Speed Read, 18 April 2021
This week we’ve got a racy SuperHawk from Australia, a sleek Sportster from Jakarta, news of Go Takamine’s hookup with Indian, and a seriously weird little ATV from Russia…
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Rally Retro: A Himalayan with a Group B vibe from Thrive
Today’s adventure bike market is a little like the superbike market in the 80s; to quote Fall Out Boy, “It ain’t a scene, it’s an arms race.” ADV bikes are pushing north of 150 hp and 500 lbs, with eye-watering levels of tech packed in. If that doesn’t butter your toast, perhaps the Royal Enfield…
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T 22 Synthesis: A twin-engined Kawasaki drag bike
There’s something pure and extremely entertaining about drag bikes. They’re hopelessly impractical, usually dangerous, and invariably ridden by folks with a scant regard for personal safety. It’s hard to take that genre up a notch, but the top Indonesian shop Thrive has just gone one better than the typical eighth-miler. This extraordinary machine, nicknamed ‘T…
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Reviving an icon: A 1951 BMW R51 restomod from Thrive
The post-War R51/3 is one of the all-time classic motorcycles, and instantly recognizable as a BMW—complete with early boxer engine and ‘plunger’ rear suspension. But despite their venerable age, R51s can still be picked up at auction for less than US$20,000. Over 18,000 R51/3s were built, and a fair few of those are slowly decaying…
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TXX Interceptor: A custom Royal Enfield 650 from Thrive
The new Royal Enfield twins are a godsend for custom builders. By modern standards, they are simple on both the mechanical and…
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Kick Out the Jams: The KTM that inspired a music track
Custom motorcycles are a form of visual and mechanical art. But this remixed KTM 250 Duke tells a musical story too. It’s…
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Kuzuri: A Harley XL1200 Sportster custom from Thrive
If there’s a rising force in the modern custom world, it’s Indonesia. It’s no longer surprising to see a world-class middleweight café…
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Thrive just built the coolest Enfield we’ve ever seen
Most of the customs that cross our desks come from Europe and the States, but there’s some really interesting stuff happening further…
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Yamaha XS650 by Thrive Motorcycle
When asked to reveal their influences, builders can come up with some pretty odd answers. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen…
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