This week we’ve got a 210 horsepower French muscle bike, a new BMW tracker from Fuel Motorcycles, and an officially sanctioned Street Twin Scrambler to plug the gap in Triumph’s new Bonneville range.
Avinton Collector Race R Some customs prize elegance and sophistication above all else. Others are as subtle as a sledgehammer. The metal muscle you see here falls into the latter camp—and damn, is it exquisite.
It’s the product of Cedric Klein, the man behind Avinton Motorcycles of Sommiere, France. If you’re unfamiliar, Avinton is the reincarnation of Wakan, which shuttered in 2011, and the bikes are centered on a stonking 1638cc S&S V-Twin. Based on Avinton’s ready-to-order ‘Cult’ model, the Collector Race R has been treated to a Garrett turbocharger and cranks out a mind-boggling 210 horsepower. That’s in a package that tips the scales at a slight 192kg (423 lbs).
The Race R is rated to eclipse 300 kph—and we imagine it would wake the dead while en route. [More]
BMW R100 RS by Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles It’s the rolling antithesis to Avinton’s hypertrophic grunt. But this BMW from Barcelona is equally compelling—for its minimalist simplicity and expert execution.
Designed as a variation on Fuel’s previous R100 RS build, this latest boxer to receive the tracker treatment is arguably the prettier. Much of that credit can go to the slight and slim Kawasaki KH100 tank that sets off the proportions perfectly. Those fundamental lines are echoed with the seat and tail unit—and accentuated by the angles on the custom high-mount exhaust that slithers its way through the bespoke number plate.
To give this vintage sled a more modern ride, a set of forks from a F650 GS were fitted, complete with an uprated set of Progressive springs, with Öhlins units installed in the rear. The engine breathes easier too, with a set of Mikuni carbs. Response is said to be crisp, thanks to a short-action throttle assembly. [More]
Triumph Street Twin by Standard Motorcyle Co. The one noticeably absent model from Triumph’s new lineup of Bonnies is undoubtedly their Scrambler. The competition is pumping the pipeline with highly competitive models of the same name, so it’s surprising that Hinckley hasn’t yet laid claim to its old throne.
Thankfully, Jason Paul Michaels, founder of Orlando’s Standard Motorcyle Co., has sought to remedy this by scrambling the new Street Twin. Working primarily with Triumph’s OE accessory line, Michaels has created what he calls a highly capable Street Scrambler.
Street Twin catalog options include the high-mount Vance & Hines exhaust, spoked wheels, hand and foot controls, and a bevy of other dress-up parts. Michaels has also tapped Progressive Suspension for a set of 14” piggy-backs for the rear and a new set of springs up front. Other touches include a Standard Motorcycle Co. steering damper kit, luggage rack and a vintage-style mirror setup. Jason says the finished product is one of his favorite builds because of its rideability; it’s a bike he can easily hop on for a quick jaunt, or for a 500-mile run. [More]
Kawasaki KZ400 by Sparta Garage If there’s one thing you learn seeking out stellar builds on the interwebs, it’s that the custom community knows no geographical bounds. Every week we’re blown away by creations from all over the globe.
This week we’ve turned to Minsk, to be exact, and a 1977 Kawasaki KZ400 cafe racer from Sparta Garage. Helmed by Spartak Malykevic, the idea behind this build was to collaborate with friends from other disciplines to create a ‘how-to’ series on creating a cafe racer.
The tail and the faux oil tank were crafted using old tanks from Russian built Kovrovet motorcycles, and the exhaust and foot controls are one-offs. The seat uses custom fabrics with the pattern mirrored on the KZ’s paintwork. (Which, we don’t mind saying, is particularly gorgeous.) Most impressive, however, is learning that the final assembly of the bike took place live over a mere four hours at the Recast Moto Fest.
Velocette by Revival Cycles Since getting up close and personal with the builds from Revival Cycles at last year’s Quail Gathering I’ve tried to keep a close eye on what Alan Stulberg and Stefan Hertel have been up to. While their BMW Landspeeder was clearly otherworldly, its this Rickman that really strangles my attention.
Even from a distance—or via a tiny Instagram shot—their new ‘Rickman Revival Velocette’ exudes the balance of art and engineering Revival is famed for. The Ducati 900SS I fell in love with last year took home top honors at that Quail, and this Rickman did the same in 2016—so you know the lads haven’t lost a step.
The Rickman-Metisse racing frame needed custom mounting points grafted on for the new electrical and bodywork before being hooped and later nickel plated. From there, all wires were re-routed, a four-cell battery connected and the bespoke fairing and tail were mounted. The build spec details would eat up more cyberspace than I’ve been allotted, so I implore you to dive down that rabbit hole with both feet. [More]