A Yamaha XV950 from Switzerland, a Ducati 900SS from Holland, and a Kawasaki H2 from Italy. This week, it’s the Eurovision Song Contest of bike building.
Yamaha XV950 by GS Mashin Bern-based Tom Mosimann first caught our attention with his swooping and colorful re-interpretation of a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. His predilection for eye-catching colors hasn’t diminished, but for his latest build, Tom has steered away from the bar and shield—and delivered a gothic take on the Yamaha XV950.
Working in collaboration with Yamaha’s Yard Built program, Tom envisioned his XV as a low and slender affair, with sprinkles of the signature GS Mashin aggressive style throughout. All of the bodywork, including the cowl, tank, underbelly and tail, were hand formed from 1.5mm sheet steel. Rear lighting was integrated into the tail before being topped with the Jose Rey upholstered saddle. To help deliver its lean stance, this XV has been fitted with decidedly narrow rubber and a trick prototype suspension set-up, courtesy of K-Tech. [More]
Kawasaki Vulcan S by MRS Oficina About a year ago, Kawasaki released the Vulcan S on North American shores. Designed to appeal to entry-level cruiser types, its ergo-fit dynamics and user-friendly power band make it an excellent bike. It also provides an excellent platform for custom creations.
When Kawasaki France tapped Mario Raphael Soares of MRS Oficina to transform a Vulcan S, he was given no agenda or styling direction. Instead, Kawasaki gave the Paris-based builder carte blanche—and that was a very good thing. MRS’ Vulcan Racer completely transforms the bulky, stock cruiser into a cafe-racing weapon that would undoubtedly out-sell its donor on any showroom floor. And it just might. Similar to Yamaha’s infamous Yard Built program, the rumor is Kawasaki will begin selling kits for the Vulcan S, based off commissioned builds like the Vulcan Racer. [More]
Opera by South Garage The South Garage Motor Company has built a solid reputation as a speed shop for Bonnie and V7 riders in the Milan area. And during the developmental trials and tribulations of those parts, complete builds have also rolled out under the South Garage banner. Those creations have been impressive, but they pale in comparison to this latest Harley Sportster build.
I’ve been poring over the details on ‘Opera’ since I stumbled across it. It’s like a mash-up of styles between Rad Yamamoto of Ask Motorcycles and Max Hazan. South Garage have created something very special indeed. The stretched and stainless tank is hung from the bike’s curved spine to lower its profile, and the Campomaggi leather saddle appears to float perfectly from its upswept perch.
The springer front end and extended swingarm give a classic yet muscular stance, highlighted by exquisite copper and brass accents. [More]
Kawasaki H2 by Lussiana Disegno When it debuted at EICMA in 2014, the Kawasaki H2 announced in the most astonishing way that motorcycling was back. Supercharged and fire breathing, the H2 (and its H2R stablemate) represented a new take on two-wheeled high speed.
Of course, not everyone was sold on its Alienware-inspired plastics and hypertrophic demeanor. Enter Lussiana Angel and his Turin- based company Lussiana Disengo. After spending some 3,000 kilometers in the saddle of the supercharged beast, Angel knew what had to be done. Two months of sketching and clay modeling later, the H2LD was born.
Despite its electric green skin, Lussiana’s new plastics deliver a more subdued appearance. Like an MMA fighter enveloped in Zegna’s finest fabrics, the H2LD hasn’t lost any aggression; it’s just hidden it behind a layer of sophistication. Other changes include a custom tank, new suspension from the high-end specialist FG Gubellini, and a modified rear subframe. Scarily enough, these mods tip the power-to-weight scales even further.
Ducati 900SS by Wimoto The 900SS has been the basis for some stellar builds over the years, so it takes a special touch to make one stand out. Wheels of Fortune, the newest cafe racer to emerge from Netherlands-based Wimoto, has the goods to garner some extra attention.
Working from a Photoshopped pic of the client’s original 900, the Wimoto team went to work. They wanted to create a classic cafe silhouette while enhancing the Duc’s performance. A custom trellis swingarm was fabricated, allowing a swap from mono to a dual shock set-up. The frame was then chopped and modified to make everything fit before the aluminum tank and tail were mounted.
In total, Wheels of Fortune shed some 35kg, which is impressive. But what nails this build in my eyes is the custom exhaust that slithers through the seat unit to deliver an uncluttered look. [More]