This week, we’re starting a new series: a roundup of the most interesting customs from around the web. Our roving reporter is Matt Neundorf, an occasional bike builder with a dismantled Triumph in his garage (and a sideline as Gear Patrol’s motorcycling correspondent). Take it away, Matt.
DeBolex Mk6 Kawasaki W800 Learning about the effort that has gone into a build creates greater appreciation for the final product. For this tracker-style Kawasaki W800, the London based deBolex team tackled the battery first—and hiding a large black rectangle isn’t easy.
With adjustments to the rear brakes, Calum and Desmond were able to shoehorn a Shorai under the swingarm. The seat covering is waxed canvas, a notoriously inflexible fabric, and there’s a fluted box beneath the saddle to hide the wiring. The DeBolex Mk6 is a performer too: entered into the Malle Mile, it squared off against another DeBolex creation in the final race. [More]
Honda CB750 F2 This stunning 1977 CB750 is the first creation of Denmark’s Frederik Christensen. In fact, this is Frederik’s first motorcycle, full stop. After purchasing the old Honda, Frederik’s plan was to restore it to serve as daily transportation. But that soon changed: Inspired by the style of bike being created by the Wrenchmonkees, Frederik lightened and lowered his Honda over the course of two winters.
The engine was rebuilt and custom touches were added. For a first build this is more than impressive. Oh, and did we mention Frederik is only twenty-two? Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting things from this talented Dane; we certainly will. [More]
Suzuki Bandit D’Bandido Based on a 1995 GSF400 Bandit, this bold and blue cafe racer comes to us from Jakarta, Indonesia. Built by the skilled hands of Studio Motor Works, D’Bandido was stripped of its plastics and rebuilt with modern niceties and custom inclusions. The tank was modified to include integrated side-pod covers, the subframe was chopped and hooped, and the electronics and battery were shifted to under the seat. There’s an aggressive stance to match the new clip-ons and the package is impeccably clean—it’d turn heads even if it weren’t such a gorgeous shade of blue.
GT-Moto R75/5 When this 1973 BMW R75/5 was originally purchased by the creative minds at GT-Moto, they knew a restoration was out of the question. The bike was too far gone, with too many non-original parts. So they set about building a bobber—one of the most unique bobbers we’ve come across.
I’ve always been fan of the springer front end, and the custom work on this DNA unit looks exquisite. The axle, handlebars and steering damper needed to be bespoke creations to make it all work, and work it does. All the modifications to this Oklahoma find were tackled in-house and executed sublimely—including the hollowed-out fuel cell, which houses the battery, and the rear lighting assembly that’s integrated into the seat pan. [More]
Unikat Motorworks Honda CB550 Everything coming out of Poland’s Unikat Motorworks is branded as being ‘1 of 1.’ Grzegorz Korczak, a former cinematographer, designs his bikes in the virtual world before lifting any tools.
Grzegorz’s background in visual arts is immediately evident with this stunning CB550. It retains much of the Honda’s stock form, but accentuates its charm—making it more of an aesthetic tweak than a total transformation. It holds true to Grzegorz’s build philosophy, which is to add visual perfection to motorcycles with a bespoke approach. [More]