A bullet-ridden BMW from Sicily, a stunning Honda cafe racer from GT-Moto, and Ducati Scrambler tweaked an an Italian eyewear company. These are the bikes that got our motors running this week.
BMW R100 by Svako Motorcycles Apocalyptic and unorthodox: Those are the first two words that come to mind when I see ‘Sbang,’ a BMW from Sicily-based Svako. This is especially true when you compare Sbang to the last BMW we saw from Svako, a gentlemanly Paris Dakar replica.
Some may turn up their noses to the aesthetics of a bullet-riddled tank, but not me. Touches like that—and yes, they are real bullet holes—and the Heidenau K67 tires show that this is a bike built to be ridden hard. But that doesn’t mean it lacks finer detail. All of the wiring is hidden within the pock-marked tank, ahead of the fuel cap, which was fashioned on a lathe from an old flywheel.
If Mad Max-meets-the-Mafia is your cup of Chianti, Sbang is your bike. [Facebook]
Triumph T100 from Down & Out Cafe Racers Shaun and Carl from Down & Out Cafe Racers have an obsession with stance. The signature wide-tired style of the Yorkshire, England shop is aggressive and brash—a little like the lads themselves. So it’s no surprise that when Shaun put together a bike of his own, he worked his fingers to the bone to shoehorn in the 180-series rubber.
Fastec Racing was tapped to machine the unique triple clamps to accommodate that beefy front wheel. Rake was decreased by 0.75 degrees, and CBR1000RR forks slotted in. Then the fenders were hand-rolled on an English Wheel to help block any mud slung from the Continental TKC80s. The T100’s electrics were ditched to make way for a Motogadget unit, and D&O’s own micro LED signals were installed up front. It creates a sparse and incredibly clean cockpit on a Bonnie I’d love to get dirty. [More]
GT-Moto’s Honda CB450 There is little doubt that Sofi Tsingos is one of America’s most talented builders working today. We were still drooling over the BMW R75/5 she and her father created when this CB450 popped up.
This is officially GT-Moto’s first customer build. The little Honda is essentially a ground-up restoration, and hands have found their way into every nook, cranny and crevice in the quest for perfection. The engine has been balanced, blueprinted and overbored to 485cc. The front suspension is now an external-spring type set-up. And at the back, the tail and signal lights have been seamlessly integrated—by hand no less—to lie imperceptibly within the rear fender. Similar treatment was applied to the top clamp. This package is, in a word, flawless.
Palatina Dreambikes T15 With the rebirth of Triumph’s Bonneville lineup, the British marque’s ‘modern classics’ have returned to liquid cooling. Prior to the Bonneville’s resurrection in 2001, Hinckley’s Thunderbird and Legend TT models were powered by a liquid-cooled, 885cc triple. This bespoke cafe racer, the T15 from Germany’s Palatina Dreambikes, is a stunningly detailed build that honors those Bonnie-less years.
The particulars of this build are gorgeous. From the iconic and emblematic headlight shroud to the Keihin flat-side carbs to the exhaust’s playful final exit, there’s little that doesn’t impress. The subframe is a one off carbon fiber unit, the single-sided swingarm is of Italian descent, and all componentry is top shelf. Staring at it makes us wonder: had the parallel twin not replaced Triumph’s triple, could this have become our new Thruxton R? [More]
Ducati Scrambler limited edition The Ducati Scrambler is a runaway success. It has power and agility at the right price—making it a no-brainer for riders seeking simplicity and fun. In the looks department though, not everyone has been on board. So the eyewear company Italia Independent has partnered with Ducati to tweak the visuals just a little. And the result is a knockout. Even better, this build isn’t a one-off: just over a thousand units will be made.
Revealed at the Art Basel show in Miami, there’s a hint of cafe racer style in this subtle execution. The blacked-out engine features brushed aluminum fins. The frame and wheels are coated in a gorgeous copper hue. And the tank and shortened fenders are matte black. Other touches like the bar end mirrors and snubbed nose fairing finish off the look. [More]