Some would say the 750 SS was not Ducati’s finest hour. The podgy, plasticky styling has always been divisive, and the engine is rated at a somewhat underwhelming 65 hp. But this Duc is light—a mere 403 pounds (183 kg) dry—and the handling is good on smooth asphalt. The trellis frame is a work of…
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Honda have made some truly beautiful machines over the years, but they’ve also had their share of aesthetic bungles. The mid-70s CB750, for example, is downright elegant; the mid-90s Nighthawk model, not so much. This didn’t stop Kaspeed Moto from hitting a home run with a Nighthawk cafe racer last year. They turned it into…
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We’ve noticed an encouraging trend amongst custom shops lately: they’re offering made-to-order customs alongside their one-off specials. Diamond Atelier have enjoyed success with their Mark II BMW boxer builds, and deBolex Engineering have hinted at an imminent ready-to-wear range. Limited production runs take a lot of the guesswork out of the custom business: both the…
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Custom motorcycles are supposed to be one-offs: unique creations that make a statement about the owner or builder. Making a direct copy of someone else’s work is a no-no. But over the years, we’ve heard tales of established builders being asked to replicate another custom bike. The answer is invariably no—and some builders won’t even…
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