Unless you start with a pile of tubing, all-new parts and a beautiful mind, your average garage-built motorcycle comes together one piece at a time—and it’s not all glamorous. We’re zeroing in on our vision of a functional hoonmobile, but our Honda CB550F Tracker has some loose ends to address in form and function before…
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Whether it’s from decades of neglect or a dutiful service interval of soaking up potholes, the day will come when your suspension pukes its guts out. Rubber seals have a finite lifespan, fluids break down over time and the chrome on your fork tubes and shock shafts will eventually fail and corrode. The telltale sight…
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I’ll be honest, rebuilding the wheels on our 1975 Honda CB550F was a job I was hoping to put off a lot longer. The process of lacing and truing wheels is tedious, and there are plenty of opportunities to scratch a fresh rim when you pull the tire irons out. Considering a shoestring budget is…
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Any clown with an adjustable wrench can take a bike apart (the term basketcase exists for a reason), and if you go in without a plan, that’s exactly how the next owner will take delivery of your abandoned dream—in boxes. But you do have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, and for…
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They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and we’ve certainly dragged our fair share of trashed motorcycles home. Wherever we…
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Like most things in life, building a custom motorcycle is certainly a process. It starts with a vision, and (hopefully) ends with…
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Deus ex Machina returns to their roots with a no-nonsense Kawasaki W650. We also profile a Honda CB550 café racer, a Kawasaki…
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It’s been a while since any manufacturer offered a mass-produced tiny four-cylinder sport bike. This week Kawasaki finally launched the new highly-anticipated…
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Building your own custom motorcycle is an incredibly rewarding experience… until it isn’t anymore. The owner of this 1976 Honda CB550F can…
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Even if you don’t know Chiel Nipius’ name, you’ve probably seen his work. He was part of the team at Ironwood Custom…
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This week we’ve got a pair of very different classic Hondas: a CB550 rebuilt in lockdown, and a feisty lil’ NSR50 pocket…
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Once in a while, a custom motorcycle builder will create a machine that attracts attention like nothing else in their portfolio. For…
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