Classic Triumph bobbers tend to be commissioned by riders with many years and miles under their belts. After all, it usually takes time to appreciate the elegance and understated style of a hardtail build. This spectacular Bonneville from Rob Chappell of Origin8or Cycles has a very different backstory, though. “The owner is a new rider…
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When Bike EXIF lit a fire under the custom scene ten years ago, Honda CB750 cafe racers showed up everywhere. And there was a simple formula for customizing them: ditch the fenders, loop the subframe and slap on a bench seat. Then add pipewrap and Firestone Deluxe Champions for extra credit. We’ve entered a new…
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The Chappell brothers are no strangers to these pages. Over the years, they’ve produced an impressive string of bikes—despite living hundreds of miles apart. That distance has proved hard to manage, so these equally talented builders each handle their own projects nowadays. Chris operates as Chappell Customs out of Los Angeles, while Rob spins wrenches…
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For most pro builders, personal projects usually draw the short straw—relegated to the back of the shop by a steady stream of client work. Just like the “rusted out junk pile” that Californian Chris Chappell picked up a few years ago. It’s a Royal Enfield Bullet 350, and it did a stint in Chappell Customs‘…
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Chris Chappell’s last SR500 was a show-stopper. It was well received when we initially featured it, and went on to earn a…
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It’s hard to believe that this lean, purposeful café racer started out as a beaten up 1978 Yamaha SR500—an ex-AHMRA race bike…
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Yamaha has embraced the new wave custom culture by giving its new Bolt to eight builders in North America—and giving them carte…
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I love discovering builders that have been floating underneath the internet radar—guys who are doing good work, but largely unrecognized. Chappell Customs…
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