They say that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, but no one bothered telling Earth Motorcycles that. The Slovakian custom shop has just built an elegant and somewhat alluring café racer out of the most unlikely donor; a Yamaha Virago. It’s not that Yamaha Virago café racers are uncommon—they’re just…
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With its inch-perfect frame, OEM-style bodywork, and period-correct graphics, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this Yamaha for a forgotten 90s factory prototype. But what it really is, is a completely bespoke machine with a Yamaha XS400 engine, a whole lot of innovative engineering, and a patented front suspension system. Oh, and it was built by…
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Despite the company’s name, there’s nothing misshapen about Crooked Motorcycles‘ latest custom bike. This svelte Yamaha XS650 from the German shop is straight as an arrow; a riff on classic café racer style, infused with a little bit of Crooked’s personality. It’s no accident then, that the shop has nicknamed the XS650 ‘Silver Arrow.’ “Right…
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Simone Conti has what many custom motorcycles builders strive for—an instantly recognizable style. Working under the banner of Simone Conti Motorcycles, the Italian craftsman creates machines that look fast, aggressive and futuristic, like two-wheeled mechanical aliens. His style is so distinctive, that when he told his friends he was about to customize a Yamaha XS650,…
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Any conversation about the good old days of motorcycling will eventually include the words “they don’t build ’em like they used to.”…
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Made in Taiwan and only sold locally, the Yamaha SR150 was a hit among commuters and delivery riders. But it was a…
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Telescopic forks have become the de facto solution for motorcycle front suspension, but most major manufacturers have dabbled in alternative designs at…
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We kick this week’s edition of Speed Read off with further proof that Yamaha SRs make great café racers. We also cover…
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When we think of Motocrew, we think of sleek, muscular customs with a very modern edge. But sometimes it’s good to try…
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We’ve got them in all shapes and sizes this week—from a Yamaha SR500 that’s gone electric, to a BMW R nineT built…
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The big Seca is one of those bikes that should have been a hit, but missed the mark with buyers. After just…
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Like many shops, Purpose Built Moto does a lot to put food on the table. On top of their regular custom bike…
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