A BMW R 1200 R with a cafe racer vibe, a pair of offbeat Harley customs, and a heavily tweaked Yamaha TR1. Meet the machines causing a buzz in the custom world right now.
BMW R 1200 R by Deep Creek Cycleworks BMW’s R 1200 R has never been a looker. It’s fast, comfortable and reliable—but not exactly a bike you’d lean on proudly. And this didn’t make things easy for Belgian Kris Reniers when a local BMW dealer commissioned a makeover from his shop, Deep Creek Cycleworks.
The first step was to do something about that Telelever suspension: The design is most definitely function over form—and has even been axed by the Motorrad. But rather than swap the beast out, Kris went the racy route and fitted an old MV Agusta race fairing around it. The subframe was shortened and a new handmade tail was crafted.
To enhance the Beemer’s new lines, the original tank was swapped for one from an R 100, and the finish is superb. When the bike was presented to the dealer, they were so pleased they handed Kris an R nineT to work with next. We can’t wait to see that one. [More]
Harley-Davidson Sportster by Beautiful Machines If Harley is going to lure in the younger crop of riders they need, those riders will likely land behind the bars of a Sportster. Outside of the touring line, the Sporty offers the most options for riders—and proves an excellent base for a custom job. Which, in the right hands, can be a rolling work of art.
The builders from Malaysia’s Beautiful Machines obviously have a decent set of mitts about them: This stunning steampunk-tinged Sportster recently took home the Radicale HD award at the Kuching International Bike Week. While details are sparse, we know the competition rules forbid modifications to engine cases or frames.
With everything else fair game, Beautiful Machines took things to the next level when hand crafting Putin Beliung, the Tornado. The front cowl has a robotic vibe, but its lines flow seamlessly through to the tank. The suspended seat is a gorgeous touch, as is that rear brake linkage assembly and welded intake tube. [More]
Yamaha TR1 by Moto Adonis While there’s no denying the appeal of a scrambled build, a good chunk of owners will probably never venture down a single-track trail. That may irk some of the purists out there, but it does open up a world of possibility to nail an urban-friendly design.
Take this Yamaha TR1. Crafted by the skilled hands of Daan Borsje of Holland’s Moto Adonis, this street-centric scrambler packs a bevy of high performance parts, spec’d to tackle the urban jungle.
The USD front forks were snagged from a Suzuki GSX-R, and the front disc and wheel originally saw duty on a KTM 690 SM. Out back the mono-shock is stock, but again the KTM was pillaged for its binders. To add show to its go, Daan swapped the Yamaha’s tank for a modded CB750 unit and welded together a truly handsome exhaust unit. [More]
Kawasaki Estrella 250 by Zife Design Based in Hanoi, Vietnam, Zife Design have been quietly honing their bike building skills since July of 2012. Their latest build is a scrambled Kawasaki Estrella 250 and it’s ticking a lot of boxes.
The UJM design of the Estrella easily lends itself to a bike builder’s whims. But what is most striking about Zife’s work is its utter restraint and lack of flash. While the subframe has been sliced and hooped, the result isn’t too radical. And the well-padded, humped seat gives an old school yet approachable air to the build.
The new tank follows the seat’s flow, and its forest green finish is both classic and cool. Up front, reverse levers and a shortened and slimmed front fender continue the vintage vibe. Simple, clean and classic: Every now and then, that’s really all it takes. [More]
Harley-Davidson Street 750 by Custom Works Zon To help gain international sales traction with their new entry level bike, Harley has invited some of Japan’s top builders to have their way with the Street 750. We’ve already seen some of the stunning results, but this one, from Custom Works Zon, took home the top honors at Yokohama’s Mooneyes Show.
Dubbed Zonnevlek, or Sunspot, the Custom Works Zon creation is a drag strip scorcher with just the right amount of decoration. The H-D’s frame was rebuilt into a cradle design to lower the center of gravity and help shed some weight. To further this, the fuel cell hides beneath the seat and that gorgeous, angular tank now hides the electrics—as well as the upper linkage for a jockey shifter.
The forks are CW Zon one-offs and are only slightly less impressive than the gold leaf pinstriping and intricate engraving that adorns the rest of the build. [More]