Every now and then, it’s good to go back to the blueprint. And this is
as good as you’ll get. It’s a textbook resto-mod of a classic 1970s
Honda, dripping with charm and style.
Builder Jan Sallings has an eye for detail—and the steady hand
required for quality work. The mods he’s made to his 1973 Honda 350 are a
great guide for anyone who wants to give their vintage bike a dose of
café racer flair.
The basics are all there: Jan has detabbed the frame and smoothed out
the welds, and added extra bracing above and below the engine. The tank
is a Benelli Mojave—probably one of the few remaining in the USA—and
massaged to fit the frame. It’s topped off with a gas cap machined from
billet aluminum.
Up front are custom fabricated aluminum clip-on bars with wood grips,
and the headlight from a 1960s Honda Scrambler 305. The controls are
minimal, adding to the pared-back vibe of the bike.
All components have been overhauled, and if they haven’t been painted
in that lustrous red, they’ve invariably been polished to a deep sheen.
That includes the fork legs, and the spokes and rims of the wheels.
Look a little higher and you’ll spot chromed springs on the forks.
To give the Honda a bit of extra zip, Jan has completely rebuilt the
engine and carbs. With painted cases and polished covers, the powerplant
now looks better than factory-fresh. But the pièce de résistance
is the hand-made exhaust system, fashioned from stainless sheet and
tubing, with highly polished headers and mufflers. Perforated and
painted guards keep the rider’s thighs as cool as the bike itself.
Out back is a custom cowl, which does double duty as a hiding space
for the key electrical components. It’s finished off with a 1952 Chevy
taillight with a blue dot center.
Anyone else out there tempted to trawl eBay and Craigslist for an old Honda 350?
The post Jan Sallings’ Honda 350 appeared first on Bike EXIF.
It’s time for our biannual roundup of the most popular motorcycles on
Bike EXIF: the best of the best, as chosen by our hundreds of thousands
of readers from around the world.
After aggregating traffic stats and social media likes and shares,
we’ve uncovered the ten motorcycles that made the biggest impact in the
first half of 2014.
It’s refreshing to see that no particular style dominates: Our
winners range from the understated to the outrageous. But it’s possible
to discern some trends: only one bike is distinctly ‘retro,’ modern (and
chunky) tires are overtaking vintage-style patterns, and quality
craftsmanship is to the fore.
Beauty is in the detail, and the detailing on these ten machines is worthy of a factory production line.
So who’s made the cut this time? Let’s see …
10. Ducati 749 by Gustavo Penna This is what happens when a track-day-loving Ducatista
strips his 749 to give it a thorough cleaning, and likes what he sees.
Gustavo Penna is a cinematographer who shoots car commercials, and once
he caught a glimpse under the 749′s bodywork he decided to leave it off.
He then reworked the rear of the bike with a solo seat and minimalist
subframe, retaining and modifying the stock tank and headlight unit. The
engine was swapped out for a 749R mill—enhanced with a host of
performance upgrades, including a titanium exhaust system that was
designed with the help of a friend who works in NASA’s Jet Propulsion
Laboratory.
MORE IMAGES
9. Norton 850 Commando by Federal Moto It’s hard to
believe this is the first build from Federal Moto, a startup workshop
from Edmonton, Canada. It’s a 1974 Commando 850 that’s undergone major
surgery but retains an authentic period vibe. The frame is 18” shorter
than stock, and the Norton has lost around thirty pounds in weight. The
fenders are from a 1950s Triumph, and the exhaust system is a modified
1971 Commando SS fitment. Accessories are miniaturized, from the
blinkers to the tiny replica Smiths speedo. As one commenter noted,
Federal Moto’s work has an “almost undefinable aesthetic rightness about
it.”
MORE IMAGES
8. Ducati 900SS custom by Atom Bomb Clay Rathburn seems
to be able to turn his hand to any style of bike. His latest creation
is this breathtaking café-racer-cum-streetfighter, which started life as
a 1996 Ducati 900SS. Being Clay, he’s left no bolt unturned, so the
motor punches out far more power than usual—thanks to Fast by Ferracci
pistons, heads and manifolds. It’s now cradled in a hand-made replica of
a 999 frame, with GSX-R forks handling suspension duties. The
beautifully crafted bodywork was inspired by a Ducati 1098 taillight
that Clay bought for $20 off eBay.
MORE IMAGES
7. Harley Softail Slim by Rough Crafts In stock form
the Harley-Davidson Softail Slim is already a simple, vintage-styled
bobber. So it’s a great platform for customization—and who better to
unleash its potential than Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts? Yeh is one of
the top Harley builders out there, and this Softail has his signature
all over it. That means dark tones, clean lines and flawless finishes.
The frame’s been chopped at the back and a custom tank and seat
installed. The wheels are from Exile Cycles, with a 16-inch at the front
and a whopping seven-inch wide 15-incher at the back.
MORE IMAGES
6. Ducati 999S by Venier Customs Stefano Venier is best
known for his immaculate Moto Guzzi customs. But his latest creation is
this Ducati 999S ‘Testastretta’ converted from race to road use. After
removing the fairing, Venier remade the back end with a new leather seat
and revised framework. He’s also replaced the stock alloy wheels with
Ducati GT1000 spoked rims—a supposedly simple task that became easier
said than done. The beauty of this bike is in the discreet detailing,
with brackets, tabs and wiring removed to create a super-clean look. And
with Termignoni Corse headers and a Zard muffler, Venier’s Ducati is a
treat for the ears as well as the eyes.
MORE IMAGES
5. Yamaha SR400 by Palhegyi Design Believe it or not,
this is a brand new, 2015-spec SR400. Yamaha have re-released the
lovable, air-cooled single—kick-start and all—and the custom world is
eating it up. Californian builder Jeff Palhegyi snapped up one of the
first USA models, turning it into a timeless scrambler in just eight
days with simple, but well-judged, modifications. The SR now sports an
aluminum Omega Racer swingarm, custom Racetech shocks and Heidenau
dual-sport tires. It’s a fitting homage to Yamaha’s legendary
TT500—right down to the iconic “TT” logo on the tank.
MORE IMAGES
4. BMW R nineT custom by UCC Ola Stenegärd is BMW
Motorrad’s head designer and the driving force behind the R nineT. He’s
also Swedish, so it was only a matter of time before he handed one over
to a Swedish outfit to customize—namely Unique Custom Cycles. With just
five weeks to complete the build, UCC cut and raked the frame and
trimmed the stock fuel tank, before loading the bike with custom parts
from the likes of ISR and Öhlins. The bike took 2nd place in the Custom
Class of the Norrtälje Custom Bike Show—no mean feat in a competition
dominated by Harley choppers.
MORE IMAGES
3. Triumph Bonneville T100 by Renard If the name Renard
rings a bell, you’ve probably seen the Estonian company’s $96,000 Grand
Tourer—a limited edition power cruiser with a carbon fiber chassis. But
Renard’s Andres Uibomae has now set up a new division specializing in
more affordable custom motorcycles, like this brawny Triumph Bonneville
T100. It appears to be relatively stock, but there are big changes under
the proverbial hood—including a 70mm narrower rear frame, relocated
shock mounts, uprated forks, new triple trees and a Beringer/ISR brake
system. The subtle grey color even extends to the Kineo rims: this is a
scrambler that’s happy to fly under the radar.
MORE IMAGES
2. Wrenchmonkees Laverda 750 Fuelled by Danish design
sensibilities and with a knack for building raw and simple machines, the
Wrenchmonkees have pioneered a unique style that’s hard to emulate. So
what could be better than seeing that style applied to an early ’70s
Laverda 750 SF1? Most of the work’s gone into the suspension: the rear
frame and swingarm have been modified to take a Yamaha YZF-R6 monoshock
setup, and the forks have been dropped and fitted with Wirth progressive
springs. It’s an extremely elegant machine, thanks to the lines created
by the hand-made tank and seat, and finishes that are unmistakably
Wrenchmonkees.
MORE IMAGES
1. BMW R1200S by Cafe Racer Dreams It’s not often that
BMW’s R1200S sports-tourer gets the custom treatment—let alone a radical
transformation like this. Luckily Pedro García and Efraon Triana of
Café Racer Dreams believe in trying new things—and paying attention to
even the tiniest detail. Everything on this post-apocalyptic bruiser has
been expertly crafted, from the mesh tank cover and exoskeleton, to the
removable subframe and olive green seat. The suspension’s been beefed
up with Öhlins shocks at both ends, while twin headlamps light the way.
Finishing touches include a Supertrapp muffler and Metzeler Karoo 3
tires, a dual sport design created for big adventure bikes.
MORE IMAGES
Congratulations to all the builders who made it onto the list, and
thanks to the photographers who preserved these machines for us all to
enjoy. Want to see the winners from previous years? You’ll find them here.
The post The 2014 Bike EXIF Awards, Part I appeared first on Bike EXIF.
Motorcycle gear with classic styling is no longer a niche. It’s edging
up the bestseller lists, and the mainstream brands are scrambling to
catch up.
It’s as though we’re returning to the (perceived) golden days of the
1960s and 1970s. That means simple aesthetics, clean lines and
traditional materials, and we’re just fine with that.
Public taste is maturing, and the market is shifting accordingly. Or
perhaps the average rider doesn’t want to look like a Power Ranger any
more—or climb into a Cordura onesie. So we’ve picked out five classic
motorcycle jackets that are guaranteed to look good—no matter what bike
you ride.
ICON 1000 Beltway You can’t go wrong with the
four-pocket, long-waisted silhouette. Icon have taken the English
classic and given it a more rugged, tactical vibe—and heavyweight
protection. The $600 Beltway has a coated canvas body, reinforced with
leather paneling, and the black oxide YKK zipper is protected by a storm
flap with a handy magnetic closure. As with all Icon jackets, you get
reassuring levels of protection via CE-certified D3O back, shoulder, and
elbow impact protectors. Built to survive the apocalypse. [More information]
Pagnol M1 It takes a brave man to launch a new
motorcycle apparel brand, but US-based Paulo Rosas is that man.
Prototypes of this new jacket drew appreciative eyes at the recent Quail
Gathering, and it goes on sale in a week. The emphasis is on fit and
finish, with quality antique-style brass hardware stitched into
tumble-aged cowhide. There’s shock-absorption padding on the shoulders,
Schoeller protective Kevlar paneling under the arms, and the mesh lining
includes pockets for adding the armor of your choice. Available in
Tobacco (shown) and black. [More information]
REV’IT! Hillcrest There are numerous remakes of the
classic waxed cotton motorcycle jacket, from haute couture versions with
silly prices to cheap-and-nasty knock-offs. But customer feedback is
suggesting that the new REV’IT! Hillcrest is one of the best. There’s no
rocket science here: just respectful styling, a mesh liner to keep you
cool during warmer days, and three colors: black, blue and titanium.
Good value at $260. [Buy]
Deus x Dainese Leather Riding Jacket The leading lights
of the custom scene are now moving into motorcycle gear manufacture,
and this is one of the first releases. Deus has joined forces with
Dainese to create a stylish $600 cowhide leather jacket, available in
dark brown or black, and with a cotton quilted lining. As you’d expect
from Deus, the styling is immaculate—but you also get practical touches
such as an airtight chest closure and zipped sleeve openings for a
windproof fit around the wrists. Branding is discreet, and each jacket
comes with two additional leather patches featuring original Deus
artwork. [Buy]
Spidi Ring Italian style doesn’t get much better than
this. The $400 Ring is a crafted from relatively lightweight buffalo
leather, with a soft and supple feel. Weighing in at only 1.7 kg (less
than four pounds), it’s ideal for urban riding and wearing off the bike.
But with reinforced seams and trouser clips, it’s more than just a
fashion statement. You also get CE-approved elbow and shoulder
protectors, and there’s a pocket to add a back protector if you wish. [Buy]
The post New and noted: Motorcycle Jackets appeared first on Bike EXIF.
The big money-spinner for Moto Guzzi these days is the ‘new’ V7 range.
But although the V7 has put the Mandello Del Lario factory on a secure
footing, the heart of the bike is nothing new. The iconic 750cc ‘small
block’ engine design can be traced back to the mid-sixties.
The V7’s appeal largely comes from its retro styling, which has
elevated it above two close cousins: the somewhat anodyne Breva and the
cruiser-ish Nevada. Both are competent bikes, but have hardly set the
motorcycling world alight. Which makes me wonder: has Moto Guzzi missed a
trick by not building a scrambler variant?
When this delightful custom scrambler landed in my inbox, my suspicions
were confirmed. Until recently, it was the personal ride of Officine Rossopuro
founder Filippo Barbacane. It’s based on the Nevada platform, and it’s
powered by the same small block engine you’ll find in a V7.
Massaging a Nevada into the scrambler style is tricky, but not beyond
the capabilities of a competent builder like Barbacane. The rear end of
the frame is new, as is the beguiling all-aluminum bodywork. The
electrical system is now hidden in the tank, and the overall theme is
one of simplification, from the controls on the new bars to the compact
lighting.
There’s a custom two-into-one single air intake, with the filter
projecting out of the side panel. The custom exhaust is also
two-into-one, and despite running under the engine, suits the style of
the bike perfectly. Barbacane designed the bike to be effective
off-road, so he also upgraded the shocks to Bitubo items for better
control.
Best of all, he’s cut the weight down to a mere 150 kg or so. Not
quite motocross levels, but light enough to provide an entertaining
ride. Especially when you factor in the renowned tractability of the
Moto Guzzi small block V-twin.
I’m sold on the concept, and could see this machine parked next to the
V7 in my own garage. Perhaps it’s time Moto Guzzi built an official V7
scrambler, to compete with Triumph’s popular offering?
The post Guzzi Nevada custom scrambler appeared first on Bike EXIF.
Received wisdom says that starting up a new restaurant carries more risk
than any other type of business venture: Apparently some 60% of
eateries close within five years.
But I suspect that received wisdom is wrong. I reckon it’s even more
difficult to launch a low-volume motorcycle company. The financial
travails of the smaller Italian marques are well known, and in more
recent years, aspersions have been cast on the ability of Norton to
(literally) deliver the goods.
That makes Paul Sleeman, the owner and chief engineer of the reborn Hesketh Motorcycles
brand, a brave man. But he’s created a very interesting bike with a mix
of tried-and-trusted hardware, and may just avoid the pitfalls of those
who have gone before him.
The new ‘24’ harks back to the days of James Hunt’s adventures in the
Hesketh F1 car, and has little connection to the Hesketh motorcycles of
the 1980s.
The spec is good: the heart of the machine is a 1950cc air-cooled
S&S X-wedge engine hooked up to a Baker transmission. The engine is
popular with custom builders in the US, and somewhat bizarrely, is also
employed by the British car company Morgan to power its retro-styled
three-wheelers.
No weight figures are given, but with 125 hp and 144 pound-feet of
low-down torque on tap, performance will be brisk. As an added bonus,
the motor has been tuned by Harris Performance, who can modify its characteristics to suit an owner’s preferences.
The suspension comes from Öhlins, with Beringer supplying the brake
system. The seat is covered with Italian nappa leather, and is the work
of McLaren upholsterer d:class automotive.
The 24 is a limited edition, and you can probably guess how many will be
made. In the UK the price is £35,000 (US$60,000) and three bikes have
already been sold. There are orders for eight more and the machine is
approved for registration in the USA.
Tempted? Head over to the Hesketh Motorcycles website for more details.
With thanks to Tom Stewart.
The post The new Hesketh motorcycle appeared first on Bike EXIF.
Last week we showcased five modern motorcycles
that hit the mark in terms of attitude and style. It was a mix of retro
re-issues and well-designed modern machines, and struck a chord with
many readers.
All of the featured bikes had one thing in common—they looked great
in both stock and custom form. But we quickly realized that five wasn’t
nearly enough, so we’ve decided to revisit our selection.
Here are another five showroom bikes that we’d love to take home,
ride, show off to our friends and customize. Let us know which one grabs
your attention the most—unless of course you’re still stuck on the
original list.
Triumph Speed Triple I’ve been a fan of the Speed Triple ever since Tom Cruise’s famous Mission Impossible II
chase scene. Triumph’s iconic naked hooligan bike has seen some
technical and styling changes over the years, but it’s still a very
relevant motorcycle.
The key ingredients are all present: a brilliant 1050cc
three-cylinder engine, unapologetic styling and headlights that look
like they were unceremoniously ripped from a sport bike fairing. There’s
also ABS braking to keep you in check.
It’s a bike I’d happily park in my garage, but more importantly it’s a
bike that I’d like to see more custom shops tear into. Almost $2,000
more gets you the R-model, with Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes and a
smattering of bolt-on accessories.
At a glance: $12,799, 135hp, 111Nm, 214kg (curb weight) What we’d do: Hit up LSL for some parts and ride it daily. Or we’d send it to: Spirit Of The Seventies in England. They’ve already teased us with Speed triple concepts, and we’d love to see them build one.
Yamaha XJR1300 Yamaha have really been swinging for
the fences with their Yard Built program. Last week we showed off the
SR400, this time we’re on the other end of the spectrum with the
four-cylinder, 1,251cc XJR1300. It’s the epitome of Japanese muscle – a
nod to the past with up-to-date tech that includes Öhlins shocks and
monobloc four-piston brake calipers. There’s even a four-into-one
exhaust system with an EXUP muffler to add the appropriate soundtrack.
Yamaha wasted no time in farming it out to the Wrenchmonkees and Deus
Ex Machina Italy. The resulting customs were inspired and
ultra-desirable, and off-the-shelf custom parts from both shops are now
available.
At a glance: 71.9kW, 108.4Nm, 245kg (curb weight) What we’d do: Order in some parts from Deus Ex Machina Italy and put together our own Project X replica. Or we’d send it to: Japanese muscle-bike specialists AC Sanctuary. Or the Wrenchmonkees, for a replica of the mighty Monkeefist (below).
Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Forty-Eight I’ve
never been big on Harley-Davidsons myself, but even I can’t deny the
Sportster’s popularity among builders. I’ve seen Sporties utilized for
everything from flat trackers to café-racers, and a good few of them
have stopped me dead in my tracks. Plus there’s the torque and the
distinctive ‘growl’ from that V-twin mill.
There are currently six models in the Sportster line, but we’ve
settled on the 1200 Forty-Eight (below). Right off the bat it has a
brawny feel to it, with a raised peanut tank, solo seat, tiny headlight
and blacked-out engine casings. If your budget doesn’t stretch that far,
the smaller-capacity Iron 883 would be a solid second choice, and you
could always give it a performance boost at a later stage.
At a glance: Priced from $10,749, 67hp, 96Nm What we’d do: Move the foot controls back to where they belong, and sprinkle some Biltwell parts on it. Or we’d send it to: Roland Sands for a flat-tracker makeover (below).
Yamaha XV950 / Star Bolt Normally we wouldn’t include
two bikes from the same manufacturer, but since the XV950 is sold in the
USA under the Star brand as the Bolt, we’ll give ourselves a free pass.
Besides, we can’t help but love the Bolt’s bare-bones vibe, aptly
described by Yamaha as a ‘neo retro Japanese look’—even if the exhaust
is a little gaudy.
Yamaha’s interest in the new-wave custom scene is also refreshing:
last year they ran the Bolt Custom Build-Off, where they shipped Bolts
to ten builders and asked the public to select a winner. The results
were intriguing, with top work coming from the likes of Roland Sands,
Chappell Customs, Burly Brand, Jeff Palhegyi and Greg Hageman, who took
top honors.
At a glance: $7,990, 45hp, 68Nm, 540lb (curb weight) What we’d do: Keep it bobbed, and ask Chappell Customs to send us the bolt-on, mono-shock subframe that they used on their Build-Off entry. Or we’d send it to: Greg Hageman. His competition-winning bike (below) was sublime, and we’d love to see what he’d do second time around.
Kawasaki W800 Special Edition We really should have
included the Kawasaki W800 in our first Modern Motorcycles round up.
It’s easily one of the nicest neo-classics currently on the market,
exuding tons of British charm despite being manufactured in Japan. Its
predecessor, the W650, was in production from 1999—two years before
Triumph launched their new Bonneville.
After a short hiatus from 2008 to 2011, the W800 was released with a
displacement jump to 773cc and fuel injection. It’s an easy going
motorcycle thanks to its parallel-twin mill, but what’s really great
about it is how much attention Kawasaki have paid to small details—such
as the pairing of an 18” rear wheel with a 19” front wheel for a more
balanced stance.
The current Special Edition’s predominantly black paint scheme
(below) is a winner, and both it and the regular model are available in
‘Café Style’ versions, with a solo seat and a small bikini fairing. And
if it seems like I’m waxing lyrical about the W, I will admit that I’m
biased—I own a W650 and love it.
At a glance: €8,569, 35Kw, 60Nm, 217kg (curb weight) What we’d do: Turn it into a vintage trials-inspired scrambler, like James Whitham’s gorgeous W650 tracker. Or we’d send it to: LSL, for a Clubman-style W800 special (below).
Header image: Low and Mean’s Star Bolt. Read last week’s Top 5 Modern Motorcycles here.
The post Top 5 Modern Motorcycles Part II appeared first on Bike EXIF.
There’s a new name to look out for on the custom scene: Federal Moto. It’s a startup workshop from Canada, and this remarkable Norton 850 Commando resto-mod is the company’s first build.
The guys behind Federal are friends Shaun Brandt, Randy Venhuis, and
Justin Benson. Their purpose is simple: create one-of-a-kind custom
motorcycles, with functional riding gear to follow.
For their first bike build, the guys wanted to push the envelope of
Western Canadian motorcycle culture. “Seventies Japanese bikes are a
dime-a-dozen in farmers’ fields across BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan,”
says Brandt.
“British bikes are much tougher to come by, so they’re more expensive
and less likely to be tinkered with. The ones you do see are usually
restored to their original state.”
There’s a certain fear and responsibility that comes with
re-imagining the rare, but following the status quo doesn’t inspire
progression. Federal have diverted from the norm, and this build merits a
close examination.
‘The Ace’ is a 1974 Commando that was discovered on a farm in Rimbey,
Alberta. It ran—barely—but had a ton of attitude, and that was enough.
“We wanted to create a surf style tracker that you could ride around the
city, or cruise through the Rockies all the way to the coast.”
Federal decided to maintain the soul of the bike, but made major
design changes to the shape and feel. “We hope that the original
employees at Norton would be fighting each other to take it for a spin
if it rolled onto the factory floor.”
Federal took Norton right down to the frame. Commandos have a thick
center tube that slants downward towards the tail of the bike, making it
very difficult to create a line from headlight to taillight. So Federal
cut the rear section of the tube out and reshaped the frame to have one
clean line.
“It took some engineering, but we’ve welded and formed the frame to be
just as strong as the original. After that we shortened the frame by 18
inches and shaped a new rear hoop. This was the beginning of the tracker
shape we were going after.”
The wheels went back on, to gauge how beefy the tires could be. The
winners were 19” Coker Diamond Treads that fit the era of the bike. Then
every piece of excess metal was removed from the frame—including the
tabs, the oil tank mounts, the fender mounts, the center stand, and the
rear foot peg mounts. Anything that didn’t make the bike run.
“We cut nearly 30 pounds of weight. Before sending the frame to
powder coating, we mounted brackets for a ’71 Norton oil tank, formed
the seat pan, and machined new brackets for the fenders, lights,
exhaust, and ignition.”
Salvageable parts were sanded and polished in-house, with replacement
items sourced through local guru John Oland. “This build would not have
been possible without John’s willingness to share his knowledge of
vintage motorcycles. The guy is a legend,” says Brandt.
The engine itself is all original, aside from electronic ignition.
Federal pulled it apart and inspected, cleaned and polished everything.
They got the valves dialed in, bored the pistons, and replaced the
piston rings. “Well worth it, considering it’s got even more compression
than an industrial trash compactor!”
The fenders are mid-50s Triumph items rescued from a junk pile,
reshaped and finished in matte black. For the exhaust pipework, Federal
purchased ’71 Norton Commando SS pipes—and chopped about a foot off
them, before attaching reverse megaphone mufflers from Australia’s
Modern Motorcycle Company.
Tiny ‘bullet’ lights handle the blinking and braking duties, with a
5¾-inch black headlight up front—substantially lowered to maintain the
lines of the bike. There’s a new wiring harness and an Antigravity
4-cell battery tucked under the seat. The bulky original instrumentation
is gone, replaced by a mini version of the Smiths speedometer that can
be seen on many vintage British bikes.
To keep the bars clean, Federal drilled them out and installed 12mm
push buttons for the signals and horn. “We then drilled a hole in the
headlight housing and installed an on/off switch, so that the 4-cell
battery had enough power to start the bike—as opposed to having the
headlight on when the ignition is running.”
All of this was brought together with a BSA A10/A65 Low handlebar,
sticking to the bike’s British roots. Other final touches included 1970s
Tommaselli Natural gum rubber grips, ordered direct from the factory in
Italy, and simple footpegs machined in-house.
Federal kept the original rear brake, and replaced the front with a
Tokico two-piston assembly and a Katana 750 rotor—machining a new
mounting bracket for the forks.
A custom two-tone Italian leather seat was sewn to perfection by
local upholster Tyler Wheeler, keeping the transition seam angled inline
with the frame piece that sits below it. The tank was sandblasted, the
dents fixed, and then repainted in off-white with an original gold vinyl
Norton logo. Last but not least, Federal sanded the crud off of the gas
cap and coated it flat black, to pop off the tank.
The result is simply stunning, and all the more remarkable for being a
new shop’s first build. The next bikes in the queue are a 1974 Honda
CB360 and a 1971 BMW R75. We’ll be keeping an eye out for them.
If you’re within distance of Edmonton, Alberta, head over to the Iconoclast Koffiehuis for the Federal Moto launch party this Saturday. If that’s too far, the Federal Moto website and Facebook page are just a click away.
The post Norton 850 Commando by Federal Moto appeared first on Bike EXIF.
It’s a widely held opinion that contemporary motorcycle design isn’t
quite what it used to be. The sense of nostalgia that fuels the custom
scene is often associated with the belief that motorcycling’s golden age
preceded 1980. Bikes looked better, had more class and were built
simpler, devoid of modern amenities such as fuel injection and ABS
braking.
But owning a vintage motorcycle isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. By
modern standards, older bikes have poor brakes, soft suspension and
require more maintenance—and not everyone has the skill or patience to
address these issues.
Thankfully, there are some manufacturers who still produce beautiful
motorcycles—whether they are neo-classics, or modern designs that evoke
emotion. Even better, major brands have begun to recognize the custom
scene as a legitimate market, and have started supporting it.
So here are five modern motorcycles that we love. These are bikes
that look great right off the showroom floor, but also have tons of
potential as bases for custom projects. Let us know if we’ve piqued your
interest with our selection. Which one of these lookers would you choose?
BMW R nineT BMW put smiles on the faces of many
motorcyclists when they launched the R nineT. A nod to the venerable
90-year-old boxer, it also signaled BMW’s recognition of the burgeoning
custom scene. Ola Stenegärd and his team even involved four of the
world’s foremost builders in the launch, giving each an R nineT to
customize as they saw fit. The bike itself encourages personalization:
the rear part of the subframe is removable to allow for multiple seat
configurations, and BMW have already released an array of bolt-on parts.
At a glance: $14,900, 110hp, 119Nm, 489lbs (curb weight) What we’d do: Fiddle with the subframe until we’ve figured out what we like most. Or we’d send it to: Roland Sands, with a note attached reading, “The Concept 90 (below) was great—how about a repeat performance?”
Ducati Monster 1200S Miguel Angel Galluzzi’s
original Monster design remains iconic to this day. And, while it’s
evolved over the last eleven years to adopt more radical and aggressive
styling, its original DNA is still present in the current Monster model
line. The sport-bike tail, hunched tank and trellis frame are all there
to remind us of its parts bin origins. At the top of the current range
is the Monster 1200S, boosted to a whopping 145hp by Ducati’s
Performance Package, and equipped with Brembo brakes, Öhlins suspension
and a discreet styling touches to set it apart from the regular Monster
1200.
At a glance: $15,995, 145hp, 124.5Nm, 461lb (curb weight) What we’d do: Nothing more than a few trick bits from Rizoma to tidy it up. Or we’d send it to: Radical Ducati, if they were still around, given their record with custom Monsters like the one below.
Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Outside Europe, Moto Guzzi’s V7
seems to fly under the radar. But we think it’s a great bike (our editor
rides one and digs it). It’s a sweet-handling motorcycle with retro
styling that has almost single-handedly revitalized the fortunes of the
Moto Guzzi brand. The V7 Stone is the cheapest and most understated of
the range; available in only plain black or white, with no graphics
other than Guzzi logos, it’s the polar opposite of the higher-end,
chrome-tanked V7 Racer. Which is exactly why we love it. It’s the
perfect blank canvas for customization, while still being incredibly
classy in stock trim.
At a glance: $8,490, 50hp, 58Nm, 395lbs (curb weight) What we’d do: In Europe, we’d turn it into a subtle street scrambler, Cafe Racer Dreams style (below), or send it to Officine Rossopuro. In the USA, we’d entrust the job to Revival Cycles.
Triumph Scrambler It would be silly of us not to
include one of Triumph’s ubiquitous modern classics in this line-up.
Alongside the Bonneville and Thruxton, the Scrambler has enjoyed
consistent popularity since it launched, thanks to its desert sled
styling and pseudo-McQueen heritage. Owners looking for off-the-shelf
parts to personalize their Hinckley Triumphs can choose from Triumph’s
own extensive aftermarket catalogue, or from a growing list of third
party Triumph specialists. Many Scrambler owners are just happy to stick
on some knobbly tires and call it a day, though.
At a glance: $9,099, 59hp, 68Nm, 472lbs (curb weight) What we’d do: Raid the Dime City Cycles or British Customs online stores. Or we’d send it to: Mule Motorcycles for a retro custom job like the ‘Catalina‘ (below).
Yamaha SR400 As much as we love its unpretentious ’70s
styling, the SR400 is a bike we’d buy just to tear into. Sure, it’s a
35-year-old cult classic (that still has a kick starter), but it’s just
begging to be personalized. Yamaha themselves pitch it as a great base
for custom projects—including it in their awesome Yard Built program. The fact that it’s affordable and has a simple, air-cooled, single cylinder motor doesn’t hurt either.
At a glance: $5,900, 23hp, 27.4Nm, 384lb (curb weight) What we’d do: Grab some Wrenchmonkees parts from the German KEDO store to build our own Gibbonslap (below). Or we’d send it to: Japanese master Go Takamine for a dash of Brat Style.
Motorcycle specs are manufacturers’ figures. Last week’s Top 5 covered the best Concept Motorcycles.
First appeared on www.bikeexif.com
