In the rarified world of artisan bike builders, Shiro Nakajima stands apart. His bikes are usually functional, and sometimes even practical: the kind of models a factory might conceivably build. Some are designed to win races, and others to tackle the occasional dirt road. And then there are the machines that distill the pleasure of…
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Most customers approach a bike builder with a firm idea of what they want, armed with fat binders of photos and sketches acting as inspiration. But the most interesting builds come from people like the owner of this old Beemer—who wheeled it into Federal Moto’s workshop and said “have at it.” And that’s quite the…
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We’ve found something for everyone this week in our travels around the web. We’ve got an XT600 from the Netherlands, a Honda 599 from Bulgaria, and a revitalized Vespa from Chicago. Plus a stunning BMW finished in Porsche’s classic Olive paint, from Roughchild of Los Angeles. Enjoy.
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There aren’t many new ways left to customize classic R-series BMWs, and that means it’s harder to make them stand out. You either need to build something wild or, like Roughchild Motorcycles of Los Angeles, keep it simple… and extremely tasteful. Founded by Robert Sabel, the Roughchild team works exclusively on BMWs—and has been doing…
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Any project worth doing has a few challenges along the way. This tidy BMW R75/5 started out as a true basket case,…
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Certain bikes tend to attract formulaic builds. And when it comes to customizing, BMW airheads in particular tread a well-worn path. But…
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Quality over quantity this week, with four rather than five new builds: two Beemers, and two Triumphs. All are surprisingly practical, finely…
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Yesterday it felt like the entire custom world was in Yokohama, Japan, for the famous Mooneyes show. Officially called the ‘Hot Rod…
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There are one hit wonders, and then there’s Dirk Oehlerking. The German custom builder can’t put a foot wrong, churning out hit…
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Today’s motorcycles are loaded with a level of tech that would have been incomprehensible thirty years ago. And it’s had a knock-on…
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There’s a trend that’s picked up speed amazingly fast this year: wood on motorcycles. It’s tricky to pull off, but when it’s…
Read more »We love seeing custom builders’ personal rides. Most of these guys spend their days wrestling with the restrictions of commissioned work, so…
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