Some builders pick a formula and repeat it. Others reinvent the wheel every time and stick to one-offs. Auto Fabrica‘s methodology lands somewhere in the middle, and it’s consistently produced spectacular results. The British shop will typically pick a readily available donor bike, completely transform it, and then produce a few variations on the design,…
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Put together a top ten list of the world’s best custom bike builders, and Auto Fabrica would have to be in there. The London-based shop has a distinctive signature style, with coachbuilt bodywork draped over minimal mechanicals. Until now, Auto Fabrica have only worked on classic machines. But they’ve attracted the attention of the manufacturers,…
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In the custom world, stagnation is terminal. Which is why top outfits like Auto Fabrica are constantly evolving. And their new Yamaha SR500 ‘Type 7’ builds testify to this. There’s a clear progression from their first Type 7 to the exquisite Type 7X. Now they’ve taken another step forward, by taking a small step back.
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Fulfilling a childhood dream as a grown-up is a rare treat. But doing it while you’re still a kid is priceless. That’s what inspired brothers Bujar and Gaz Muharremi, of English workshop Auto Fabrica, to tackle their first pint-sized build. This is the Type 0.1—a stunning mini bike that turns a young lad’s fantasy into…
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The Yamaha SR series is the two-wheeled equivalent of modeling clay. For decades, bike builders have been pushing and pulling the SR…
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You can judge a builder’s skills by the raw materials they work with. After all, it’s not too hard to make a…
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Not long ago, you couldn’t open your browser without stumbling across another Honda CB custom. But these days, that honor belongs to…
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When faced with a Honda CX500 in the shop, the first thing most builders do is ‘fix’ the frame. It looks awkward…
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A radical Le Mans from Auto Fabrica, the most stylish Yamaha XT660r we’ve ever seen, and an Indian Scout ready to race…
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By the late 1980s, the simple, classic styling of most BMW airheads had turned gawky. The R80 RT was especially afflicted: its…
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In Japan, there is a design theory called Kanso (簡素)—meaning simplicity, or the elimination of clutter. And every time I see an…
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At a glance, Yamaha’s re-issued SR400 is virtually indistinguishable from its vintage counterparts. Which is probably why it’s so popular. It has…
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