A CB750 plastered with gas station signs, a Yamaha RD350 turned into an oddball dual-sport weapon, and a show-winning Norton Atlas bobber. Matt Neundorf presents the most interesting customs breaking cover over the past week.
Honda CB750 Cafe by Vibrazioni Art Design The Daft Punk-esque duo from Vibrazioni Art Design have a penchant for welder’s masks—and turning nostalgic gas station paraphernalia into rolling works of art. Pennzoil takes center stage on this industrial CB750 build, which is devoid of anything befitting a garage queen.
It’s dirty, it’s raw, and it’s finished with a heavy dose of patina. This OG superbike looks like it could teach a new CBR a thing or two around the bends at San Marino. [More]
Ducati W101 Café Racer by Affetto Ducati The 750 Sport was an accessible introduction to the world of Ducati performance. This café racer version from the Netherlands Ducati specialist serves as a glorious reminder of the visceral reaction that simplicity can elicit.
The wheels were swapped from 16- to 17-inch units to improve handling and looks. The brakes were upgraded to 996 spec, and from there—in true café tradition—everything unnecessary was eliminated. There are lots of handmade touches that set this bike apart, but the cheeky exhaust is what holds my gaze every time I see it. Bellissima! [More]
#88 Dual Racer Yamaha XV by Magnum Opus The original intent behind the cafe racer movement was to add speed by shedding weight. When the build team at Magnum Opus completed their surgery on this Virago, some fifty to sixty pounds of OEM excess had been lopped off.
Hand built parts like the rear subframe, the new headlight and those exquisite down-shooting pipes help with the lightness as well as the looks. Other subtle touches involved swapping the tank for a CB750 unit, and fitting a tucked-and-rolled Motolanna seat to the modified frame—creating a stance and aesthetic that can’t be ignored. The dual sport rubber is a nice touch, too. [More]
The Villain by Drifter Bikes A popular move for many builders is to cut the rear frame to shed weight, clean up the lines and facilitate an overall aesthetic. But on this 1973 Bonneville, dubbed The Villain, Paul from the Australian builder Drifter Bikes decided to go the opposite way—leaving the rear frame intact and customizing everything else to fit.
He’s repositioned the tank to create balance, and fabricated a custom, minimalist seat to fit the stock frame. But what sets this package off completely are those upswept flowing pipes that match the lines of the subframe support perfectly. [More]
Yamaha RD350 by Threepence Moto This oddball Yamaha RD350 was crafted by Colorado-based Wesley Case to survive a run on the Trans-America Trail. The long-travel suspension is a must for tackling the gravel roads from Tennessee to Oregon, and a custom three-chamber gas tank keeps the two-stroke chugging during long days.
After the completion of the planned journey next year, Wes will be raffling off this mechanized jackrabbit: all proceeds will go to the Childhood Leukemia Foundation, in honor of a friend lost to the disease. [More]
Norton Atlas by Matt Machine If you were lucky enough to attend this year’s Born Free show, this custom Norton Atlas may look a touch familiar: it took home the trophy for Best British Build at the show.
It’s easy to see why. The crisp and clean lines of Matt Darwon’s Norton are nothing short of captivating. Combining elements from the bobber and flat-track styles, this heavily modified predecessor to the Commando looks like an absolute riot to ride. From the springer front end to the rigid rear set-up, it’s the absence of excess—the purposeful voids—that truly set this build off. [More]