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.
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