Bike EXIF | BMW R80
The world's most exciting custom motorcycles, from cafe racers to bobbers to scramblers and street trackers.| Bike EXIF
The world's most exciting custom motorcycles, from cafe racers to bobbers to scramblers and street trackers.| Bike EXIF
The world's most exciting custom motorcycles, from cafe racers to bobbers to scramblers and street trackers.| Bike EXIF
Marcus Walz cut his teeth in the chopper scene, but these days his name is synonymous with high-class BMW boxer customs. Around 80 percent of the bikes leaving his WalzWerk Motorcycles workshop are classic R-series builds—many of them part of the made-to-order Schizzo series.WalzWerk’s latest build ...| BikeEXIF
There’s a Spanish saying: ‘Nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena.’ It loosely translates as 'It’s never too late if the outcome is good,’ and it’s the perfect way to sum up the story of this custom Yamaha XJ650.The bike belongs to 47-year-old José Montes, and it’s his first custom motorcycle build. “I...| BikeEXIF
For many people, watches, like wallets and keys, are items that you can’t leave the house without. Not just a way to tell the time, watches have become technological hubs linking the wearer with their technology and have become a hub of their own biology. For motorcycle riders, watches present ...| BikeEXIF
Part of what we do around here is celebrate motorcycles as canvases for art. But they're also, at their core, modes of transport. This tasteful Kymco KTR street tracker from 2LOUD Custom is a bit of both.The Taiwanese workshop customized the KTR for a friend of its founder, Ma 'Max' Yicheng. “He had...| BikeEXIF
Progressive has this ad out right now with the tagline ‘Cars lie to us,’ with the following assertion that motorcycles tell the truth. The whole thing reeks of polished ad agency verbiage, but we all get the message that you experience a strip of pavement more for what it is on a motorcycle. There a...| BikeEXIF
Triumph's international bike build-off produces a worthy winner, Championship Cycles delivers a jaw-dropping Ducati 748, and KTM updates the 690 Enduro R and 690 Supermoto R. Here's what you missed this week. Triumph Speed Twin 1200 by Shibuya Garage This stunning Triumph Speed Tw...| BikeEXIF
Different strokes for different folks, the saying goes, but if you ask any of us at the Bike EXIF HQ, the best riding gear is the stuff that doesn’t immediately look like riding gear. Of course, it has to be comfortable and safe and all that, but we’re just not the type of guys to hop off at the l...| BikeEXIF
The earliest off-road motorcycles were a far cry from the laser-focused machines that dominate dirt tracks today. Most were standard road bikes adapted for off-road use, which created a niche for specialist workshops like Rickman, who stepped in with purpose-built competition machines. It wa...| BikeEXIF
When Shiro Nakajima isn't tinkering away in his workshop or storming the B-roads around the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains, you'll find him at the track. He's a regular face on Japan's classic racing scene, and is just as happy piloting race bikes as he is building them. Even when he...| BikeEXIF
It's undeniable that gas tanks, forks, and frames have the biggest aesthetic impact on a custom motorcycle. Take the Captain America bike from the movie Easy Rider, for instance. Its long raked front end, American flag gas tank and chrome-clad frame made it more than an iconic custom motorcycle; i...| BikeEXIF
Not too long ago, our good friend and ace photographer Kazuo Matsumoto introduced us to the work of Minoru Watanabe at Fatech in Tokyo, Japan. Watanabe-san clearly never takes a day off, because he's already blessed us with another glamorous vintage Harley Shovelhead. This one's dripping with just a...| BikeEXIF
Ten Bolts. Ten Custom Builders. One Winner. You Decide. Such was the headline traversing around the web when Star Motorcycles gave calls to some of the top builders in the country to compete in a “customize it as you see fit” build contest based on a freshly minted, stock 2014 Yamaha Bolt. Big OEM...| BikeEXIF
It's been a busy news week in the motorcycle industry. Honda has just teased their neo-retro CB1000F concept again, Buell is shaking down their Super Cruiser, and Triumph has released a smaller Thruxton for the Indian market. If you're in the market for a special bike, Charles Leclerc's cust...| BikeEXIF
South Africa boasts the current UFC middleweight champion and the world’s top-ranked rugby team—neither of which we’d want to go toe-to-toe with. There must be something in the water, because this Harley Shovelhead from Cape Town's Stoos Customs bristles with the same ferocity. Base...| BikeEXIF
Although the vintage BMW R-series shows no signs of losing its appeal any time soon, owning an older motorcycle comes with challenges. The venerable boxer motor is tough, but it’s not getting any younger—so it demands more pampering than a modern machine. But what if you wanted the ...| BikeEXIF
In a world where motorcycles are growing ever more complex, the Kawasaki W800 endures as a bastion of mechanical elegance. It offers little in the way of technical frou-frou, beyond its fuel injection and ABS-equipped disc brakes. And while it hails from Japan, its styling is a stunningly faithful t...| BikeEXIF
Björn Gericke is, by his own admission, “not a bike builder.” But he has all the makings of one.As the son of Hein Gericke, founder of the eponymous motorcycle gear brand, Björn has been deeply embedded in motorcycle culture for most of his life. And as the owner of the technical apparel label g-lab...| BikeEXIF
Sleeping bags aren't always practical for motorcycle camping. Thankfully, these down quilts, flame-proof blankets and base layers provide great…| Bike EXIF
Half a century old, and looking better than ever. This Shovelhead from one of Japan's longest-running custom shops is dripping with amazing details.| Bike EXIF
Richard Pollock has been building motorcycles since before Bike EXIF existed. With such a tenure comes a measure of consistency; the man behind the Mule Motorcycles moniker never disappoints. Although Mule is best known for his impeccable Harley flat trackers, he does just as well with other marques too. His latest project is a 2005 KTM 525 EXC with an erratic backstory and one heck of an attitude. “It started out as a 'well used' trail bike that was street plated,” Mule explains. “I bo...| Bike EXIF
We've seen our fair share of custom bikes that could be classified as works in progress. Some have been cobbled together crudely while waiting patiently for parts to arrive. Others look complete, until you scrutinize them and discover a lack of wiring—or the infamous 'Bluetooth brakes.' Richard 'Mule' Pollock operates on another level. This pristine Harley Sportster street tracker is ready to shine at a show or tear up the streets. But Mule still has a laundry list of mods that he plans to ...| Bike EXIF
It used to be that if you wanted a retro-styled helmet to match your retro-styled motorcycle, your choices were a handful of open face lids from a small pool of manufacturers. But given the proliferation of modern classics in recent years, having feature-rich retro full face helmets has become de rigueur among helmet brands. Today, we're sampling full face helmets with vintage style from three companies—one of which usually focuses on more modern gear, and two of which focus solely on class...| Bike EXIF
For many of us, motorcycle maintenance is a Zen art. It brings us into a meditative state, one often influenced by the smell of gasoline and the occasional drinking with a comrade. It’s a time for reflection and bench racing. A time to ruminate about the philosophy of speed. But even with all the enjoyment they can bring, motorcycles can be temperamental bastards. Yes, I said it. If you have a fascination with vintage, you know it can sometimes take on a mind of its own and have a power tha...| Bike EXIF
In July, these five custom motorcycles rose above the noise to become the most viewed builds on Bike EXIF. From radical engineering to timeless style, these machines didn’t just turn heads and drop jaws—they sent our servers into overdrive. They also show an encouraging trend in the custom scene: whether you’re building a classic café racer or a modern streetfighter, form and function can co-exist. #5: Yamaha MT-09 by Purpose Built Moto Torquey, lively, and versatile, Yamaha’s MT-09 ...| Bike EXIF
Priced at just $149.99, the SMK Retro full-face is a remarkable offering in the throwback helmet segment for café racers and scramblers.| Bike EXIF
STG Tracker is one of the most versatile custom workshops in operation today. The Argentine duo of Marcelo Obarrio and Germán Karp works on myriad makes and models, constantly flitting between different build styles. So if you give them carte blanche on a project, you can bet they'll deliver something highly imaginative—like a Royal Enfield bobber with a bespoke frame and a dazzling livery. The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is a cracking donor bike for a custom build. It's not crazy expens...| Bike EXIF
The new(ish) Royal Enfield Bear 650 is handsome enough as-is, but that didn't stop Spain's Fuel Motorcycles from turning it into a rally-inspired desert shredder. We take a closer look at it, along with the BMW Concept RR superbike and an Akira-inspired electric motorcycle. Royal Enfield Bear 650 by Fuel Motorcycles The Royal Enfield Bear 650 has been a home run for the Indian company. A scrambler-ized version of their popular Interceptor 650, it scores high on both specs and style, with a de...| Bike EXIF
The world's most exciting custom motorcycles.| Bike EXIF
In Taiwan, small bikes rule the roost. The country is bursting with sub-200 cc commuter motorcycles, many of which are produced locally. They're easy to handle in tight traffic, robust, and easy to maintain—and since they're not subject to the same taxes as bigger bikes, they're more affordable too. The utilitarian nature of these plucky single-cylinder machines means that, although they're visually bland, they're also very simple. And that makes them ripe for customization. The Taiwanese w...| Bike EXIF
Some motorcycle manufacturers have dipped their toes in the custom scene, but few have dived in head first like Royal Enfield. The Indian marque has made motorcycle customization a core component of its marketing strategy. That’s a bone-dry way of saying they sponsor events, fund custom builds all over the world, and then tell people about them. I’ve been watching Royal Enfield's Custom and Motorsport department grow for the past few years and wanted a piece of the action. My magazine, Si...| Bike EXIF
Taiwan’s blossoming custom motorcycle scene regularly introduces us to domestic-market bikes that would be considered obscure almost anywhere else. The Kymco KTR 150 is a firm favorite among local workshops, as are the humble commuter machines from Hartford. Another nimble runabout has just emerged from under the radar: the Suzuki BS125. Manufactured in Taiwan during the 1980s and sold exclusively on the local market, the Suzuki BS125 was a single-cylinder, two-stroke motorcycle that quickl...| Bike EXIF
In Egyptian mythology, Bennu is an ancient deity associated with creation and rebirth. Depicted as a bird, it is believed that he may have been the original inspiration for the legend of the phoenix—which is exactly why the owner of this enchanting 1978 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead named it after him. Even though the donor bike was almost a half-century old, this story of rebirth has less to do with the bike's restoration, and more to do with the man behind it. It comes from Hideki Hoshikawa,...| Bike EXIF
The Japanese custom scene has its leading lights; superstar builders with résumés that include coveted show trophies and high-profile OEM collaborations. But there are also highly skilled craftsmen who manage to fly under the radar—like the builder of this captivating Harley Electra Glide bobber, Shintaro Kido. Kido-san runs his one-man shop, Kid Custom Factory, out of Fukuoka—a port city situated on the northern shore of Kyushu Island. He started his career at a factory that built form...| Bike EXIF
Our weekly offering of custom motorcycle news features three modern classics from different parts of the world. Japan's Heiwa MC delivers a handsome Triumph Bonneville bobber, Ireland's Medaza Cycles customizes the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650, and Germany's Woidwerk serves up a pair of modern BMW boxer customs. Triumph Bonneville T100 by Heiwa Motorcycle Kengo Kimura never misses. The founder of Japan's Heiwa MC is a regular fixture on Bike EXIF, consistently impressing with the elegant custom ...| Bike EXIF
You might not know Sam Clercx's name, but you've seen his work. He launched his career at the tender age of 15 as an intern at Ironwood Motorcycles, under the guidance of Arjan van den Boom. He's had a hand in many of the amazing machines that have graced our pages—and he's learned a thing or two, judging by this beautifully executed BMW boxer bobber. “I was there with Arjan when he built the Mutant, and most of the other BMWs that put Ironwood on the map,” Sam tells us. “It was an ex...| Bike EXIF
In Europe, the Sultans of Sprint competition produces some of the wackiest drag bikes, year on year. It's written in the rules: contestants vie for gold over an eighth-mile track, but points are also awarded for imagination and creativity. It means we end up with some very eccentric motorcycles, like this BMW-powered race bike. 'Achilles' is entered into the 'Factory' class at Sultans of Sprint, and was built as a side project by an engineer and a designer who both work on the car side of BMW...| Bike EXIF
The moment we saw this outrageous custom BMW R 1300 R, we thought of Philip Ludwig. A veteran of the Sultans of Sprint series and the man behind Kraftstoffschmiede, he’s made a name for himself building wild, boxer-powered BMWs—like his 2019 stunner, Achilles. Our suspicions were right. Philipp has been with BMW for years, working in both the automotive and motorcycle divisions, and is currently part of Motorrad’s R&D team. This R 1300 R is his latest creation—built inside BMW’s pro...| Bike EXIF
The Royal Enfield FT450 slides onto our screens in style this week, followed by a spicy BMW K100RS scrambler from Australia. Lastly, the special edition Vespa Officina 8 offers up oodles of Italian flavor. Royal Enfield FT450 Hosted by professional flat track racer Gary Birtwistle at his UK-based training facility, Dirt Craft, the Royal Enfield Slide School is a way for riders to level up their skills and boost their confidence. No prior flat track experience is necessary, so it doesn’t mat...| Bike EXIF
Over the past fifteen years, Martin Becker of MB Cycles has carved out a reputation as one of the best custom Harley builders in Germany. He’s a regular at shows and in magazines such as Custombike, but you don’t need to be a V-twin enthusiast to spot that his work is something special. A few months ago, we were entranced by Martin’s S&S-powered ‘Dr Skin’ bobber. We’re now drooling over this follow-up build called ‘Bonneville GS.’ And just to clear up any confusion, the name i...| Bike EXIF
Thunderous American V-twins and sportbike handling don’t usually go hand-in-hand, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying over the years. Andrew Marsden from Bristol, England is one of those people. He dreamed of riding a V-twin café racer that handled like a race bike and looked incredible—so he built one around a stonking S&S Cycle power train. “I started thinking about building this bike in 2008 after I finished 17 years of racing on short circuits and the Isle of Man,” says ...| Bike EXIF
There’s a lot to like about the Royal Enfield Continental GT. The styling is ace, it’s a doddle to ride, and running costs are minimal. It’s also a bargain—with extremely low pricing in most markets. If the Continental GT has any kind of downside, it’s engine power. The parallel twin is smooth and easy to manage, but it’s also a little low on output—sending just 48 hp to the crank. That’s enough for some owners, but there are others who would love more oomph. The French worksh...| Bike EXIF
Unless your internet's been down for the past year, you probably know about the phenomenon that is bagger racing. MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers is a six-race series for big race-prepped American V-twins, complete with fairings and panniers. It sounds ridiculous, but it's produced some gnarly racing—and some pretty wild machines. Roland Sands Design are trackside regulars. They're fielding two Indian Challengers this season, piloted by Frankie Garcia (#14) and Bobby Fong (#50). We're tak...| Bike EXIF
Our friends at ICON Motosports in Portland have a unique way of promoting their motorcycle gear. They're known for producing off-the-wall videos filled with tire smoke and wheelies, and for building bonkers custom bikes that complement the aggressive styling of their goods. 'Homemade Sin' is their latest masterpiece; an S&S Cycle-powered Dyna, with Honda bodywork and a bad attitude. “As ugly as Homemade Sin and twice as fast, she, like most ICON builds, is an acquired taste,” quips ICON's...| Bike EXIF
Harley-Davidson has discontinued the Evolution Sportster, but it's going to be a very long time before the venerable V-twin fades into the rearview. Secondhand Sportsters are easy enough to find, work on, source parts for, and modify in every way imaginable. That's why the Sporty has been a darling of the custom scene for as far back as we can remember, and why it'll surely maintain that status far into the future. David Zemla is not only a big fan of the Harley-Davidson Sportster, but he kno...| Bike EXIF
There are literally dozens of companies making tuning parts for Harley-Davidson engines. But not many have the experience of S&S Cycle, the outfit set up in the 1950s by George Smith and Stanley Stankos. S&S are still at the forefront of the Harley tuner scene half a century on. And when they build a custom, they go balls-out. This Sportster, for example, has a 100 cubic inch motor, vestigial racing bodywork and a name to match: ‘Death Tracker.’ “This story begins with a dilapidated 199...| Bike EXIF
There's not much reality in reality TV these days. But there are still shows out there that are more interested in their source material than they are in hype. The German program, Handwerkskunst!, is a prime example. Handwerkskunst! (which translates to 'craftsmanship') is dedicated to craftspeople of varying vocations and backgrounds. Each episode focuses on an object, whether it be a cabinet or a carnival float, and the process of building it from beginning to end. There's no fancy title se...| Bike EXIF
Ask Indian Motorcycle's design director, Ola Stenegärd, which part of the new Indian Scout he's most proud of, and he'll most likely point to its tubular steel frame. So imagine his delight when Indian gave Ronna Norén at Unique Custom Cycles a brand new Indian Scout—and the first thing he changed was the frame. That's not sarcasm, by the way; Ola is genuinely happy that Ronna took an angle grinder to the Scout. For Ola and the entire team at Indian, the potential for customization was ba...| Bike EXIF
Based in Hangzhou, China, the mononymous RoninSu doesn't have a bona fide workshop. But what he does have, is a wild imagination, a handful of handy skills, and an undying devotion to choppers. Those qualities have culminated in this nutty Honda Cub chopper. Built by RoninSu over six months, the stretched Honda underbone has more chopper swagger than some bikes twice its size. As far as RoninSu is concerned, the key to building a radical chopper is getting the ingredients right. “In my opin...| Bike EXIF
To say that Winston Yeh likes the color black would be a gross understatement. The man behind Taiwan's Rough Crafts has a sense of style that would make Johnny Cash's wardrobe blush, and seldom builds a custom motorcycle that isn't swathed in various shades of black. We checked; a mere 10 percent of the Rough Crafts bikes featured on our pages buck this trend. So when Mr. Yeh does deviate from this formula, it's usually for a good reason—like a special request from a client. “He wanted an...| Bike EXIF
An invitation to build a custom bike for the annual Born Free show in the US is a massive accolade. But the honor is typically reserved for custom builders that are well established within the scene—and that's where the Biltwell People's Champ competition comes in. “Biltwell’s goal for the annual, democratic People’s Champ bike building competition has been the same since day one,” says the company's founder, Bill Bryant. “Give grassroots builders an opportunity to showcase their ...| Bike EXIF
Fo Huang has an enviable skill—the ability to take whatever he imagines and turn it into a physical object. Working as NamiXII Design from Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan, he creates everything from furniture and sculptures to trophies. More importantly, he also builds radical 70s-style choppers. The last time we checked in with Fo, he wowed us with a wildly chopped Yamaha SR400. This time he's back with an equally bodacious chopper on a very different foundation—a 2022-model Harley-Dav...| Bike EXIF
Just over a decade ago, Bruno Forcella had the nutty idea to build a chopper with an electric drivetrain. The minimalistic hardtail evoked myriad reactions, ranging from intrigued to downright vexed. But Bruno was undeterred—so he's just built another electric chopper, with even more features than the last. Based in Switzerland, Bruno is an electrical engineer who builds bikes under the moniker Sine Cycles. Like most artisans, Bruno had a head full of ideas after building his first battery-...| Bike EXIF
Once I've completed the arduous task of poring over our statistics to compile our list of the year's most popular custom motorcycles, I have the even more onerous task of selecting my personal favorites. Given the caliber of the custom builders that grace these pages, it's a tall order. Each year's routine is the same, starting with a 'short' list of 30-plus bikes. Once that's trimmed down to a more palatable size, I eliminate any bikes that have already placed in our ranked Top 10, in the in...| Bike EXIF
Big bikes bookend this edition of Speed Read. We start with a 1,700 cc single-cylinder chopper and finish with a BMW R18 from CW Zon. Sitting in the middle are a classy Honda CB200 café racer from Indonesia and a K-Speed kit for the Honda Dax. 1,700 cc single-cylinder chopper by Al Hackel What do the Beechcraft Staggerwing and Ford Trimotor aircraft, M18 Hellcat and M4 Sherman tanks, and HUP Retriever helicopter all have in common? They’re all powered by the same 975-cubic-inch Wright R-97...| Bike EXIF
A lone Yamaha XS650 chopper stands against a sea of Harley-Davidsons this week. Following it are a Harley XR1000 flat tracker, a Sportster bobber from Gas&Retro, and a spicy Harley Electra Glide Big Twin chopper from the USA. Yamaha XS650 by Mike Dodd Two years ago, Mike Dodd of Auckland, New Zealand found himself in possession of a 1982 Yamaha XS650. But there was a small hiccup—it was a complete basket case. Seeing as the bike was already in a thousand pieces, Mike thought the skinny and ...| Bike EXIF
Earlier this month, the Pacifico Yokohama convention hall hosted the 32nd running of the mega-popular Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show. A whopping 24,000 visitors sashayed their way through the scores of custom bikes and cars during the one-day show, displaying a sort of organized hubbub typical of Japanese events. Among them were our friends Marc Holstein and Christine Gabler; a formidable German photography duo with a deep love for Japan and her culture. With an invite to the much quieter setup...| Bike EXIF
Cries of heartbreak echoed across the internet when Harley-Davidson discontinued the revered Dyna. But it's easy to forget that the Dyna's inception caused an outcry of its own. That's because it replaced what many consider one of The Motor Co.'s most iconic motorcycles—the Harley-Davidson FXR. Introduced in 1982 as an answer to the sportier bikes coming out of Japan, the FXR quickly became known as a Harley that could carve corners. It was so popular, that Harley brought it back as a limit...| Bike EXIF
Taking on someone else’s motorcycle project is a gamble. Low prices can lull you into a false sense of security, especially when you’re motivated and capable—two qualities that Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles have in abundance. Polished, high-end custom motorcycles are Gas & Oil's usual fare, so this fantastically filthy Honda XL500 flat tracker is a little left field for them. It was originally delivered to their Prague workshop in numerous boxes, but because it was an XL500 and the pric...| Bike EXIF
Custom motorcycles based on the popular Ducati Scrambler, including the classic air-cooled 250, 350 and 450 bikes through to the latest 2019 Scrambler.| Bike EXIF
All the latest Ducati-based customs, cafe racers and scramblers, from the world's top motorcycle builders. Your inspiration starts here.| Bike EXIF
Royal Enfield set their sights on the small bike market this week with the new Meteor 350, while Voxan break records with their electric-powered Wattman. Plus Hookie Co. are back with a slick Triumph Bobber Black conversion, Nmoto have a new concept based on a BMW scooter, and a Triumph Trackmaster replica has just sold for new bike money. Triumph Bobber Black by Hookie Co. The German shop Hookie Co. have been pretty busy. Last week, we featured a Triumph T120 from them—now we're looking at...| Bike EXIF
The moto scene is sizzling this week, with Triumph launching its new Trident middleweight, news of a major custom exhibition in San Francisco, and Revival Cycles releasing a very sharp custom Husqvarna Svartpilen 401. And Germany's Hookie Co have just shown how to tweak the Bonneville T100 without breaking the bank. The new Triumph Trident ‘660’ is obviously the numéro du jour. First we had the Aprilia RS660 parallel twin, and now we have the new Triumph Trident, a triple with virtually ...| Bike EXIF
We kick off our first Speed Read of the year with a Ducati Scrambler kit from Hookie Co. with a strong 90s vibe. Then we look at a strikingly beautiful tribute to Arturo Magni, a Suzuki DR600 cafe racer from France, and the adorable 1940s Doodle Bug scooter. Ducati Scrambler 'Scorpion' by Hookie Co. One major trend that emerged in 2020 was a focus on plug-and-play custom bike kits, with companies like Hookie Co. leading the charge. They've stacked their catalog with a number of bolt-on bits, ...| Bike EXIF
Good news for muscle bike fans: there’s a new Suzuki Hayabusa coming. We’ve also got details of a stunning new custom from Hookie Co. inspired by NASA, an electric off-roader with big-name backers, and a wild custom R nineT from a pair of Californian BMW dealerships. Trevor DTRe Stella There’s a still a niggling feeling of vaporware in the electric moto scene. It’s hard to keep up with all the launches and PR these days, or figure out who’s actually buying the damn things. And for e...| Bike EXIF
Ever wondered what it would be like to ride a motorcycle on the moon? Meet the Tardigrade—a conceptual electric lunar vehicle, named after the microscopic creatures that can survive in the vacuum of space. Brought to life by Hookie Co. around a Cake drivetrain, it was conceived in Moscow, built in Dresden, and will soon be on display at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. How did the stars align for this otherworldly project to begin? On November 1, 2020, Russian designer Andrew Fabishevski...| Bike EXIF
Any designer knows: sometimes you need to give your client what they need, rather than what they've asked for. When Yamaha asked Hookie Co. to customize an XSR700 for the Yard Built program, the brief was “Playful, sporty and classic.” Not feeling the throwback vibe, the Dresden-based team decided to build something modern—even slightly futuristic—instead. So they took inspiration from current motocross and flat track bikes to create the 'Grasshopper.' Two out of three ain't bad, righ...| Bike EXIF
Cake's electrical motorcycles look exactly like you'd expect high-end products from Swedish designers to look: slick, utilitarian and minimalist. So who better to customize one than Germany's Hookie Co.? The Dresden-based custom house is known for their sharp eye and fresh style—and they're familiar with Cake's drivetrains. Their otherworldly Tardigrade moon rover concept is Cake-powered, and they've produced a bolt-on kit for Cake's Ösa electric utility bike. Now they've taken the second ...| Bike EXIF
The compact and modular nature of electric drivetrains makes them well suited to small utility motorcycles. But surprisingly few manufacturers have jumped on this bandwagon. Two names spring to mind: UBCO in New Zealand, and the premium Swedish electric bike brand, Cake. Cake's delightfully quirky Ösa is a $9,500 electric utility bike that can be configured with a vast array of accessories, like luggage carriers, cargo racks and even a trailer. But despite the endless setup possibilities, th...| Bike EXIF
A new limited production BMW R NineT from Germany, a slammed Sportster built by two of Jakarta's top custom shops, and a slick new electric bike from the Swedish manufacturer CAKE. If we could put them all in our garage, we would. Custom Sportster 883 by Newline SC and Garasi 19 It takes a very special Sportster custom to wow us these days, but this machine from two Jakarta workshops did the trick. It’s called ‘The Parama,’ it’s based on a 2003 Sportster 883 Anniversary, and it’s a ...| Bike EXIF
We've got two very different track bikes on offer this week: a modern BMW endurance racer, and a Ducati 999 from XTR Pepo. Plus a XSR700 rally edition by Deus, sexy bolt-on upgrades for the R nineT from Hookie Co., and a simple but stylish short film from Age of Glory. BMW S1000RR by Crazy Garage Modern superbikes are technological marvels that would run rings around the racers of yesteryear. But visually, most leave us cold. Here's one solution: a 199 hp BMW S1000RR redressed as an 80s endur...| Bike EXIF
We interviewed the team behind the development of the BMW R nineT a few years ago. They were adamant about one thing: the base bike should be easy to adapt to a wide range of styles. Now the German shop Hookie Co. are driving that point home, with their second plug and play kit for the nineT. Hookie's first 'Moto-Kit' had a laid-back scrambler vibe, but this new design takes a different approach. Dubbed 'Cobra' and available as a limited made-to-order series, it transforms the nineT into a ha...| Bike EXIF
Flat track racing is still going strong in the USA and Europe, and we’re starting to see customizers building personal track bikes between client projects. This chunky Triumph T100R belongs to Hookie Co. founder Nico Mueller—and despite its age, it carries the same sharp aesthetic that the German shop has become known for. Nico originally found the 1967 T100R Tiger (also known as the Daytona) on eBay in the UK, after seeing a post on Sideburn Magazine's website. Some digging revealed that...| Bike EXIF
The custom motorcycle scene is firmly in its kit-built era. Business savvy workshops have realized that there's a lot of demand for parts that can transform a bike with minimal fuss. One-off specials will always rule the roost—but not everyone has the skill, time, or funds to build them. For some riders, it makes more sense to take one of the countless modern classics currently on the market, and personalize it with a smorgasbord of tailored parts. If that's you, the Triumph Scrambler 1200 ...| Bike EXIF
The Spanish workshop Tamarit Motorcycles has been in business for a decade, focusing almost exclusively on Triumph modern classics. So they know the Triumph Bonneville inside out—and they know how to transform it into just about anything. Tamarit Motorcycles has used this experience to build a stacked catalog of bolt-on Triumph parts and a handful of made-to-order customs. But what they relish most are the opportunities to build one-off specials, like this vivid Triumph Bonneville scrambler...| Bike EXIF
The value of an object isn't always measured in monetary terms, as Arnaud Cailly learned when his workshop was broken into—and his beloved Kawasaki KLX300 stolen. “That Kawa wasn’t worth much, but it meant a lot to me,” he recalls. “I kept it in good shape for the occasional ride with my dad.” Arnaud runs Le Cent Vingt Cinq out of Thoiry, a town just west of Versailles, France. He started the workshop during the COVID-19 pandemic, when France's lockdown prevented him from working ...| Bike EXIF
Ever heard the expression “A builder's house is never finished?” It counts for custom motorcycle builders, too. Even though customization is their bread and butter, many of them ride bikes that are stock—or just partially modified. That was the status of Nicko Eigert's 2012-model Moto Guzzi V7 up until recently. The founder of Indonesia's Smoked Garage bought the V7 about a year ago as his personal daily runner, but it soon became the shop's workhorse. And even though he had a million i...| Bike EXIF
Dive into Kawasaki's lore and you'll discover machines like the Kawasaki KZ750—a twin-cylinder beast that never quite reached the icon status of the manufacturer's four-cylinder Zeds. Go even deeper, and you'll find the mythical KZ750 LTD. It was common practice in the late 70s and early 80s for Japanese brands to release special versions of their bikes with cruiser underpinnings. And that's exactly what the Kawasaki KZ750 LTD was. Known as the Z750B in Europe, and sometimes referred to as ...| Bike EXIF
England's Pier City Cycles leads the charge this week, with a custom BMW R12 in a timeless roadster style. We also profile a Moto Guzzi V7 scrambler from Unikat Motorworks, a Suzuki DR-Z400 built to take on the Sahara, and a Harley-Davidson Sportster S from a Lithuanian parts manufacturer. BMW R12 by Pier City Cycles The English workshop Pier City Cycles made their bones customizing the BMW R nineT in myriad ways. So it was only a matter of time before they worked their magic on the updated B...| Bike EXIF
When this sleek Honda popped up on our email, it stopped us in our tracks. And then we got an extra surprise—it’s based on a police bike. We just had to find out more. We got talking to builder Irwann Cheng, who intrigued us with his tiny bōsōzoku-style custom a couple of years ago. And it turns out that the backstory on this machine is just as interesting as the cyberpunk-influenced bodywork. In the 80s and 90s, one of the most popular bikes used by police forces around the world was t...| Bike EXIF
The Honda CBX1000 is not only iconic—it’s massive. The six-cylinder, 24-valve behemoth was a beast in every sense of the word: an unapologetic sport bike that was blindingly quick for its time. It was also designed way before stubby tail sections were en vogue. Old CBXs look unbalanced by today's standards—but to purists, they hark back to a time where function trumped form. If that's your vibe, rejoice: this CBX1000 restomod from dB Customs still wears all of its original bodywork... a...| Bike EXIF
There’s never a quiet moment for Tom Gilroy and the team at Purpose Built Moto in Queensland, Australia. Tom started his career fixing up old bikes in a shed on the family farm; today he runs a bustling custom business with a prodigious build output, a store full of parts, and he’s even made a film on the side. He’s probably seen it all, but he still gets the occasional chance to try something new. Like the job he’s just finished on this slightly scary CBX1000. “We get a few project...| Bike EXIF
We love the big, bruising superbikes of the late 70s and early 80s. They were fast, brash and good-looking—and their riders often had more skidmarks than Lewis Hamilton’s driveway. So we always keep an eye out for good superbike restomods, and Arno Overweel of Rno Cycles has just delivered a cracker with this turbocharged Honda CBX. In continental Europe, Arno is a household name in the custom scene. His bikes are often extreme and impractical, but this one is different. The styling is su...| Bike EXIF
Despite the fact that motorcycles seem to keep getting bigger, the six-cylinder engine layout has never really caught on. Only a handful of bikes have employed it, and these days it's reserved for mammoth tourers. That gives the Honda CBX 1000 a touch of the mythical. Even though it was eventually outsold by the CB900F, the CBX 1000 was Honda's flagship sportbike at the time. These days, it's fast approaching cult status—which is why Dimitri at Lys Motorcycles picked one to customize. Based...| Bike EXIF
An email commissioning a new project is good news for any custom motorcycle workshop. But the crew at Moto Adonis in The Netherlands was particularly giddy when their latest project hit their inbox. The brief read like most others, save for one key detail—the client specifically requested a custom Honda CBX 1000. Like many of us, Moto Adonis co-owners Arthur Renkema and Job Leussink idolize the mighty CBX. “It's undoubtedly one of the most legendary machines ever built,” Job proclaims. ...| Bike EXIF
A year after he turned his custom motorcycle building hobby into a business, Dimitri at Lys Motorcycles figured it was time to level up his portfolio. So he set time aside to build a show bike—a rolling portfolio piece that he could take to events. Going for max. impact, he took a 1982 Honda CBX 1000 and cranked it up to eleven. It was a hit, and Dimitri was soon fielding the sort of requests that custom builders usually have mixed feelings about; “Make me something just like it, except f...| Bike EXIF
The Ducati Scrambler 1100 is not long for this world. Rather than update its aging engine (originally borrowed from the Monster 1100) to meet ever-stricter European emissions regulations, Ducati is dropping it from its portfolio altogether. The odds were stacked against the Ducati Scrambler 1100 from the get-go. It offers less power than most of its competitors for the same, or more, money. And the fact that it inherited the goofy 'Scrambler' moniker from the more established Ducati Scrambler...| Bike EXIF
Endurance racer style for the venerable Kawasaki Zephyr.| Bike EXIF
Chris Scholtka's modern take on the cafe racer genre is as sharp as it gets.| Bike EXIF
A crisp restyle, Gixxer suspension and a classic BMW M Sport paintjob. We're sold.| Bike EXIF
There’s a lot to be said for a good old-fashioned muscle bike.| Bike EXIF
The world's most exciting custom motorcycles, from cafe racers to bobbers to scramblers and street trackers.| Bike EXIF
A shining star from last month's Mooneyes festival in Japan.| Bike EXIF
Built with parts from a K1100, a K1200, and a Ducati Panigale.| Bike EXIF
The world's most exciting custom motorcycles, from cafe racers to bobbers to scramblers and street trackers.| Bike EXIF
Photo galleries and build stories showing the most exciting Triumph Bonneville customs, from cafe racers to bobbers to scramblers.| Bike EXIF
