A killer Cub from K-Speed, a Mash 400 flat tracker from XTR Pepo, a CB500 from Budapest, and a moto-themed balance bike from South Africa. Small ones are more juicy this week.
Yamaha XS650 by Greg Hageman Just over a year ago, Yamaha handed Greg Hageman a brand new XSR700 to customize, as part of their Faster Sons program. For inspiration, Greg turned to a build he’d recently completed: this ultra-clean Yamaha XS650 restomod. And now some lucky soul’s just snatched it up, for the bargain price of $13,556 on eBay.
The project originally started out as a near-mint 1972 XS650. Greg sent the motor off to MikesXS, who rebuilt it and upgraded it with Mikuni VM34 carbs, a Pamco electronic ignition and a XSCharge permanent magnet alternator with a Lithium-ion battery. (That motor had only done 80 miles when the virtual hammer fell on Ebay.)
This XS is also sporting a Yamaha R6 front end, a custom aluminum swing arm from MotoLanna, and a pair of Hagon shocks. The rest is a subtle blend of original, custom and off-the-shelf parts.
Sure, this is ‘Bikes of the Week,’ and Greg built the XS over a year ago. But it’s just popped up on our radar again, thanks to its sale—so we’re giving it a free pass. Also, just look at it… [More]
Honda Super Cub by K-Speed Ever since Honda relaunched the iconic—nay, beloved—Super Cub, Thailand’s K-Speed have been doing wonderful things with it. And this latest offering is even more badass than the last—a trick we didn’t think was possible.
This time, K-Speed collaborated with Storm Aeropart, who built new plastics for the Cub. Put this guy side-by-side with a stock Super Cub, and you’ll quickly spot a redesigned front section, trimmed rear end, and a pair of drilled side panels.
Nifty upgrades are hidden everywhere; we’re spotting new foot pegs, rear shocks, a custom saddle and carbon wheel covers. K-Speed reworked the cockpit too, with new risers, bars, grips and switches, and a really neat speedo placement.
Between the broody paint job, the oversized 17” wheels and the bubble Firestone rubber, this beefy scoot is almost unrecognizable as a Super Cub. If K-Speed ever offer this as a kit, we might have to go see our local Honda dealer.
Honda CB500 by Mokka Cycles Older Honda CBs are a staple of the custom scene, but later models don’t quite hold the same classic appeal. That’s not a problem for Budapest’s Mokka Cycles. They thoroughly reworked this 1994 CB500, with astounding results.
The key to this CB’s success is that perfectly sculpted fuel tank, hand-built by Mokka founder, Arpi Bozi. It’s a perfect fit for the Honda’s ugly frame, with a cutout that makes space for a special one-into-two intake. There’s a redesigned subframe out back, perched on YSS shocks, and capped with an Alcantara-clad saddle.
The stainless steel exhaust system is Arpi’s work too, as is the custom headlight surround. Take a peek at the top of it, and you’ll notice a custom arrangement featuring the ignition, LED warning lights and a couple of switches.
There’s also a custom radiator guard and license plate holder, Mokka switches and Oury grips. And if you’re wondering where the wiring and battery are, they’re hiding under the seat. Add that all up, and you’ve got one of the cleanest—and simplest—Honda CBs around. [More]
Mash Five Hundred by XTR Pepo Pepo Rosell over at XTR Pepo knows how to turn desirable European machines into even more desirable European customs. But he’s also talented enough to turn mundane bikes into absolute bangers.
This here is a Mash Five Hundred (go ahead and Google it). It’s not bad looking in stock form, and costs less than $5,000 new—but its 400 cc motor only pushes out 28 hp. Somehow, Pepo’s turned it into a flat track beast that we’re losing sleep over.
He’s built a new subframe, and a cantilevered swing arm hooked up to a Yamaha SR500 rear hub and a Betor shock. The forks are from a Yamaha XJ600 Diversion, and the rims are Derbi Supermotard units.
The Mash might not make tons of power, but Pepo’s helped it along a little. He’s installed a quick throttle, a DNA race filter and a Supermario two-into-one exhaust system. The bodywork consists of a modified Ducati 160 Sport fuel tank, and an XTR Pepo tail section and number boards.
From the sounds of things, this little ripper’s actually going to take to the track. We’re just sorry we’re not the ones piloting it. [More]
Lawless Bikes I’m used to seeing cool motorcycles parked outside The House of Machines in Cape Town. But this week, I found one hanging between the apparel at the back of the store; a toddler’s café racer balance bike, built by Lawless Bikes.
Lawless is the passion project of Johann de Wet, a business intelligence consultant who lives in Paarl, South Africa (roughly 60 km from Cape Town’s city center). Johann first fell in love with café racers when he spotted a BMW from the Wilkinson Brothers on these pages. Then, about a year ago, he decided to build one for his youngest daughter.
Since then, he’s built about ten Lawless Bikes, including one for a customer in Europe, to match his Kiddo Motors-built Triumph. Johann works off two basic templates that he’s designed—one resembling classic BMWs, and another based on Triumph’s modern classics. But he’s planning to add more designs to his portfolio.
Each wooden piece is CNC-cut from birch plywood, by a supplier working of Johann’s CAD templates. (They used to be hand-cut with a jigsaw, but that was far too time consuming.) Johann then assembles each bike by hand, using common bicycle components for things like the wheels and grips.
The wood is treated, and the colored bits spray painted. Johann then builds the ‘headlights’ using the lids from coffee and sugar canisters, and lazer-cut perspex discs. He then finishes each bike off with a Lawless badge (these two bikes have the logos of the actual marques on them, but for legal reasons, Johann usually only does this on personal bikes.) His latest creations—like the little BMW scrambler you see above—even have leather seats.
Since this is just a hobby, Johann hasn’t done rigorous testing or obtained any certification, so these are sold mainly as display pieces. But we reckon any kid that finds one under the Xmas tree this year is going to have a hard time staying off it. [More]
Lawless Bikes images by Wes Reyneke.
