Adapted from the new book The Build: How the Masters Design Custom Motorcycles by Robert Hoekman Jr., including interviews with some of the most notable builders in the USA. When we talk about how to buy a motorcycle, we really mean “how to find a donor bike.” It’s a nice term, “donor bike”—all full of…
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“Do you prefer the build or the ride?” It was a question for Brandon Mungai that I assumed might come with a shaky answer. Motorcycles have, in many ways, defined themselves as a quintessential part of the American Dream—alongside classic pickup trucks, Coca-Cola, and denim jeans.
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In the small Spanish town of Molins de Rei lives Pere Tarragó, a motorcycle builder of quite extraordinary skill. His bikes are completely unrideable—but that’s only because they’re 1:5 and 1:6 scale models. These motorcycle models are nothing like the Revell or Tamiya kits you played with back in the 70s. In photographs, Tarragó’s creations…
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BMW came out swinging when they released the R nineT. Even before the bike went on sale, it was farmed out to some of the world’s top custom builders: a clear indication of BMW’s new-found love for the custom scene. There’s a lot to love about the R nineT itself. It’s powered by the punchy…
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Untitled builds interesting and usable old school motorcycles in a small workshop under the railway arches in north London. And they’re doing…
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The fine art of the motorcycle movie has hit a speed hump in recent years. Raw and gritty paens to the alternative…
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A few days ago, motojournalist Jason Cormier published a hard-hitting critique of the current custom motorcycle scene. At 4,000 words it’s a…
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Joe Tessitore is a strange guy. Most bike builders hate working with motorcycle wiring, but not Joe. It’s his favorite part of…
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Moto-journalist Paul d’Orléans writes for the magazine Classic Bike Guide, and stirred up the hornets’ nest with this recent column. It’s a…
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There’s nothing quite like the smell of two-stroke oil. Or the sound of a swarm of two-strokes hurtling down the track at…
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In the early 1970s, two Japanese superbikes ruled the roost: the Honda CB750 and the Kawasaki Z1. The Z1 was originally going…
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Last week we showcased five modern motorcycles that hit the mark in terms of attitude and style. It was a mix of…
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It’s a widely held opinion that contemporary motorcycle design isn’t quite what it used to be. The sense of nostalgia that fuels…
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Car manufacturers occasionally dip a toe into the world of two wheels. It’s usually in the form of an expensive bicycle designed…
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It’s one thing to talk about the ‘enduring appeal’ of a motorcycle. It’s quite another for that appeal to translate into solid…
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