Dirk Oehlerking has a portfolio of incredible builds, but there are two machines that stand out. They are the White Phantom and Black Phantom—two classic BMW boxers, with exquisite hand-formed bodywork and an unusual art deco vibe. Dirk refers to his Phantoms as “two that belong together, like Yin and Yang.” But those two have…
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There’s a term that was fashionable in MotoGP racing a few years ago: ‘Aliens.’ It referred to the small group of factory riders who seemed to operate at a higher level than everyone else, with astonishing speed and ability. The custom world has its own Aliens, and we could probably all agree on the members…
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The bevel era is part of Ducati folklore. The engineering prowess of Fabio Taglioni made the British bikes of the 1970s look prehistoric, and bestowed a rosy glow over the Italian motorcycle industry—just before the Big Four Japanese makers turned the superbike world on its head. The ‘round case’ bevels are fondly remembered and sold…
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One of the most genre-smashing motorcycles of all time is the 1929 Majestic. It looked like nothing else on earth—a streamlined Art Deco torpedo, with hub-centered steering and sliding pillar suspension. Ninety years later, the French masterpiece is still casting its spell over custom builders. Bryan Fuller has just fallen under the influence, and created…
Read more »The concept of the patron is well established in the world of art. Charles Saatchi is almost a household name in the…
Read more »The bikes that are revealed on these pages are usually hot off the press. The shoot is finished, the images are graded…
Read more »The Handbuilt Show is happening this coming weekend in Austin, Texas. One of the USA’s premium custom bike events, it’s packed each…
Read more »Motorcycle collectors are the unsung heroes of the custom scene. Most keep a low profile, but they all provide an essential service:…
Read more »The custom motorcycle world is moving fast. It’s a world of Photoshop renders, digital sketches, computer aided design and 3D printers. Which…
Read more »We’ve been covering the modern custom scene for eight years now, extending feelers into nearly every country in the world, from Andorra…
Read more »Most successful custom builders operate a production line: Not just bikes, but also hard parts and apparel. They stay afloat on the…
Read more »On the Atlantic coast of France, just 25km shy of the Spanish border, lies the city of Biarritz. We know it as…
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