops that blur the lines between motorcycles, design and fashion. Their builds are modern and edgy, and are built using the latest manufacturing techniques.

If this svelte KTM leaves you with a sense of déjà vu, it’s because it closely resembles another KTM that Vagabund built earlier this year. But there’s one major difference—this one’s based on the electric-powered KTM Freeride E-XC.

“We started this project with the general idea of creating a super agile urban commuter,” says Paul, “while still keeping the option to go for some after-work fun in the woods. We were really happy with the outcome of our previous KTM ‘Safari 350’ build, and the general quality of KTM. Plus it’s an Austrian brand, and we like the idea of reinterpreting a ‘Ready to Race’ bike to our idea of using it.”

Both KTMs share a modular aesthetic and monochromatic color scheme, but this was no copy-and-paste job. The two bikes are vastly different, so there wasn’t a single part that could be replicated as-is. So the team started by stripping the Freeride E-XC down to its bare bones, and 3D-scanning the whole bike.

“We focused on the most important parts, to reach a minimalist Vagabund look without totally killing the budget,” says Paul. “It was a challenge to keep the original frame line, while still trying to incorporate our own idea of design.”

Once new bodywork was designed, Vagabund 3D printed the various parts. Everything’s been made from Polymid 12, a hard nylon polymer that’s abrasive resistant, and bolts straight on.

The set includes new ‘tank’ panels, and a new tail section that includes an integrated LED taillight. Every part complements the next, with superb attention to detail. Peak around the front end, and you’ll even spot honeycombed panels tucked into the front ‘wings.’

A new nacelle sits up front, but it doesn’t house a traditional headlight. Instead, Vagabund designed a bracket to hold a pair of Highsider LED headlights lower down. A subtle Vagabund ‘label’ sits on the side, with the ignition integrated lower down.

The front fender is one of the few off-the-shelf parts on this build; it comes from a Husqvarna TC85, and was modified to fit.

During the redesign, Vagabund also took care to keep the KTM street legal. A pair of Highsider turn signals sit on the underside of the handlebars, held in CNC-machined aluminum housings. Out back is a custom-made aluminum license plate bracket, also kitted with Highsider LEDs.

A custom seat adds a finishing touch, upholstered in a luxurious Alcantara. It sits on the KTM’s OEM seat hinge, so that you can still access the battery without any hassles.

As for the bike’s bones, Vagabund decided to leave well enough alone. The chromoly main frame, forged aluminum bolt-on sections, and a few other parts, were powder-coated black, but nothing was cut or welded. Plus the original wheels, brakes and WP suspension components are still in play.

That means that the 42 Nm, 240-ish pound Freeride E-XC still has oodles of suspension travel and ground clearance. So it should still be a total blast to ride, with the added bonus of looking better than anything else out on the trails.

It also means that the work that Vagabund have done here can be replicated. So they’re opening their order books for custom Freeride E-XCs in this style.

Who else is busy imagining this in their garage right now?

Vagabund Moto | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Stefan Leitner

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[DaveM]

K FOR KHAKI: BMW K100 ‘EB1000’ by Ellaspede.

The old saying ‘good from far, but far from good’ can be applied to many a custom bike you see around the traps. Certain models of motorcycle, especially newer machines, will allow you to do a few bolt-ons and have a very nice outcome. But a complex old bike that’s been sitting around and had half a hack job carried out often means absolutely every last part of the bike will need going over.

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[Vector]

Won't it be fun when the battery catches fire between the riders legs. Electric vehicles are not yet viable.

 

[DaveM]

City surfer: A Honda CB250 covered in street art

The results are always special when a professional custom builder sets out to create a bike for themselves. With no client brief on the table, it’s all about their own personality and proclivities. But it’s hard to pin Christian Reier’s tastes down—his latest build is a huge departure from his last, despite the fact that they were both personal projects.

Nicknamed the ‘City Surfer,’ this particular project started out as a 1969 Honda CB250K. Working from the Reier Motors workshop in the picturesque outskirts of Lamprechtshausen, Austria, Christian transformed the humble twin into a daily runner that’s part baby bagger, and part rolling art canvas.

Christian started by fine-tuning the CB250K’s stance, by way of lowering the suspension at both ends. There are still a few inches of travel, but not much more, which speaks volumes about Austria’s road maintenance regime.

Next, the subframe was cut down to make it as short as possible. Christian hammered out a seat unit from 0.75 mm thick sheet metal, and had the saddle trimmed in brown leather. Held in place by three press studs on the back, the saddle hinges forward to reveal a stash spot under the rear hump.

To further improve the bike’s convenience factor, Christian welded up a custom rear rack to hold a pair of fiberglass panniers, scalped from an old Harley. The rack was tailored to the cases, so that they could be attached without any additional modifications.

They’re the perfect addition to a city bike, especially if you shy away from wearing a backpack while riding. And since both the bike and panniers are slung low, they definitely won’t be in the way when you sling your leg over the seat. To keep things street legal, the pannier frame also supports a Bates-style tail light, turn signals and a license plate bracket.

Peek under the seat, and you’ll spot a custom-made stainless steel box. That’s where all the electronics now reside, including the battery, wiring and relays. Flanking it are two overly large air filters from UNI, feeding air into a pair of Mikuni carbs.

The engine itself was stripped, rebuilt from the ground up and painted. The twin exhaust is also custom; the headers make their way down the length of the bike, and terminate in MASS mufflers under the panniers.

Up front you’ll find the original headlight and fork shrouds, with new turn signals and a set of low-rise LSL bars. The cockpit is beautifully simple, complemented by an MMB speedo that sits in a color-matched housing.

Before Christian turned to the Honda’s eclectic paint job, he had one more important item to tick off his list. The fuel tank that came with the donor bike was in far too good a condition to paint over, so he swapped it out for the tank from a newer Honda CB250. It has slightly softer edges than the original, making it a good match for the seat and panniers.

The stunning paint was laid down by an Austrian-French street artist couple, who go by Jana and JS. They like to use city-inspired motifs in their work, which Christian felt was perfect for the bike. That’s one good thing about fiberglass panniers—when it comes to artwork, there’s ample room.

The wheels and frame were painted black to make the artwork pop even more. The rest of the bike was treated to a full nut-and-bolt restoration, with clever little color-coded touches, like green fuel hoses.

Christian has turned this staple Japanese commuter into a rather stylish, and practical, urban runabout. It’s small, lightweight and economical to run, even with the Mikuni carbs.

“The bike has very little suspension travel and is extremely low to the ground, which gives a pure riding feeling,” explains Christian. “The design stands out and really puts the Honda in the spotlight. The art of Jana and JS adds perfectly to its appearance.”

Even though this was a personal project for Christian, the City Surfer is now for sale. Just don’t send us out for groceries on it—we might be out for a while.

Reier Motors | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Jean-Sebastien Philippe

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[DaveM]

Lo-fi boxer: A carbureted BMW R18 from Kingston Custom

We live in a world where you can stream entire discographies of music straight to your phone, yet vinyl sales are booming. Technology might be advancing at a relentless pace, but we’re still drawn to analog things—either for their charm, or for the sake of our own nostalgia.

In this context, neo-retro motorcycles are something of an anomaly. They look vintage, but they’re loaded with features that weren’t around back then—like catalytic convertors and electronic rider aids. This BMW R18 from Kingston Custom shatters that mold.

On the surface, it looks like a gentle, albeit tasteful, visual reworking of BMW’s monster cruiser. But the real genius here, is what you can’t see—or, more accurately, what isn’t there. This R18 runs without fuel injection, traction control, electronic rider modes or ABS.

Removing all of that from a modern motorcycle is arguably far harder than changing its looks. So why did the man behind Kingston Custom, Dirk Oehlerking, even bother? Simple: he was asked to.

It all started with a chance meeting last year, at the St. Moritz Automobile Week, in Switzerland. Dirk was there to compete in the Kilomètre Lancé with his jaw-dropping ‘Spirit of Passion’ custom R18, which, unsurprisingly, garnered much attention. That’s how he met Kurt A Engelhorn—the founder and organizer of the prestigious classic automobile festival.

“I got to know Kurt through the bike and had some intense petrolhead talks with him,” Dirk tells us. “He challenged me, and asked me if I could rebuild a BMW R18 with very simple technology. Without fuel injection, ABS, a CAN bus; something like the Concept R18, with a carburetor.”

“I replied that it was no problem at all. These days, you can build almost anything—and after all, BMW themselves did it.”

“At the end of the event, we exchanged contact information. At the time, I had no idea that this interesting man was also the organizer of the St. Moritz Automobile Week. A few days later, his R18 arrived in my studio—and, after a few phone calls, it was clear that this would be a special project.”

Dirk started by disassembling the bike, so that he could figure out exactly how he was going to pull off what he was planning. The chunky plastic cover that normally sits at the rear of the R18’s engine block went into the bin, post haste. The lower half of that space is now filled by a handmade box that hosts the ignition key and starter button.

Mounted on top of that is a custom airbox, feeding a pair of 40 mm Bing carbs—the kind you’d find on a classic boxer, only bigger. Dirk had a BMW R51/3 in the shop at the same time as this project, so that’s where the inspiration for the airbox design came from. Owners of older BMWs will recognize the fuel taps too.

As you’d imagine, none of this was plug-and-play stuff. Dirk had to get around the BMW’s ignition and CAN bus system, and he had to modify the carbs themselves. But he’s keeping shtum on exactly how he pulled it off.

De-modernizing the R18 went beyond just changing its fueling system. Dirk took the transmission apart to remove the bike’s electric-powered reverse gear too. And he removed the ABS system from the OEM brakes.

Visually, this R18 is as tidy as they come. Dirk went for a stripped-down bobber aesthetic, to mirror the changes he had made under the hood. So there’s nothing left on this BMW that doesn’t absolutely need to be there.

Peek under the seat, and you’ll see just how meticulous Dirk is. There’s nary a wire in sight, and the battery’s now held by a custom-made bracket underneath the transmission.

The bodywork is a mix of OEM and custom bits. A BMW R nineT headlight sits up front, with an aftermarket Harley-Davidson seat out back. The rear fender is a custom piece, and holds a pair of tiny taillight and turn signal combo LEDs from Kellermann.

Dirk upgraded the cockpit with a set of 1” handlebars and risers from BMW’s own aftermarket catalogue, fitted with new grips, a classic cable-operative throttle, and Rebuffini brake and clutch controls. The speedo and bar-end turn signals are Motogadget parts.

To fine-tune the bike’s stance, Dirk lowered the front forks, and swapped the stock wheels out for a 21F/18R set. The front fender was tweaked to fit the bigger wheel, while a side-mounted license plate bracket finishes off the rear.

Dirk also fixed one of the R18’s most unsightly features—its bulky ‘fishtail’ exhaust design. A pair of Rough Crafts mufflers were fitted instead, modeled after those on BMW’s original R18 concept bike.

As a finishing touch, Dirk picked a classic pin-striped livery that’s just as restrained and tasteful as the rest of the build. Appropriately dubbed ‘Good Vibes,’ the bike was delivered to Herr Engelhorn at the 2022 edition of the St. Moritz Automobile Week.

There, Dirk piloted it over the Bernina Pass in the Swiss Alps, without an iota of electronic interference between his throttle hand, and the massive pistons shuddering beneath him.

Kingston Custom | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Marc Holstein

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[DaveM]

PIPEWRAPPED: #007.

The year might be slowly coming to an end, but there is never a pause in the fast and furious world of the custom motorcycle scene. This week we take a look at a Melbourne motorcycle community’s efforts to overcome Covid and they’re also offering you a chance to win one hell of a custom bike. Then we take a look at two ends of the power spectrum, with an electric Ténéré tribute and one devilish...

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[DaveM]

Speed Read, November 27, 2022

We continue in our quest to bring you the most diverse Speed Read selections we can. This week includes a Honda Monkey inspired by a train, a Suzuki Freewind scrambler and a rocket-powered Harley. Staying with the Motor Co., we finish things off with sad news about the Evo Sportster.

Honda Monkey 125 by MonQey King We love seeing how creative custom builders can get with the Honda Monkey. The modern-day version of the diminutive city bike is based on the Honda Grom, and is cheap, good looking and approachable. It’s no wonder it’s so popular.

Asia is a big market for the Honda Monkey, and the workshops over there do a cracking job at customizing them. This Monkey was built by Chayakrit Kaewwongwan, A.K.A. Winny Boy, from Thailand. He runs Advance Automotive Accessories, MonQey King and a few other aftermarket motorcycle parts stores.

He’s also a big fan of the Honda Monkey, so he decided to build one for the 2022 Bangkok Hot Rod show. Using the extensive knowledge of ABS plastic and manufacturing that he’s amassed while manufacturing parts, Chayakrit built this entire bike in just 10 days. It also helped that he’d designed the same type of bodywork for a custom Honda Dax recently.

The main inspiration for the bike was, curiously, a train. Specifically, the 1937 Baldwin Locomotive Works Union Pacific P-13 2906. Admittedly, the train is a streamlined work of art and engineering, so it’s easy to see why Chayakrit is loco for this loco.

The dustbin-style fairing, tank cover, side covers, belly pan and rear end were all made from ABS plastic. It’s a material that Chayakrit works with every day and is lightweight, which is essential for such a small bike. Even the diamond-patterned panels on the sides are ABS plastic parts.

Chayakrit designed the body so that it’d bolt straight to the Monkey, without any cutting or welding. But he did make some other key changes.

The suspension was lowered, with a new set of Murazaki shocks out back. The Monkey wears a set of trick ace-style handlebars, with rear-set pegs and a custom seat to complement the low riding position. Wide D-Project wheels and tires complement the new bodywork.

Finished in a custom paint with hints of gold, the results are stunning. We’re not the only ones who like it—Chayakrit took the top spot in the ‘Best Minibike’ category at the 2022 Bangkok Hot Rod Show.

All he needs to do now, is turn this into a kit. [Source]

Custom Suzuki XF650 Freewind If you’ve never heard of the Suzuki XF650 Freewind, we don’t blame you—it’s a strange-looking machine, and only formed part of Suzuki’s line-up for a couple of years. It used the engine from the DR650, but sat lower with a different chassis and a 19” front wheel. And its bulbous bodywork didn’t age well.

But when the owner of this Freewind, Peter Aldby of Gothenburg, Sweden first saw it, that bodywork was already in the bin.

Peter had set out to build himself a functional, good-looking scrambler, and was looking for a suitable donor. While trawling the internet for his first pick, a Honda Dominator, he stumbled across this newly-completed custom Suzuki Freewind. Too good to pass up, Peter bought the bike from its builder, a fellow Swede by the name of Henrik W.

Henrik had swapped the Freewind’s bodywork out for the fuel tank from a 1979 Yamaha RD125, matched to a leather seat on top of a custom subframe. The side covers came from a Yamaha FS1 moped, and hide a small battery and electronics box.

Painted in Suzuki RM-inspired graphics and classic Suzuki yellow paint, it looks absolutely perfect.

Up front is a motocross-style fender, bolted to the forks below a round headlight from a Honda Hornet 600. The suspension was rebuilt but left mostly stock, along with the DR650-derived engine.

The dashboard was cut off and replaced with a digital Koso EX-02 unit, bolted straight to the handlebar clamp, which now holds a set of Renthal bars. Henrik also added a new bash plate, and an exhaust muffler from Snell.

It’s hard to believe that such a stunning bike came from such unassuming beginnings. Peter and Henrik deserve knighthoods for making the world a better place… one Freewind at a time. [Source]

The Bob Maddox Twin Pulsejet Super Jet Motorcycle Have you ever wanted to own a rocket-propelled motorcycle? If you have, then today is your lucky day. This is the Twin Pulsejet Super Jet motorcycle, originally built by the Rocketman himself. No, not Elton John, but Oregon local Bob Maddox.

Bob was fascinated by space and aircraft as a child, so he began experimenting with rockets. Now that he’s all grown up, Bob builds rocket-powered vehicles, and has modified everything from hotrods to go-karts. But this jet-powered Harley-Davidson is arguably his most famous creation.

Made to look like an original 1929 Harley Davidson board track racer, the bike is built around a custom-made tubular steel frame. Skinny tires and a sprung saddle are the only comforts here—the front forks and back end are completely rigid. The inverted handlebars look like something from the Wall of Death itself, while stopping power is sent from the bars to the back wheel by way of a custom braking setup.

But this bike is more about the go than the show. It just screams power, with a pair of twin pulse jet rocket engines running down both sides of it. Producing 250 pounds of thrust, they propel the bike (on regular 87RON gasoline) from 0-60 mph in five seconds flat. Red heat shields not only protect the rider’s legs, but the back tire as well.

The bike will be going under the hammer at Mecum in January. If one of our esteemed readers has the means and decides to pick this up, can we please have a go? [Source]

The last Harley-Davidson Evolution Sportster On the 19th of November, 2022, a Gunship Grey Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883 rolled off the production line in York, Pennsylvania. That wouldn’t usually be something newsworthy, but that day was different—it was the last time an Evolution-powered Sportster would be produced by the Motor Co.

The Evo Sportster is a motorcycling legend. Yes, it’s agricultural compared to its Japanese (or even other American) counterparts, but the Evo is an icon. Driven more by character and quality, more than a million Evo Sportsters have been made since 1986.

Countless have been customized too, making it one of the most popular platforms on this website, and a favorite of top shops like One Way Machine [below] and Rough Crafts [bottom]. It helps that the Evo Sportster is easy to tear down—and that the aftermarket for it is gigantic.

The Sportster name, which stretches back to 1957, now lives on in the Sportster S and Nightster. Powered by the all-new Revolution Max engine, the new Sporty is a serious departure from the Evo, which hasn’t really changed much since the 80s. The new engine is liquid-cooled, has double overhead camshafts and variable valve timing, and now acts as a stressed member of the frame.

No doubt, it’s the end of an era for the Sportster. Will the Revolution-powered Sportster live as long and be as successful? Will the global custom scene embrace it like they have the Evo?

Only time will tell. Until then, vale Evo Sporty! [Source | Check out our favorite custom Evolution Sportsters]

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[DaveM]

SIDEWAYS IN STYLE: KTM 990 Super Duke #001 by Second Wave Designs.

When life throws down nothing but rain, sometimes all you can do is make the most of it and play in the puddles. That is exactly what British Engineer Otis West did when the bad news came through that there was a second wave of Covid-19 running rampant through his country. The first-time builder had always dreamed of crafting the perfect flat track racer and knew his donor bike would be something...

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[DaveM]

K is for Kit: A BMW K100 café racer from Munich’s finest

From the minute it hit the custom scene, the BMW K100 has been an underdog. With a brick-like motor, overly angled bodywork and a kinked subframe, it’s a far less appealing option than the more handsome R-series boxer. But that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a surprisingly popular choice.

The key lies in how you customize the K100. If your strategy is to shoehorn it into a traditional build style, you’re destined for heartbreak. But if you find a way to harness the K100’s quirkiness rather than fight it, the results can be pretty damn spectacular.

That’s the approach that Motoism and Impuls have taken with this ultra-sharp 1983-model BMW K100 café racer. The two Munich-based outfits share a love for good design, and are well-versed in modern manufacturing techniques. With support from VOR Shoes, Kruno Trim Studio, Öhlins, ABM and Pirelli, they set out to reinterpret classic café racer concepts in a retro-futuristic style.

“This sporty fresh K100 pays tribute to the 80s to the furthest extreme,” says Motoism founder, Ben Ott. “A throwback that combines iconic features with futuristic artifacts. Illuminated wings, a pair of custom sneakers and rear light flares get you ready to put neon into overdrive.”

The idea was to build the bike in such a way that the parts could be replicated, to be sold as either individual pieces or a kit. So Motoism and Impuls leaned heavily into 3D scanning, design and printing technologies to pull this off.

First, the bike was stripped down to its bones and 3D-scanned. Then the team redesigned the entire bike digitally, from the headlight shroud and ‘aero wings,’ all the way through to the refined tail section. From there, a multitude of parts were 3D-printed, using a high performance copolymer and a carbon-reinforced copolymer.

Starting at the front, Motoism mounted up a new headlight nacelle by way of laser-cut stainless steel brackets. It houses a Koso Thunderbolt LED headlight, with a small Motogadget digital speedo neatly embedded up top. It also holds a slim row of LED warning lights, and a hidden RFID-equipped keyless ignition point.

The cockpit’s further equipped with new ABM clip-ons, a Brembo brake control and new grips. The tidy switches are Motoism’s own design, using blacked-out 3D-printed housings.

Flanking the stock fuel tank are a set of translucent ‘wings,’ bolted to stainless steel mounts. They obviously do little for the bike’s aerodynamics, but they do serve a purpose—other than complementing the tank’s lines perfectly. Equipped with LEDs, they effectively operate as daytime running lights for added visibility out on the road.

Lower down you’ll find a stubby 3D-printed front fender, mounted on laser-cut stainless steel brackets. Motoism also designed new fork covers, which stealthy integrated turn signals.

The forks themselves were lowered a touch, and kitted with new spacers and springs. A custom-built shock from Öhlins props up the rear end, bolted to a custom-built subframe. Motoism and Impuls worked on the frame together, welding together CNC-bent tubes to get the shape right.

It’s topped off with a custom solo seat, followed by a 3D-printed hump. The taillight is a completely bespoke, with translucent plastic fins illuminated by LEDs.

The rest of the build sports a smorgasbord of custom and add-on parts. The foot controls are a mash-up of ABM parts, with custom mounts and linkages by Impuls. Impuls also fabricated a new coolant expansion tank, and the stainless steel four-into-one exhaust headers. The muffler is a titanium unit from GPR, and the whole system has been finished in black.

The K100 also features a new 3D-printed intake manifold, and a 3D-printed battery box that houses two tiny LiFePO4 batteries. For the tires, the crew chose a set of grippy Pirelli Sport Demons.

Most of these parts are available from Motoism’s online store, along with a few items not pictured here. There are multiple options for the tank ‘wings,’ plus a license plate bracket… but the paint job is up to you.

Here, Motoism and Impuls opted for a simple, yet effective, design. BMW Alpina white dominates the bodywork, punctuated by bright red stripes. Everything below the line has been blacked out, further emphasizing the new kit.

A pair of matching custom sneakers from VOR Shoes completes the set. Although if this was our K, those white kicks would be filthy in no time.

Motoism | Impuls | Images by Peter Langwieser

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[DaveM]

DESERT DESTROYER: KTM 1290 Paris Dakar by RSD.

For a period of time, when the rally was still known as the Paris-Dakar, some truly mad men kept pushing the envelope with prototype motorcycles that were simply insanely fast. But in those ultra-unforgiving environments, safety meant slowing things down and today the bike class limit is just 450cc. So for a man who loved the days of the big bikes, he craved a custom machine that paid tribute to...

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[DaveM]

Game On: Rough Crafts builds a gaming-inspired Street Bob

The Harley-Davidson Street Bob is one of the most stripped-down big cruisers that The Motor Co. sells. With trimmed bodywork, little to no passenger accommodations and the tiniest speedo we’ve ever seen on a factory bike, there’s very little to remove if you’re customizing one. Which is exactly why Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts in Taiwan loves working with it.

For his latest project, Winston took a stock 2020-model Street Bob, and turned it into a sci-fi-infused custom that looks like it rolled straight out of a video game. This bold aesthetic has a lot to do with his client; the bike was built for Cooler Master, a major manufacturer of computer cases and peripherals.

They’ve been in business for 30 years, and are huge in the gaming community. Wanting a rolling showpiece to commemorate this milestone, they turned to Rough Crafts.

“For their 30th anniversary, Cooler Master asked me to build a bike and matching computer case to celebrate,” Winston tells us. “I set out to combine signature elements of both worlds—the brand’s signature purple lighting, and the sharp edges and boxy shapes that are found on most Cooler Master cases. Plus Rough Crafts’ signature fin details, with lots of forged carbon fiber.”

Nicknamed the ‘Cosmos Charger,’ this Street Bob is wild, futuristic and loaded with really thoughtful details. We were lucky enough to catch glimpses of Winston’s early design drafts, and witnessed first hand how he agonized over finding the balance between cool and clichéd. After all, how do you add LED lighting to a vehicle without making it look like a wannabe street racer?

Luckily Winston figured it out in the end. There are shades of other Rough Crafts builds here—like the heavy scalloping on the fairing, tank and tail. But the closer you get, the more you spot subtle touches that convey the vibe of Cooler Master’s products.

To pull it off, Winston turned to 3D design and printing. Given that he’s worked on numerous Milwaukee Eight Softails already, he now has their chassis 3D scanned and ready to ‘build’ on. The fairing, tank and tail were all designed digitally, then 3D printed in a high-end polymer.

From there, Winston turned to regular collaborator, SFC Simon Fiber Craft, to wrap each part in forged carbon fiber. It not only added an extra layer of material, but also created the stunning marbled texture you see on each part.

Running up the middle of the fairing, over the top of the tank and onto the tail is a series of CNC aluminum fins. Backlit by purple LEDs, they’re a nod to computer heat sinks. The tank itself is actually just a cover though, with a custom-built aluminum fuel cell hiding underneath it.

The bike’s primary lighting all comes from Koso. There’s a pair of LED projectors up front, and LED turn signals at both ends, with the rear pair doubling up as taillights.

Lurking below the bodywork is a host of sweet chassis upgrades. Rough Crafts installed a new set of Öhlins forks, held in place by custom yokes. An Öhlins shock connects to a new swingarm from The Speed Merchant.

The wheels are from Performance Machine, measuring 18” up front and 16” out back. The tires are Metzeler ME888s, while the braking setup matches Beringer calipers to Performance Machine discs. Rough Crafts upgraded the clutch to a hydraulic setup from Rebuffini too.

The Street Bob’s engine wears Rough Crafts x Arlen Ness foot pegs, grips, and rocker box and cam covers. The handlebars and finned air filter are Rough Crafts parts, while the switches are from Rebuffini. They’re totally plug-and-play too, designed to integrate directly with the Harley’s CAN bus system.

Winston roped in his usual dream team of collaborators to push the build over the finish line. MS Pro handled all the fabrication—including the custom exhaust and its burly box muffler—while CT-Garage took point on the final assembly.

Line&Circle Custom Paint laid down the livery, using subtle black finishes and pin stripes to complement the forged carbon sections. 2Abnormal sides came to the party with custom push rod collars and tank badges, plus a special Rough Crafts emblem for the custom computer case that Winston designed.

It’s exactly the sort of attention to detail that we’ve come to expect from Rough Crafts. This Street Bob might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying that it’s as cohesive as it is menacing. From front to back, every part here feels like it belongs.

The Cosmos Charger actually looks like it’d be totally wild to ride too. Winston may have designed this custom motorcycle for a computer parts company, but we’d take it out on the streets in a heartbeat.

Rough Crafts | Facebook | Instagram | Images and video by An Lee

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[DaveM]

Loco velo: A totally bonkers sprint motorcycle concept

What do a Kawasaki KZ250 engine, a car’s spare wheel and a bicycle seat have in common? You’ll find them all on this curious contraption from Valen Zhou, along with a smorgasbord of other odd bits and pieces.

Straight out the gate, Valen admits that this build isn’t particularly practical—in fact, it’s downright sketchy. But he didn’t originally intend it to be this way. The Chinese-born, Milan-based photographer and director had a very specific mash-up of styles in mind, but once he got stuck in, things didn’t quite pan out.

“The idea started many years ago, when I saw board track racing from the 1910s and 1920s,” Valen tells us. “Because I’ve always loved vintage bikes and motorcycle history, I was fascinated. But then I discovered drag racing, which made me feel the powerful charm.”

“I thought that if I could make a board tracker crossed with a drag bike, it would be super cool—even if it might not be possible.”

Valen had some ideas about how the frame should look, and how the steering should function. But it soon became apparent that things weren’t quite going to pan out. So he changed tack, and decided to treat the project as a concept bike of sorts.

“The entire motorcycle is actually my imagination,” he says. “It is my own concept bike. I am not a professional engineer or a real designer, but because I love motorcycles, I just want to realize my idsprintea—and I hope everyone who sees it finds it super cool.”

At the core of the bike is a handmade steel frame, built partially with jigs, and partially freehand. Most of the inspiration came from Valen’s road bicycle—which accounts for the custom-built dropped bars, and the bicycle saddle and seat post. The wrapping on the frame’s backbone is there to add extra grip while pushing the bike around.

For the suspension, Valen effectively made it up as he went. “I basically built the suspension freehand, just like playing with Lego,” he says. “It’s completely designed according to my own imagination, so there will be big problems, ha ha.”

The front wheel comprises a Honda CG125 hub, a ‘regular’ motorcycle rim, and a pair of aero bicycle wheel covers. A half-size car spare wheel does duty out back, mounted to a single-sided swingarm. There’s only one brake; a repurposed motocross part at the rear.

At the heart of the build sits the motor from a Kawasaki KZ250—a 246 cc single that makes a modest 19 Nm of torque. The engine’s another reason that Valen changed direction on the project; its output would have been insufficient for the original chassis design that he had in mind.

The Kawasaki mill is mostly stock, save for a new velocity stack and a custom megaphone exhaust. Fuel is stored in an aluminum bottle, mounted behind the frame’s seat tube in a bicycle bottle cage. “I designed it this way to save weight,” says Valen, “but it was also inspired by road bicycles.”

“You take it off and refill it, just like refilling a water bottle. Each bottle only holds 500 ml [about 17 oz], which is only enough for one run. So I prepare many bottles, and replace them after each run—just like athletes drink water.”

Valen’s sprint bike is loaded with eccentric details like this. On the handlebars, you’ll find a custom-built throttle that uses gears, and a reversed clutch lever.

If you’re looking for the foot controls, they’re way higher than you’ll usually find them. The riding position here is impossibly compact—much like a fixed gear or time trial bicycle.

“It’s not very comfortable,” Valen concedes, “but it feels like the wind resistance is very little. Your arms get particularly tired though!”

It seems like a waste to spend so much time on a project (it took literal years to complete), only to admit that it’s not particularly usable. But that wasn’t the point here. Now that Valen has let his imagination run wild, he has an arsenal of ideas spooled up for the next bike—and he’s well aware of what works, and what doesn’t.

“This motorcycle took a long time from idea to completion,” he adds, “and it is also my favorite one. Although it has many problems and cannot be driven on the road in a real sense, everything about it represents my knowledge of motorcycles… and my love for them.”

Valen Zhou Instagram

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[DaveM]

FUN TIMES: Triumph Thruxton R from Fast for Fun.

When you name a motorcycle after a race track, then as a manufacturer you are not only making your intent for that machine clear, but you’re setting yourself a very high bar. Thankfully Triumph has never failed to deliver when it comes to the Thruxton name, first as a homologation special for endurance racing in the ’60s and then reborn decades later to head a retro model lineup. But it was in...

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[DaveM]

Functional design: Moto Borgotaro’s Ducati 900 GTS

Few shops know Italian classics quite as well as Brooklyn’s Moto Borgotaro. Owner Peter Boggia has been wrenching on Italian machinery for over two decades, having cut his teeth at the Moto Guzzi Chuck House in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Peter’s custom Guzzis have graced our pages before, but Moto Borgotaro builds much more than just traverse-twin beauties. The 1979 Ducati 900 GTS café racer you see here is a prime example. It perfectly showcases Peter’s love for all things design—and his exceptionally good taste.

Two iconic designers in particular inspired Peter’s approach to this build. The first was industrial designer Dieter Rams, the godfather of the ‘good design’ principles that went on to inspire everything from the iPod to Ikea furniture. The second was American artist Donald Judd, one of the most influential minimalists to ever live.

“I decided to go with a minimalist approach,” he explains. “Thinking less about motorcycles, and more about the design language of industrial designers and fine artists. I also wanted a classic low silhouette that was purpose-built, with a nod to both the new and old school Ducati designers and engineers.”

In keeping with this inspiration, Peter knew he wanted a well-designed but economical chassis, with a worry-free motor to match. He decided a bevel-driven Ducati would be the ideal platform for his vision, and hunted down a 1979-model Ducati 900 GTS in the classifieds.

Once Peter got the bike into his shop, he set about stripping everything down and shaving off unnecessary bits where he could. Frame tabs were removed, the Marzzochi triple clamp was ground down and re-welded, and a new mount was welded up to stash the battery box under the gas tank.

The frame was powder coated in a special matte black finish, as a homage to the original enamel-black frames of the period. The tank and fenders were repainted to match, with a subtle play on the Ducati’s original livery. Instead of the traditional blue and silver front-to-back stripe motif, Peter opted for an understated gloss black effect.

The forks, triples, and headlight were all redone in black, as were the wheels, after receiving a fresh rebuild from Woody’s Wheel Works in Denver, Colorado. Finally, Peter handed the factory seat off to his friend Corinna Mantlo at Via Meccanica upholstery, who recreated a minimalist take on the style and shape found on Ducatis of the era.

With the main aesthetics sorted out, Peter turned his attention to the Ducati’s running gear. The non-Desmo 900 GTS motor already fit in nicely with his economical-and-minimalist approach, so Peter chose to keep it simple with a basic refresh. (It helped that it had barely any mileage on it.)

New bearings and seals went in, but the internals were kept completely stock. Peter added a touch of performance via a pair of 36 mm Del’Orto carbs, topped with K&N filters and a set of Staintune Conti exhaust pipes. A Silent-Hektik ignition and Nology Pro-Fire coils were installed for added reliability.

From there, Peter set to work preserving as much of the 70s Ducati charm as possible, while modernizing the bike where he could. Vintage-style single-pot Brembo calipers were installed front and rear, running through Spiegler lines. Modern Brembo radial master cylinders were fitted for an optimal blend of old and new, and a modern Kawasaki clutch perch was added to accommodate a matching Brembo clutch lever.

The OEM front forks stayed on the bike, but the internals were replaced with Works Performance springs. A pair of Öhlins shocks with piggyback reservoirs were fitted to the rear. The stock lights were given a refresh, but Peter left the faded CEV tail light lens in place to maintain an old feel for his new machine.

Finally, Peter turned his attention to the electronics. The decision was made to spec a full Motogadget system for the build, with the German company’s dash, turn signals, and switches all running through their mo.unit control box. It makes for a super-clean look, with all-weather reliability.

“The idea was to pay homage to the design of the past,” he says. “The greatest compliment would be someone looking twice at it, and not being certain whether it is a newly built motorcycle or completely vintage.”

The end result is a stylish—yet ridable—bevel-drive Ducati, which Peter says “reeks of quality and 1970s Italian attitude.” We couldn’t agree more, and we’re not the only ones that think so—a friend of Peter’s saw this build at Moto Borgotaro, and immediately commissioned one of his own.

If you’re feeling left out, there’s good news: this particular Ducati 900 GTS is for sale via Moto Borgotaro’s website. If you fancy your custom bikes with a touch of utilitarian flair, it’s ready to ship anywhere on the planet for just $30,000—and with just 3,047 miles on the clock.

Moto Bogotaro | Instagram

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[DaveM]

Speed Read, December 4, 2022

It’s all about café racers this week, with a Harley Sportster from Thailand, a Triumph Thruxton from Hong Kong and a BMW boxer from the UK. Plus, a stock standard Ducati MH900E with one mile on the clock is up for sale.

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight by FatBoy Design and Slayer House Last week, we reported that The Motor Co. had built their last Evo Sporty. This week, two Thai design studios are reminding us that it’ll remain popular for years to come, with one of the most radical custom Sportsters we’ve seen.

The project was conceived by Chakkaphan ‘Mark’ Rungsukcharoen at FatBoy Design, who wanted a bike to display at the 2022 Bangkok Hot Rod Custom Show. Taking heavy inspiration from the Lamborghini Murcielago SV owned by his father, Mark wanted to partner with a workshop that specialized in carbon fiber. So he roped in Nattapat Janyapanich at Slayer House.

The team had just 60 days to transform a bone stock Sportster Forty-Eight into the wild, automotive-influenced machine you’re looking at here. The idea was to build a modern café racer with a strong track performance vibe, while blending in the design language of hyper cars. Or, as Nattapat puts it, “to present Harley-Davidson in a new way, to reach a new generation with a craze for speed.”

Mark and Nattapat started by sketching out their ideas, before 3D scanning the stock bike and designing the whole project digitally. Nattapat then 3D-printed molds for the bodywork, over which the final carbon fiber parts were vacuum formed. The list includes the Sportster’s sharp new fairing, a two-piece tank cover that sits over a steel reservoir, and the flat track-esque tail section.

The bodywork’s complemented by a host of 3D-printed details, including grills, air intakes, and fins below and above the tail. Instead of painting the bike, Mark opted to adorn the carbon fiber parts with a set of race-inspired decals.

Mark also treated the base bike to a laundry list of performance upgrades. Up front are a set of shortened Showa forks, held in place by CNC-machined yokes. A set of longer-than-stock Öhlins piggyback shocks prop up the rear.

The wheels are from Roland Sands Design, and the brake calipers sport yellow paint as a nod to Lamborghini. Other bits include Performance Machine brake discs, FatBoy Design clip-ons and rear-sets, Performance Machine levers and switch housings, and a speedo relocation bracket and grips from RSD.

The engine wears a smorgasbord of goodies, including an Evolution Industries open primary, a chain conversion with FatBoy sprockets, and ‘transparent’ derby and camshaft covers from Figure Machine. A Two Brothers exhaust system, Performance Machine intake and ECU tune unleash a little more power.

Mark and Nattapat got the bike to the Bangkok Hot Rod Custom Show on time, and walked away with the ‘Best Café Racer’ award, along with a judge’s ‘Best in Show’ pick from none other than Shiro Nakajima at 46Works.

Now that that’s done, the bike’s being set up for its next objective: track racing. [Source]

Triumph Thruxton by Angry Lane The current model Triumph Thruxton is one of the best factory café racers on the market today, with little that needs changing or upgrading. But the same can’t be said for its predecessors. Earlier Thruxton models had the right look, but were awkward to ride and lacked the refinement of today’s iteration.

This 2007-model Thruxton from Angry Lane doesn’t suffer from those problems though. Angry Lane is an upmarket leather business run by French expats and brothers, Guillaume and Ben Barras. When they’re not designing stylish leather good and apparel, they build custom motorcycles.

The owner of this particular Thruxton brought it in with a very specific goal in mind. He was happy to spend money on it, but didn’t want anything wild. Instead, since the bike is his daily runner, he wanted to keep the cosmetic changes tasteful and restrained, and shift the emphasis to modern performance and reliability.

The biggest visual hit, other than the muted paint job, is the new rear section. Angry Lane shortened the subframe and welded in a kicked-up loop, then added an aluminum cowl with a bespoke LED tail light. The generously padded seat (for a café racer) features Ferrari-inspired leather upholstery.

The Thruxton’s new running gear includes Öhlins suspension, with custom 17” wheels from Canyon, wrapped in Pirelli Angel GT tires. Beringer brake discs and calipers handle stopping duties, thanks to a custom caliper bracket from Lossa Engineering.

Angry Lane also ditched the air box for a pair of K&N Filters, then rebuilt and re-jetted the carbs. The mufflers are from the American Triumph modern classics specialist, British Customs, and the entire exhaust system has been ceramic coated black.

Up in the cockpit you’ll find a LSL clip-ons, with a Motogadget speedo, grips, switches, and bar-end turn signals and mirrors. The crew rewired the bike with a Motogadget controller too, installing an Antigravity battery and a Mosfet regulator in the process. The Thruxton also wears an LED headlight, LSL rear sets, and a new bash plate and chain guard.

It might not be the most outrageous Triumph café racer out there, but that’s why we love it. Rather, it’s a classy sleeper that’ll go, stop and corner harder than your garden variety first-gen Thruxton. [Angry Lane]

BMW R80ST by Kunst Maschinenbau Boxer customs are a dime a dozen, but seldom do they take 700-plus hours to build. John Nixon had no interest in building a half-baked airhead when he took on this project though.

For his day job, John works as an armorer on Hollywood film sets. But thanks to his technical know-how and professional motor vehicle engineering training, he tinkers on bikes too. And when he does, he tends to go deep.

For this project, John took a 1984 BMW R80ST, and turned it into a classic concept bike of sorts. There are shades of classic race bikes and café racers here, but the real hook is that this boxer has been redesigned as a pure riding machine. Think of what HPN did to turn stock R-series BMWs into rally-ready machines, and apply that to a road bike, and you’ll have the right idea.

There’s too much work to list here, but highlights include the frame work, which involved stripping, bead-blasting, de-tabbing and then reinforcing it. John moved the engine mounts 25 mm forwards and 45 mm upwards to improve weight distribution, then welded in additional diagonal brackets. As a result, he had to make the lower frame members detachable, so that he could get the engine and transmission in and out.

Suspension upgrades include Race Tech internals for the stock forks, custom-made preload adjusters, a FlatRacer brace and a Toaster Tan yoke. A Harrison six-pot brake caliper runs up front, with a custom-built Wilbers shock installed at the back.

The bodywork includes a BMW R45 fuel tank, with a custom fairing and tail inspired by the iconic Ducati Imola design. The subframe is custom, while the seat wears Alcantara.

The engine was rebuilt by Richie Moore, who’s well-versed in making airhead motors fast. This one’s been bumped up to 980 cc with a laundry list of internal and external mods. The carbs are Dell’Orto PHMs, and the exhaust system is a hand-made stainless steel affair. We could go on for hours about the details, but we’ll sum it up by saying that this 1980s boxer now makes 90 hp at the wheel, and weighs just 160 kilos dry [353 lbs].

So what’s it like to ride? “It requires a booster battery to start it from cold, it ‘idles’ at 1,800 rpm and has total loss ignition,” says John. “It will run on pump fuel—if you flick the switch to ignition map ‘B’, but its natural diet is Sunoco 102 race fuel.

“That’s not the problem it seems, because you’ll run out of sparks before you run out of petrol. Maximum range is about 70 miles before the battery, and hence the ignition, dies—easily enough for a weekend on the track or a blast on a sunny Sunday. In short, you only get on this bike when you want to ride. You go out, you ride and, satisfied, you come home.”

If that appeals to you, this BMW is now for sale. Tempted [Kunst Maschinenbau]

For Sale: Ducati MH900e The Ducati MH900e is arguably one of Pierre Terblanche’s biggest hits. The legendary South African motorcycle designer first penned it as a homage to Mike Hailwood’s 1978 race bike, putting his own spin on it rather than creating a direct replica.

Ducati showed the concept at the Intermot show in Munich, then ran a survey on their website to figure out if they should produce it. The response was positive, so the MH900e went into production, with only 2,000 units being produced.

1,000 of those were sold out via Ducati’s website in just 31 minutes… so finding a clean example for sale these days is a rare treat. And this one is very clean.

If you’ve been jonesing for an MH900e, it’s for sale right now over here at Iconic Motorbike Auctions. And it’s possibly the freshest example out there; turn the key, and you’ll spot that the odometer reads a mere 2 kilometers [less than a mile].

Numbered as “1200 of 2000,” this particular MH900e is completely stock and has never been ridden. It’s so green, in fact, that it still has the plastic protective bits that it came with from the factory. Heck, even the radiator is still wrapped up. Iconic got their hands on it via a shipment from Japan, and detailed it before putting it up for auction.

Oh, and if you’re wondering it it actually runs after sitting for two decades, hit the video below. Doesn’t that sound sweet?

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Game On: Rough Crafts builds a gaming-inspired Street Bob

Hideous!!!!!