A Mike Hailwood Ducati Scrambler tribute, the winner of Indian’s Project Scout program, and a killer Yamaha RD350 from Twinline Motorcycles. Meet the machines that got our motors running this week.
Harley Shovelhead by Customs From Jamesville Typically, old Milwaukee iron comes to us either chopped to within a degree of collapse or bobbed strictly for boulevard cruising. There’s nothing wrong with either style—but it’s not our general cuppa. This 1974 FX Shovelhead, on the other hand, is right up our alley.
Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, James Roper-Caldbeck specializes in the restoration and customization of Harleys built between the Great Depression and that time we learned that ‘greed is good.’ It isn’t the first time he’s popped up on our radar and undoubtedly won’t be the last.
Working with the kick-start-only base FX, James has done some exquisite work on modifying the Shovel’s subframe to fit his custom, tapered tailpiece. The bellypan and front cowl give the bike a racer’s stance, while upgrades to the brakes and suspension boost the dynamics. If you were lucky enough to attend the Swedish version of the Mooneyes bike show, you’d have seen this beast in person—and the award Jamesville took home. [More]
Mike Hailwood Ducati Scrambler Thailand probably isn’t the first place you’d think of to honor Ducati’s racing heroes of yesteryear. And yet, Ducati Thailand’s owner, Apichat Leenutaphong, is doing just that—quietly cementing relationships and creating ‘factory custom’ homages.
Apichat’s first work, the Paul Smart Scrambler sold out almost instantaneously, and we’re pretty sure this one will too. It’s designed to commemorate Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood’s ties to the Bologna brand, and sports a well-executed livery inspired by Hailwood’s incredible 1978 IOMTT-winning 900SS.
Of course, there are further changes to this limited edition Duc. A Termignoni exhaust has been fitted to help the 803-cc V-Twin sing, and custom plastics adorn the nose, side covers and tail (which features a commemorative Hailwood plaque). The hunger for factory customs like this is alive and kicking, and Ducati would do well to serve up their own offerings. [More]
Indian Motorcycles Project Scout winner Indian’s Project Scout program has already impressed us with a number of standout builds. They’re not only rolling testaments to the builders’ abilities, but also to Indian’s commitment to individuality and creativity. The trophy hardware was recently handed out, and this board tracker from Terrebonne, Quebec, took home top honors.
Built by Motos Illimitees, it’s a tribute to the white-tired, board track racing Scouts of the 1920s. This homage runs on 26-inch wheels and features some meticulous woodwork: The footrests, grips and number plate are all fashioned from white oak, and the leather seat has been given a matching grainy treatment.
The copper accents are a vintage standout for me. And while I would lose the Jack Daniels branding, the marques are both celebrating milestone anniversaries and a partnership this year. [More]
Honda CB Type II Concept If we had fears that the modern classic movement was about to stall, Triumph’s new Bonneville line has undoubtedly put them to bed. Add Yamaha’s brutish XSR family into the mix, and it seems like things are actually picking up steam.
And now, it looks Honda is poised to get in on the action. At least we hope they are. Why the greenlight hasn’t been lit yet is beyond us, but the Japanese motoring giant has just teased another stylized concept based on its CB1100.
It’s dubbed the CB Type II, and it looks the business. Clearly fashioned with the Ace Cafe in mind, the Type II features top-shelf components from Brembo, Öhlins and Showa—plus a sculpted Manx style tank and humped solo seat. Yes, that reads very similar to the spec sheet for the new Thruxton R that I enjoyed so much and, if Honda has managed to tweak some extra oomph from its bulletproof mill, the Type II should fight tooth and nail with that retro king.
Hey, Honda. Let’s turn the power of dreams into reality, then, shall we?
Yamaha RD350 by Twinline Motorcycles There’s a tasteful elegance to the builds coming out of Twinline Motorcycles. The Seattle-based shop thrives on clean, minimalist construction with an emphasis on performance. Their latest experiment with an oil-burner, a 1973 Yamaha RD350, exudes this to a tee.
This isn’t the first time that Twinline has turned the spanners on an RD, but it is the first time Jeff Pochodowicz has been at the build’s helm. To set this 2-stroke apart, Jeff aimed to maximize performance and reliability while refining every detail to the nth degree. A tall order, to be sure, but we’d say he nailed it.
Woodcraft clip-ons sit atop the Racetech-equipped forks, and shocks from Works Performance keep the polished alloy swingarm planted. The already lightweight bike was given a racers diet and muscle injections, too: The airbox and OE oil tank are gone and the engine’s been ported with Super Webco heads attached. [More]