Motorcycle designers of the early ’80s probably ponder how we got here, a time when street bikes with exposed frames, unshrouded headlight assemblies and flat handlebars have become commonplace. The phenomenon started at least 30 years ago, and one possible explanation cites the re-styling of wrecked sports bikes in Europe as the cause. Some call…
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This week’s Speed Read selection might just cover the biggest age gap we’ve ever featured in one round-up. It kicks off with a 2007-model Yamaha MT-07, and ends with a 1953 Triumph 6T Thunderbird. Wedged in between are a custom BMW R45 from Bolt Motor Co., and a Kawasaki W650 hooligan flat tracker from Down…
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Any custom workshop that’s been operating for a decent length of time is sure to have a multitude of leftover parts lying around. But how often are those the right kind of parts to build a thoroughbred race bike with? It’s a rare scenario—but it’s the story behind this race-bred Yamaha framer. It’s the work…
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The popular Wheels and Waves festival returns to sunny Biarritz next week after a two year hiatus. So it’s safe to assume that some European workshops are frantically buttoning up their bikes to show off at the event—or to compete in the infamous Punks Peak hillclimb. Newcomers Wayders are ahead of the curve though. They’ve…
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Since modern motorcycles are far more complex than their predecessors, it makes them harder to customize. But a few bikes buck that…
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Building a competitive flat track racer is downright scientific. Countless factors like weight, geometry, power delivery and gearing all have to be…
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It’s always the hardest article to write, but also the most fascinating to research. Our annual roundup of the most popular customs…
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We love customs that have that ‘well sorted’ look—where you get the impression that everything is in the right place, it all…
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There are many ways to visualize a custom motorcycle before actually putting grinder to metal. Some builders start with a pencil and…
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Wrap any decent Yamaha in a good King Kenny livery, and you’ve got an instant crowd-pleaser. But this Yamaha MT-07 from Greg…
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The revival of Yamaha during the last three years has been remarkable. A series of rapid-fire product releases has done wonders for…
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EXCLUSIVE Shinya Kimura is probably the world’s most famous custom motorcycle builder right now. But despite this fame, he’s a somewhat enigmatic…
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