The custom motorcycle scene is a fickle beast. One month, we’re drowning in Bluetooth brakes and half-baked café racers; the next, the stars align, and our inbox is a goldmine of engineering marvels. May 2025 was undoubtedly the latter. From Tokyo’s quiet backstreets to the industrial heart of Portugal, the builders we featured didn’t just move the needle; they snapped it off.
In this edition of Flashback Friday, we’re revisiting ten machines that defined the month. We saw the legendary Richard Pollock prove that a project is never truly finished, a German streamliner that looked like it escaped a 1930s sci-fi film, and a Portuguese Yamaha that turned a horror story donor into a neo-retro masterpiece. Strap in; this is a heavy-hitting trip down memory lane. Let's revisit the Top 10 Custom Motorcycles of May 2025.
The 'Work in Progress' Sportster by Mule Motorcycles
Richard ‘Mule’ Pollock doesn't do finished in the traditional sense. While most builders would call this 1997 Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster a show-stopper, Mule views it as a rolling canvas. Originally commissioned by a New York client, the bike evolved from a standard street tracker into a high-spec performance machine that bridges the gap between show bike and street brawler.
The aesthetic is pure flat track gold, featuring a Storz fuel tank and a First Klass Glass tail section. Underneath the fiberglass, Mule fabricated a bespoke subframe and bracketry to ensure the lines were as sturdy as they were sleek. The rolling chassis is an exercise in parts selection: Öhlins forks, custom yokes, and lightweight 19-inch CNC-machined wheels from Lowery Racing wrapped in Maxxis rubber.
Despite its pristine appearance, the laundry list of mods continues. While it currently boasts twin Brembo calipers and an obsessively tidy wiring loom, the engine is already back on the bench. It’s slated for a 1,275 cc Hammer Performance kit, Mikuni HSR45 carb, and a Barnett Scorpion clutch. Mule’s relentless pursuit of perfection means this "Flashback" is likely even faster today. [MORE]
Mandrill Garage’s Triumph Bonneville T120
The modern Triumph Bonneville T120 is often the 'gentleman’s choice,' but Beijing’s Mandrill Garage decided it needed more muscle. Shop boss Luo Hao reimagined the parallel-twin as a muscular street tracker that looks like it belongs in Triumph’s official catalog. By blending 3D-printed components with classic fabrication, Mandrill transformed the sleeper into a high-end street weapon.
To achieve a slimmer profile, the team transplanted a fuel tank from a Triumph Scrambler 900 and paired it with a traditional flat-track tail and an embroidered seat pad. The tech-forward approach involved 3D-printing the headlight nacelle from robust nylon and prototyping CNC parts in resin first to eliminate guesswork. It’s a ‘factory special’ vibe.
Performance wasn't ignored. The right side features a bespoke two-into-two titanium exhaust weighing just 3 kg (6.6 lbs), while the engine sports ribbed Motone covers. With an 18-inch rear wheel swap to match the front and a Rothmans-inspired livery, this T120 sheds its mild-mannered skin for something far more aggressive. [MORE]
Minami Motorcycle’s ‘Way of the Café’ Honda CB750
In the residential quiet of Meguro, Tokyo, Kenji Heianzan practices the ‘Way of the Café.’ His philosophy is one of subtraction, aiming for a look so seamless that onlookers might mistake it for a factory-original machine. This 1978 Honda CB750 F2 restomod embodies that quiet confidence, eschewing flashy parts for structural beauty and perfect balance.
The build retains the iconic Comstar wheels, now wrapped in vintage-style Coker tires, and the original fuel tank. However, the silhouette is sharpened by a trimmed and looped subframe and a custom tail section upholstered in Toray Ultrasuede. The lowered front forks and modern rear shocks give it a purposeful stance that feels period-correct yet vastly improved.
The cockpit is a minimalist’s dream, featuring clip-on handlebars, a Daytona speedo, and leather-wrapped grips. The stock engine breathes through Keihin CR carbs and exhales via a classy reverse-cone muffler. Finished in a stunning blue teal hue, it’s a bike that doesn't scream for attention, but rewards those who look closely enough to find it. [MORE]
Earth Motorcycles’ BMW R80RT ‘Geometry Lesson’
The BMW airhead is a custom staple, but the visual kink between the leaning fuel tank and the engine block often plagues builders. Earth Motorcycles from Slovakia decided to fight the geometry rather than work around it. For this 1987 R80RT, they designed an all-new engine top cover after dozens of prototypes, finally aligning the lines of the boxer motor with the fuel tank.
The attention to detail here is borderline obsessive. The team ordered a WalzWerk subframe but modified it to sit perfectly parallel to the tank. The seat features rich orange leather, a color that eventually dictated the entire matte-black, warm-tone color scheme. Even the fasteners were custom-designed, requiring a special tool to tighten the flush-mounted nuts on the top yoke.
Up front, an LED headlight is tucked into a bold fairing that gives the bike a striking face. Performance is handled by DNA pod filters, SC-Project cans, and an adjustable YSS rear shock. It’s a build that proves great motorcycles are born when a builder’s technical vision meets the client's specific personality. [MORE]
Fatech’s ‘Galaxy Bullet’ Harley Shovelhead
Inspired by the legendary 'Smokey' Joe Petrali and his 1937 land speed record, Minoru Watanabe of Fatech created a 1970s Shovelhead with 1930s soul. The goal was a "70s Petrali special," which meant a svelte, narrow silhouette and plenty of vintage racing cues. Watanabe-san started with a Paughco hardtail frame, which he massaged extensively to eliminate any vacant space above the engine.
The hallmark of this build is the hand-formed metalwork. The split gas tanks and the ribbed oil tank, the latter requiring 60 hours of reverse curving, create a flow that feels organic. The wheels are a direct nod to Petrali’s Daytona bike, featuring convex aluminum covers that Watanabe-san hammered from scratch for the 21-inch front and 16-inch rear wheels.
The Shovelhead motor features a Dynatek ignition and an S&S Cycle Super E carb. The slash-cut drag pipes utilize a Fatech-specific diameter change to boost torque and deepen the exhaust note. Wrapped in a lush green paint job with pinstriping by Shakin' Speed Graphix, the 'Galaxy Bullet' is a masterclass in era-blending. [MORE]
Switch Stance Riding’s Ducati 900 MHR Restomod
Toshiyuki Kozaka of Switch Stance Riding is a surgeon when it comes to bevel-driven Ducatis. This 1981 900 MHR restomod was inspired by a trip to Lake Garda, with a color palette that mimics the Italian sky and water. It’s a machine that honors the MHR’s racing heritage while injecting a level of refinement the original production bikes lacked.
Toshi swapped the bulky stock bodywork for a replica NCR monocoque, creating a slimmer, more aggressive profile. He paired this with a Ducati Mille S2 front fairing, smoothed out for a sleeker look. The seat is a work of art in itself, charcoal Alcantara with silver stitching, provided by Mitsunaga Auto Interior Design.
Mechanically, the 900 cc twin was overhauled and fitted with 40 mm Dell'Orto carbs and velocity stacks. The suspension saw a massive upgrade, ditching the tired Marzocchi gear for 38 mm Forcella forks and Öhlins shocks. The final paint job, a mix of Lake Garda blue, MHR green, and a racing red frame, makes this one of the most visually arresting Ducatis ever featured on the site. [MORE]
Sideburn Magazine’s ‘Modern Primitive’ Guerrilla 450
When Gary Inman of Sideburn magazine gets his hands on a bike, you know it’s going to be a street tracker. Using the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 as a base, Inman collaborated with a 'who's who' of builders to create a bike that is both modern and primitive. The centerpiece is the alloy tank by Coba Valley Cycles, which echoes the stock shape but in a much narrower, hand-formed package.
The technical highlights include a billet-and-tube aluminum swingarm from Steelheart Engineering and 19-inch Lowery Racing wheels. To ensure it could actually stop, a HEL Performance four-piston caliper was adapted to the front. The exhaust, a stainless steel masterpiece by Co-Built, features lobster-back sections that complement the bike's industrial aesthetic.
The livery is the real conversation starter, a geometric pattern based on a body suit tattoo of a fellow racer. It’s a bare alloy finish with clear lacquer and painted accents. Named after a cult 80s book on body modification, the Modern Primitive is a perfect reflection of Royal Enfield’s uncomplicated, rider-focused philosophy. [MORE]
WKND Customs’ Yamaha XT600 Street Tracker
Sergio Almeida of WKND Customs inherited a disaster: a Yamaha XT600 with ‘bubble gum’ welds and a blown engine. His task was to undo the damage and build a neo-retro tracker. He started by fixing the stance, lacing Morad aluminum hoops (19F/18R) to the OEM hubs and correcting a botched Gilera fork swap with a custom-made steering stem.
The bodywork required surgical precision to fit the Yamaha XS400 fuel tank onto the XT’s oil-in-frame chassis. Sergio modified the tank's underside to clear oil lines and added a flush-mount cap. He also converted the bike to a twin-shock setup, fabricating a new subframe and adding mounts to the swingarm for a pair of YSS shocks, taking inspiration from the classic XT500.
The details elevate this build: a custom airbox that mimics the tank's lines, a repurposed Yamaha XJ750 Seca fog light turned into an LED headlight, and a stacked stainless-steel exhaust. After four years of stop-and-start work, Sergio turned a nightmare donor into a dream street tracker. [MORE]
Kingston Custom’s ‘Kingsman’ Shotgun 650
Dirk Oehlerking is known for big ideas, and the Kingsman is quite literally that, measuring 3.9 meters long. This Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 was transformed into an Art Deco streamliner using Dirk’s old-school process: 1:1-scale cardboard and foam sculpting, followed by 2 mm aluminum fabrication.
The bodywork is a modular masterpiece, featuring a nose cone with the OEM LED headlight and a central fuselage that hides the engine. The 'party piece' is in the tail: a 1958 Cadillac taillight and a wood-lined storage compartment containing gin, tonic, a mirror, and an umbrella, the ultimate gentleman's kit.
Underneath the champagne-gold skin, the bike is significantly altered. The fuel is now stored in a custom reservoir in front of the rear wheel, and the rear suspension was swapped for rigid struts with a 100 mm swingarm extension. It’s more of a rolling sculpture than a daily commuter, but as Dirk proved at the Bike Shed Show, it is indeed rideable. [MORE]
Heiwa MC’s BMW R100/7 Restomod
Closing out the month was Kengo Kimura of Heiwa MC, a builder who defines the Japanese style of restraint. This 1978 BMW R100/7 doesn't scream for attention with radical geometry; instead, it lures you in with perfect proportions. Kimura-san nipped and tucked the frame, adding a short subframe and a three-quarter-length saddle to create a tight, cohesive café racer.
One of the most impressive details is the handmade aluminum electronics box wedged behind the motor. It was media blasted to match the cast iron finish of the engine casings, making it look like a factory component. The front end was lowered, the fork lowers were media blasted to match, and Waveway Ovalmaster tires were fitted for a vintage aesthetic.
The paint, executed by N2 Auto, is a timeless sand beige with black pinstripes. With Heiwa’s signature ‘flying pigeon’ logo on the tank and custom reverse-cone mufflers, the R100/7 is a masterclass in how to make a ubiquitous custom platform feel fresh again through pure craftsmanship. [MORE]
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