As the frost begins to retreat and the riding season beckons, we find ourselves looking back at a particularly vintage-heavy month in the archives. March 2024 was a period of high-contrast brilliance on Bike EXIF, bridging the gap between small-capacity Thai street-scramblers and meticulously engineered Japanese Shovelheads.
In this edition of Flashback Friday, we’re revisiting ten machines that defined the zeitgeist of the spring of ‘24. Let’s dive back into the top ten custom motorcycles from March 2024.
Triumph 400 Duo by K-Speed
Thailand's K-Speed has long been the undisputed king of making small-capacity bikes look like they belong in a post-apocalyptic street brawl. When Triumph Thailand handed them the keys to the freshly minted Scrambler 400 X and Speed 400, founder Eak applied his signature "Diablo" touch to the Bajaj-partnered singles. The result is a brooding duo that proves Triumph’s entry-level platform is an exceptional canvas for customization.
The Scrambler 400 X was treated to a drastic subframe chop and loop, topped with a quilted leather saddle that flows into a custom rear fender. K-Speed leaned into the "dark titanium" aesthetic, stripping the forks and repainting the side covers to match a menacing grey livery. With Motoz Tractionator Adventure tires and a high-mount ABS plastic fender, the pint-sized Triumph looks ready to punch well above its weight class.
Not to be outdone, the Speed 400 sibling received a similar treatment but with a road-focused edge. It ditched the headlight cage for a cleaner look and swapped the grey for a deep gloss black paired with brown upholstery. These builds didn't just serve as showpieces for the Bangkok International Motor Show; they functioned as rolling prototypes for a massive catalog of bolt-on parts now available to the public. [MORE]
Royal Enfield Continental GT 'HH5' and 'HH6' by Hardheads Motostudio
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 was already a darling of the modern classic scene, but Mexico City’s Hardheads Motostudio felt there was still some fat to be trimmed. Their twin builds, HH5 and HH6, are exercises in extreme "paring down," with 200 hours of labor poured into each to achieve a minimalist silhouette. By axing the passenger accommodations and shortening the subframes, they’ve transformed the approachable Enfield into a focused vintage racer.
The visual centerpiece of each bike is the full fiberglass fairing, finished in silver to accent the factory-optional chrome fuel tanks. Underneath the leather-upholstered saddles, a handmade electronics tray hides a downsized Lithium-ion battery and pod filters, creating a "see-through" aesthetic in the center of the frame. The juxtaposition of the lithe rear and the aerodynamic front fairing gives these bikes an undeniable "Golden Era" racing vibe.
Despite their shared DNA, HH5 and HH6 diverge in the details. HH5 leans toward a modern-classic blend with a Motogadget speedo and blacked-out rims, while HH6 retains the original dials and raw alloy wheels for a more traditional feel. Both bikes benefit from a burly two-into-one S&S Cycle exhaust system, ensuring that these Mexican-built beauties sound as aggressive as they look. [MORE]
1968 Harley-Davidson FL by Sureshot
Takuya Aikawa of Sureshot is no stranger to the winner's circle, and this 1968 Shovelhead was meant to be a trophy magnet. Built to be a skinny hardtail that is actually easy to ride, the bike features a narrowed shovelhead frame mated to a rigid rear triangle. It’s a beguiling mix of traditional chopper aesthetics and modern performance engineering, a hallmark of the Tokyo-based workshop.
The mechanical ingenuity on display is staggering. Aikawa-san relocated the transmission up and forward to centralize mass, a move that necessitated a conversion to a hydraulic clutch system. The forks were poached from an ‘Auto Race’ bike, Japan’s asphalt-oval speedway machines, and lengthened to suit the Harley’s stance. To maintain a clean, vintage look, Sureshot hand-finished billet aluminum parts to give them the textured appearance of old-school sand-castings.
Performance was never far from mind, with the 1,200 cc motor receiving an Andrews cam, Kibblewhite valves, and an S&S L-carb. The wheels are a masterstroke of fabrication: solid billet units that were hollowed out and laced with handmade turnbuckle spokes to mimic vintage trial bikes. This is a machine where every bolt has been considered, proving why Sureshot remains a dominant force at the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show. [MORE]
Buell XB12S Lightning by Matao
The Buell XB series was a mechanical oddity of the early 2000s, featuring fuel in the frame and an oil-bearing swingarm. Steven Lucas of Matao, based in France, decided to strip away the "translucent plastic" aesthetic of the original 2008 Lightning and replace it with something much more brutal. By replacing the blocky subframe with a handmade tubular steel unit, Steven instantly modernized the bike’s stance.
The fiberglass tank cover is a bespoke creation that pays homage to the original’s sculpted lines while exaggerating the bike's forward-heavy, "streetfighter" proportions. A Baja Designs LED sits low on a steel number board, mimicking the stock twin-headlight placement but with a significantly higher lumen count. The luxury continues with an Alcantara seat by La Sellerie Fleury and a hidden Öhlins shock tucked beneath.
While the "fuel-in-frame" chassis remains, the engine was sent to Twin Motorcycles France for a full rebuild to ensure it has the ‘go’ to match its ‘show.’ Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC tires and Beringer controls signal that this is a machine built for the twisties of the Quiberon peninsula. It is a minimalist, unapologetic redesign that captures the spirit of Erik Buell’s vision without the early-2000s clutter. [MORE]
BMW K100 'John Player Special' by Motocrew
Customizing a BMW K-series is notoriously difficult due to its ‘flying brick’ engine and blocky architecture, but Chris Scholtka of Motocrew has found the secret sauce. His K100 café racer is a low-slung tribute to the iconic John Player Special Formula One livery. It is a sophisticated blend of 80s heritage and 2024 performance components.
The chassis is a Frankenstein of BMW’s best bits, featuring a K1200S rear wheel mated to a K1100 swingarm. The front end is even more exotic, sporting the forged wheels and adjustable Showa forks from a 2019 Ducati Panigale, an upgrade that cost twice as much as the donor bike itself. Chris added "wings" to the fuel tank to smooth out the touring fairing indents and installed his signature Motocrew subframe to sharpen the silhouette.
Innovative details abound, such as the vertical LED taillight that runs over the back of the tail bump like a spine. The engine breathes through 3D-printed intake manifolds and screams through a custom four-into-one underslung exhaust. Finished in the timeless black-and-gold JPS colors and rolling on rain-tire-inspired Heidenau rubber, this is arguably one of the most cohesive K-series builds we have ever featured. [MORE]
Yamaha XV750 Virago by Purpose Built Moto
Tom Gilroy of Purpose Built Moto initially hesitated to take on another Virago, but the enthusiasm of his client and the promise of an aggressive under-tail exhaust won him over. The 1981 Midnight Special was completely transformed, starting with the binning of the ‘ugly’ square-tubed swingarm in favor of a custom trellised chromoly unit. The stance was further corrected by lengthening the R1 front forks to prevent the bike from sitting too low.
The engine received a massive displacement bump to 1,050 cc, courtesy of the shop’s performance division. With high-compression pistons and bigger valves, the V-twin now produces a "nasty bark" akin to a cammed Sportster. The power was so significant that it began slipping the clutch on the dyno, necessitating a switch to Barnett performance plates.
The aesthetic is dominated by a metallic olive green paint job by PopBang Classics, which pops brilliantly against the bronze powder-coated wheels. The stainless steel exhaust headers snake through the tubular subframe to exit in twin box mufflers, creating one of the most unique rear ends in the Virago scene. It’s a bike that Tom claims will pull the front wheel off the ground with ease, a rare feat for any Virago. [MORE]
Kawasaki W650 'Nut Kwaka' by Deus ex Machina
This Kawasaki W650 has lived many lives over the last sixteen years, but its this incarnation as the 'Nut Kwaka' is its most irreverent. Resident wrench Jeremy Tagand of Deus Australia combined Japanese and American bobber influences to create an offbeat fusion. The bike features a hardtail conversion and a matching set of 16-inch wheels wrapped in chunky Firestone Deluxe Champion tires.
The front end is particularly 'sano,' with DNA Customs machining a wide set of yokes to accommodate the oversized rubber. The handlebars are ‘rabbit ear’ style, flowing directly from the fork caps with all wiring routed internally for a seamless look. A Harley Sportster tank sits high on the frame, which has been liberated of all unnecessary tabs and gussets to emphasize its chopper silhouette.
The finish is a creamy livery with subtle green graphics, accented by brass details throughout, including the caps where the swingarm bolts once lived. A sissy bar by Hypnic Jerk Customs arches over the rear fender, housing the license plate and taillights. It’s a quirky, character-filled build that proves the W650 remains one of the most versatile donors in the custom world. [MORE]
Indian FTR 1200 'Pikes Peak' by Freeride Motos
Pierre Dhers of Freeride Motos wanted to capture the "form-follows-function" vibe of a Pikes Peak hill climb racer with this 2019 Indian FTR 1200. Collaborating with Surplus Motos, the goal was to use as many repurposed parts as possible. The front end was poached from a KTM 1290 Super Duke R, providing a massive upgrade in braking and suspension adjustability.
The bodywork is a stunning carbon fiber and fiberglass monocoque, created using a mold from a 1996 Honda RS 250 tailpiece. This unit sits atop an aluminum fuel cell that doubles as the bike’s subframe. The aggressive, upright riding position is maintained with ProTaper handlebars, while a four-day "pie-cut" stainless steel exhaust system provides a soundtrack worthy of the "Race to the Clouds."
Every detail is purposeful, from the CNC-machined front number board to the repurposed Öhlins rear shock tucked into a braced swingarm. The carbon fiber is finished in a simple, gloss clear coat, allowing the weave to show through. It’s a gritty, high-performance tracker that feels like it’s waiting for the flag to drop at the bottom of the mountain. [MORE]
Yamaha XS400 'Roadster' by Roman Juriš
This Yamaha XS400 is a masterclass in amateur excellence, having been built in a tiny Slovakian workshop over five years. Roman Juriš set out to make a bike that looked like a factory prototype rather than a custom creation. After collaborating on the design with the legendary Oberdan Bezzi, Roman spent 3,000 hours bringing the Roadster to life.
The bike features a patented inverted front suspension system of Roman’s own design. The axis of the front wheel is pushed forward to eliminate wheelbase shortening, and the system isolates braking and spring forces to prevent dive. This engineering feat is housed in a custom tubular frame that suspends the engine as a stressed member, paired with a YZF-R125 swingarm that has been shortened and modified.
The aesthetic is a tribute to 70s racing Yamahas and the Slovakian-made Jawa 90 Roadster, featuring a red frame and minimalist white bodywork with traditional speed blocks. Roman hand-shaped the fiberglass panels using modeling clay, hiding a metal reservoir beneath the tank cover. It is a stunning achievement of hobbyist engineering that rivals the work of the world’s best professional shops. [MORE]
Moto Guzzi V7 Special Restomod by Unikat Motorworks
Restomods are a dark art, but Poland’s Unikat Motorworks has found the perfect rhythm. Starting with a 1969 Moto Guzzi V7 Special in police trim, the team stripped away the heavy fairings and panniers to find the stylish cruiser hidden beneath. The bike was rebuilt with slim, handmade fenders and a smart leather saddle, maintaining the soul of the '69 donor while sharpening its lines.
The original wheels were rebuilt with new San Remo rims and modern rubber that retains a vintage tread pattern. While much of the bike looks period-correct, modern reliability was baked in with fresh wiring and Motogadget LED turn signals. The cockpit remains classic, however, utilizing the original handlebars and a civilian-spec V7 dashboard to maintain the authentic interface.
The paint is a muted, all-black scheme that eschews the chrome and pinstriping of the era for a more contemporary, stealthy look. It’s a restrained and tasteful build that honors the birth year of its owner while providing a riding experience that is far superior to the original police-spec machine. It is the perfect note to end our March 2024 retrospective on. [MORE]
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