The latest motorcycle news and customs

Speed Read, April 9, 2023

This week’s Speed Read selection might just cover the biggest age gap we’ve ever featured in one round-up. It kicks off with a 2007-model Yamaha MT-07, and ends with a 1953 Triumph 6T Thunderbird. Wedged in between are a custom BMW R45 from Bolt Motor Co., and a Kawasaki W650 hooligan flat tracker from Down…

BMW R45

1979 BMW R45 custom

11 YEARS AGO / NO COMMENTS / CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

It’s hard to believe that Louis Nel is only a part-time builder. The bikes that roll out of his South African garage are a testament to his passion and keen eye for detail. Until now, most of his builds have been personal projects—this 1979 BMW R45 is his first commercial build. The owner had been…

BMW R45

BMW R45 custom: ‘The Gonzo’ by El Solitario

13 YEARS AGO / NO COMMENTS / CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

One of the more original builders working today is David Borras, a Spanish vintage motorcycle racer who runs El Solitario (“the loner”) MC. He’s got an idiosyncratic style, and his disregard for contemporary fashions has won him a lot of attention. This is Borras’ latest bike: it’s unlikely to be as controversial as his Triumph…