Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

These days, there seems to be a wealth of high-dollar scrambler builds, few of which would survive more than the most well-graded gravel road, and even fewer of which would be anywhere near affordable for the motorcycling Everyman.

Enter this lovely Yamaha XT350, owned by Ivo Bastos (@scrambler_project) and built by Chris’ Garage — both of Algarve, Portugal. Portugal has quickly become a hotbed of custom motorcycle culture, and if the Portuguese customs we’ve featured are any indication, the country’s builders have a fondness for dual sport-based trackers and scramblers that are both affordable and capable of real off-road excursion.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Starting with a solid platform helps, of course. The Yamaha XT350 was born out of one of the original Japanese big thumpers, the XT500. Introduced in 1985, this 346cc dual-sport offered 30 horsepower, 22 lb-feet of torque, a 90 mph top speed, and weighed just 265 lb.  The motor was largely bulletproof, and the bike would run well past 45,000 miles if well-maintained.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

When owner Ivo Bastos discovered that a custom builder lived in his same town, Cristiano Oliveira of Chris’ Garage, he hired the man to execute his vision. Below, he gives us the full story on this build.

Yamaha XT350 Scrambler:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Ivo Bastos.)

So, having something unique and totally my style was really something I was looking forward too. When I found  the Portuguese blog Cafe Racer 351, there was a garage near where I lived (Algarve, Portugal), I immediately made contact. So this garage is owned by Cristiano Oliveira and the garage is named Chris’ Garage.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

I made a sketch, and with the motorcycle already acquired and Cristiano’s expertise, the result is what we can see today. He totally made it to my liking, always with the concern of respecting the Portuguese laws, turn lights, wheel size regulations, etc. I couldn’t be more happy and will be posting my rides and the bike takes me.

So what was changed in the bike was practically everything. Here goes some examples:

• Rear rim:  Excel Takasago 2,15 x 18
• Front rim D.D.D 21 stock painted black
• New spokes and hub painted
• Front tyre Mitas e05 3×21
• Rear tyre Pirelli Mt43 4×18
• Tank was from SACHS lotus, very common 50cc motorcycle in Portugal, custom painted and fitted to frame
• Seat also custom made with support for lithium battery that replaced old one for more minimalist look. The fabric itself is leather in front with subtle suede in the back
• Renthal fatbar handlebar
• Biltwell grips
• Rear mudguard custom
• Front mudguard from 50cc confersil cross
• Frame was let free from previous supports and subtly shortened.
• New conic air filters
• Suspension, frame, engine painted.
• Bullet style Turn lights and custom supports
• New control switch and speedometer
• New headlight scrambler style and backlight
• The exhaust was changed to left side and parallel pipes were made for more retro style and for fitment of the outrageous exhausts. That might feel abusive but just make every head turnImage may be NSFW.
  Clik here to view.
• Suspension and engine maintenance

Best regards
Ivo Bastos

About Chris’ Garage

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Chris’ Garage was founded in 2012 by Cristiano Oliveira in Algarve, Portugal. The shop specializes in custom autos, motorcycles, and engines, as well as general mechanical services, such as tires, filters, oil, clutches, timing belts, and more.

Follow the Builder

• Follow Ivo Bastos:  Instagram
• Follow Chris’ Garage:  Facebook

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

ABSave

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Though not the sexiest bike ever produced, the Suzuki SV650 is one of the great all-rounders of the moto world. The bike is affordable and bulletproof, with decent power and solid handling.  In fact, our senior correspondent Rick Brown owned an SV650 track bike for many years, and I could be heard ripping it around the neighborhood at times (it wasn’t street legal, of course).

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Recently, one of our favorite builders–Moto Adonis of The Netherlands–received the mission from Suzuki Netherlands to toughen up an SV as a concept bike. They certainly accomplished that feat, with an array of plug-and-play modifications that could, as you will see below, be carried out by even the most rote amateur mechanic.

Headman Daan of Moto Adonis gives us the full story below.

SV650 Scrambler:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Not the typical Moto Adonis work, but pretty cool to be able to make one. In collaboration with Motorhuis Seppe we built a real badass scrambler for Suzuki Netherlands. Suzuki’s SV650 has originally a very good schoolboy appearance and even the sitting position is kinda silly if you ask me. This is very unfortunate because the 647cc V2 is also a great lightweight play bike for the city but a great ride to pop on the small country roads. Quote from Testmotor.nl:

“He sometimes trembles a bit, but at any speed, from almost closed gas to the rev limiter around 11,000 rpm, there is always power in stock.”

Moto Adonis got the missoin to make a tough bike that fits more in the contemporary style, and as you may know, that’s something we can do!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We began to remove those horrible wasp’s butt to see how it looks from among the members. One of the key points was clear that it must be a plug and play system, without any frame modifications, and I’ll tell you: in the end, after the conversion was finished, I again removed the all the parts and asked my brother-in-law Jarco ‘’an accountant’’ to rebuild it into a scrambler. Obviously under a bit of guidance, but the concept is so easy that even an accountant can perform the transformation. In advance, I say a successful mission!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We started by creating a new base plate and attachment points for the seat to fit it as tight as possible to get around the existing frame. Then we realized the handles and built-in taillight, everything to be as minimalist as possible but still functional.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The saddle is provided with a reasonable cushion if you compare it to the original, because with a scrambler it must be able to dive in the blubber if you feel like it. The result, your posture is somewhat a bit different but your buttocks have absolutely nothing to suffer anymore! And o fcourse without losing the feeling of grip.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

In the context of less is more, we have removed the headlight, the headlight bracket, etc caps, and replaced with a somewhat simpler but still more imposing Cyclops headlight and the speedo/tacho meter has been given a different position. The steering was certainly to be replaced as the current steering forces you in a position that totally misses the mark of how should i say it… Motorcycling??

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Now with the current crossbars you want nothing more than to pull the throttle open and search out the most beautiful roads so you can keep on driving and driving! And this feeling is further enhanced by the MAD stainless steel GP muffler which causes a deafening orchestra to resound in your ears and definitely gives the cool V-twin engine the sound it should have. The mudguard at the front had to be replaced of course for a simple aluminum handmade fender. This should ensure that most of the mud is sent back to mother earth.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

All in all an outrageously fun project and really cool to be able to build a concept bike. Let’s hope that he ultimately is for sale at dealers Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

You can see more Moto Adonis builds here.

Follow Moto Adonis

Follow Moto Adonis:  Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Vimeo | Web

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The Kawasaki KLR650 is one of the greatest go-anywhere, do-anything machines of all time. Few other bikes circumnavigated as many times as the KLR, and the U.S. military uses the KLR-based M1030M1 as its two-wheeled steed…modified to run diesel fuel, of course!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Enter Droog Moto of Phoenix, Arizona–a husband/wife team that builds some of the baddest, post-apocalyptic desert sleds ever to chase rattlesnakes and jump curbs. It was only a matter of time before the duo took on a KLR build. This one they are calling their KLR650 Trackster, and she’s a damn doozy.

Below, Max and Erica give us the full story.

Kawasaki KLR650 “Trackster”:  In the Builders’ Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Max and Erica Droog. Highlights by us.)

This customer is a local from Phoenix who came to us with his 1987 KLR 650. He stated that he really liked the look of our previous XR500 and CM400. My wife and I decided to take this build on as a mix of the two, or a what we call a Trackster. (always coming up with new bike names haha).

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This KLR has a lot to offer for daily commuting and weekend trail runs. We started by doing a new subframe setup to house a battery tray and high side mount exhaust. Moving forward we mounted a vintage Yamaha DT175 gas tank with custom mounts.We got setup with an aluminum radiator that we mounted with custom mounts to clear the new tank setup.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

New 1 1/8″ fat bars where installed, along side Biltwell grips and a TrailTech Vapor gauge. The original rims where swapped out with a fresh set of Warp 9 rims. We went with a 19-inch in front and kept the 17-inch in back, then wrapped those bad boys in Shinko 705’s. A custom low mount front fender was added for a clean tracker appeal.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We installed a 5 3/4″ Bates headlight and LED tail/brake light with LED signals. The motor was gone through and we performed the famous “DOO Hickey” mod. Good thing too, as his was cracked and the spring was broke!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This thumper kicks ass and is for sure our cleanest build yet in terms of appearance. We generally go for an edgier look; most of our bikes are matte and rusty, haha. Was a fun bike to build for sure and we hope he has a lot of fun on it!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Follow the Builder

Droog Moto:  Email | Instagram | Web

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Builders in The Netherlands keep cranking out killer custom builds, and Moto Adonis is one of our favorites. Now they are back with a KTM scrambler running an ’80s frame and ’03 LC4 engine. The KTM LC4, as you may know, was the Austrian company’s supermoto stalwart, a point-and-shoot weapon with 53 horsepower on tap.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Daan and crew wanted to creature a scrambler with classic looks but modern performance. We would say they accomplished their mission in spades, having built a vintage-looking scrambler that sports electric start, modern suspension, and a liquid-cooled 50+ horsepower heart. Below, Daan gives us the full story on the build.

KTM LC4 Scrambler:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Daan Borsje.  Highlights by us.)

We tried with this bike to combine the quality modern cross components with the classic scrambler look. We started our base with a frame from 1984 and adjusted the frame to fit modern WP front suspension and WP rear suspension.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The engine that we placed is a KTM lc4 2003, known for its long durability and power. Besides that this engine offers a little more comfort because this one has an electric starter.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We replaced the stock exhaust for a handmade, curved RVS exhausts system and topped it of with a Shark muffler.

The frame was modified to fit the CB500 gas tank; the cooling system found a new position and we replaced the rearframe with a Moto Adonis-style rear frame and handmade classic leather seat (miller upholstery style). The rear light is integrated in the loop and the small blinkers were hidden beneanth it.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The rims are 17-inch supermoto wheels from KTM, but the were resprayed and got new RVS spokes. The tyres are from Pirelli, the Scorpio. And, up front, we made a handmade fender to stop the most of the dirt.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The ignition has been replaced with a Motogadget M-lock, which is hidden underneath the gas tank, along with the small lithium battery.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We placed a scrambler style headlight and supermoto handlebars, and with Biltwell grips, this bike was ready for the dunes in Scheveningen.

Follow Moto Adonis

Follow Moto Adonis:  Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Vimeo | Web

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Here at BikeBound, we have a special place in our hearts for the Honda XR200. My father and I owned a pair of them in the nineties, which we took to every borrow pit and trail system we could find. In general, the Honda XR has proven itself one of the toughest, most adaptable platforms ever created. Now it’s great to see so many of these bikes being resurrected as custom scramblers and trackers.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This XR200 scrambler, built by 3B Customs of Surigao City, Philippines, was built for professional surfer Luke Landrigan, a huge moto enthusiast. The “3B” in 3B Customs stands for Bikes Builds Bonds — now that’s a name that says it all. Though 3B Customs is located far from the capital city of Manila, where many of the known bike builders call home, they are quickly building a name for themselves with incredible customs like this one.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Below, Benjo Sun of 3B Customs gives us the full story on the builder, the client, and the bike born of their collaboration.

About the Builder:  3B Customs

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Benjo Sun. Highlights by us.)

We are from Surigao City, Philippines. It’s a quite sleepy city way down south from the country’s capital of Manila. It’s a little-known backyard garage called 3B Customs, so small in fact that even some locals in Surigao don’t know the shop actually exists in their area. Although we have been gaining quite a following in the last year since we started 3 years ago, and we already have a loyal fan base. We still are not that mainstream compared to the underbone and scooter scene in the area.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We first garnered the limelight 1 and half years ago after being featured on one of the Philippines custom motorcycle websites specifically focusing on cafe racers, scrambler, brat, trackers and the likes. After that, most of the clientele is not from Surigao but from the neighboring provinces, like Siargao island, Butuan, Leyte and even from way across the capital Manila where most of the known bike builders are based.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The man behind the shop is me, Benjo Sun.  I mostly do the conceptualizing, designing, sketching, small fabrications, and paint. Since the company is steadily growing I am now getting hired help, professionals in their own field. To give the company an added edge to be able to compete with the rest of the country. Since we are located in the province we do with what we can with what we have. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. What we can’t buy we have it fabricated.

About the Client:  Luke Landrigan

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The client is Mr. Luke Landrigan — a professional surfer, surf instructor, entrepreneur, and moto enthusiast from the Northern part of the country, La Union, Philippines. He started surfing at a young age and has been winning competitions ever since. He then turned his sights on building a surf resort, then now a mex-tex resto as well. When he’s not working you can bet he is off to carve up some waves. Sometimes he travels to the other parts of the country looking for that perfect wave.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

His relationship with motorbikes started when he was young, as his father had a motorbike which was their primary means of transportation. And at the age of 18 his dad bought him his first scooter. That was the time where it all started, he was bitten by the bike bug.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Just a few months before his recent trip to Siargao island (considered as the surfing capital of the Philippines), he wanted to have a bike there to travel around the island, going from surf spot to surf spot, and even on to the more secluded ones. He already have a bike in mind and was able to get his hands on one from his friend in Siargao Island. The bike was a Honda XR200 which was locally available. It’s a considered as a go-anywhere bike, a bike you can ride on cemented/paved roads, dirt roads, and even sand. Although he already had the bike, it needed to be fixed and to have a much needed make over to be able to handle the specific challenges it was about to face and also to suit the owner’s personality.

The Collabaration

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

One day while I was working on a bike my phone rang, my hand were all greasy at the time so I wasn’t able to answer the call, it was then followed by a text message saying: Bro good day this is Luke Landrigan. You busy? Can I call? Or something like that. I can’t actually remember word for word. So I called him back. We talked and he said he’s interested in having a bike built, he had a Honda XR200 in Siargao Island for me to work on to be turned into a scrambler. Said he wanted it in white, with brown leather seats and with burly tyres. Said he wanted to it able to use it on paved roads, dirt and even sand. So I went on to send him some designs and eventually settled on a design, though along the way I did some last minute alterations to better suit the flow of the bike design.

The Build:  XR200 Scrambler

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The base bike is a 2000s Honda XR 200. When I got the bike, first thing I noticed was the lights front and rear, as well turn signals and horn were not working, speedo is busted, front suspension was shut, the rear mono suspension was not the right one for the bike — it was installed with a modified mono shock from a Suzuki underbone bike, which was also shut as well, needless to say the bike I got was bouncy as hell.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

During the teardown process I noticed the headlight bracket was really rusted and rotted, some part of the frame was also rusted, luckily it was just in the rearmost part of the frame which was to be chopped. The engine was the opposite though; it had potential. It was still in good running condition just needed some tuning. And the bike came with an aftermarket free flow exhaust.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

First thing I did was change the rims and spokes, and changed to beefier dual sport tires. Changed the rear mono shock and fixed the front forks. Once I got the stance I wanted, I proceeded with chopping the rear frame. Made custom rear fender, custom side panels and custom gas tank. Changed the handle bars, front and rear lights, as well as the turn signals, change the handlebar left switches and throttle assembly, made a custom headlight visor to house the speedometer.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Changed to a heavy duty gold chain, made a custom heavy duty engine guard / skid plate, made a custom seat pan and re upholstered it and like most of my other builds it comes with a custom hand sewn leather grips to match the seat. Also made a custom detachable surfboard rack which was also custom leather wrapped and hand sewn.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Overall the bike build turned out the way I wanted it to be. And I can tell that the client was pleased with the build because when he first saw the bike in person he changed his mind from just a bike for Siargao Island to “I’ll bring it back home with me to La Union!”

Follow the Builder

• Follow 3B Customs:  Facebook | Instagram
• Follow Luke Landrigan:  Facebook | Instagram | Surf Resort

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

That madman across the water, Steve Willis at Shaw Speed & Custom, has created another award-winning Sportster custom. The XLST3, a Sportster Tracker, won 1st place at the London International Bike Show AMD Championship.

SSC is a division of the Brighton, UK, based Shaw Harley Davidson. The have been turning out incredible builds since 2009 and a number have been featured here at BikeBound. This is the third in their Strike True series of builds and certainly lives up to the legacy of its forerunners.

XL1200N Street Tracker:  Build Details

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This bike began life as a 2011 XL1200N Nightster which was then stripped to the bone and rebuilt in the image of a ‘70’s dirt tracker.

The rear fender and supports were tossed and the frame rails chopped and smoothed. The kick up rear fender, needed to achieve the high rear end look of a dirt tracker, as well as provide room for the street legal knobbies, is actually an H-D Crossbones front fender held in place by an old school fender brace. The addition of a skid plate enhances the dirt track vibe.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The swingarm was braced and Ohlins shocks added to keep the rear tire planted. The belt drive was swapped for a chain and sprockets to reinforce the old racer look. The front end has Progressive springs and 883 lowers, with the tubes titanium nitrated in gold to match the Ohlins out back.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The tank is a RSD vintage model, which was modified with new gussets underneath and new tabs on the frame to impart a racing stance. SSC custom made the handle bars, which are held in place with RSD risers. The original controls likewise found the trash heap, replaced with a custom dash. The start button is now cleverly installed in the right side of the fork neck, where the fork lock previously resided.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The seat and exhaust system were crafted in-house at SSC. For stopping power, the PM calipers bite down of 13’ Black Ops rotors from RSD, which provided the engine covers as well. As often done in cycling, the inside of the rims are painted with the XLST3 logo.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

An SSC signature is the front cowl, to which the electrics have been moved, allowing for the disappearance of visible wiring. Of course, as will all SSC builds, the engine was performance upgraded and tuned, with the cases anodized to accentuate the clean paint design applied by Image Design Custom.

As with any SSC creation, the level of detail is artistry, Steve Willis has absolutely scored again.

Follow the Builder

• Shaw Speed & Custom:  Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Web
• Image Design Custom:  Facebook | Instagram | Web

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Arjun Raina of Moto Exotica, who built one of our favorite builds of all time — the RD350 scrambler — is back with a Royal Enfield scrambler. Royal Enfield, like BSA, began life as a weapons manufacturer, producing, most notably, the Enfield rifle — the primary firearm used by the armed forces of the British Empire for the first half of the 20th century. Based on this heritage came the famous slogan for Royal Enfield’s motorcycles:

Made like a gun, goes like a bullet.

This particular build is based on a 2013 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 UCE. UCE stands for Unit Construction Engine, which is the modern evolution of the 50 year-old cast-iron Bullet motor. Changes included a traditional left hand side gearbox to draw more “non-Bulleteers” into the Royal Enfield family.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The Bullet 350 offers roughly 20 horsepower and a 5-speed transmission, along with the classic styling and history of a motorcycling legend. Moto Exotica, never a shop to fear range and variety, wanted to build a modern scrambler without sacrificing the charm of a classic British motoring machine.

Unlike a lot of scrambler builds we see, this is not just a design exercise with a few styling cues bolted on and a set of knobby tires. Arjun has more than 200 hours in the fab work for this build, using a 5-axis mill and redesigning 80% of the chassis. Below, he gives us some details.

Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Scrambler:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Arjun Raina. Highlights by us.)

One thing about us that has remained constant with time is the variety, from slick cafe racers to bare-bone scramblers to the enduro KTMs! This is the first Royal Enfield that gets our special treatment, typically in the Moto-Exotica fashion!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Design goals were fixated upon building a modern scrambler and yet retain the charms of a classic British bike, so we went with 10 inch travel fully adjustable front end and a generous rear mono setup, we did end up redesigning 80 percent of the chassis and lost quite a bit of metal there. The machining and design over this exceeded 200 hours. And yes, we did use a 5 axis mill for this one.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The results are stunning, you have an practical bike that doubles up as a true scrambler maybe even a tourer. I like it so much that I am building one for myself!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Follow the Builder

Follow Moto Exotica: Facebook | Web

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Entrophy Motorbike is a small garage founded in Perugia, central Italy. The guys who work there are pro riders in Enduro and they started this ‘hobby’ just for fun — but now it has become a real passion. In 2015 they bought a Yamaha XJ400 to play around with, but a couple of months later a customer appeared at the garage, asking for a special custom bike.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

There was only one condition given to the Entrophy guys:  the brand of the bike had to be Yamaha! So they took out the old Yamaha XJ400 engine, and after a lot of time planning and studying, they decided to overhaul not only the chassis but the very soul of the bike. They began by changing the wheels, they swapped the front for one from a Guzzi v35, and the rear for one from an old Suzuki DR600.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Next they took radical steps to completely change the front of the bike; they placed Honda CBR forks with Enduro handlebars and radial brakes.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The fuel tank was completely handmade with a unique and specially crafted cap. After that it was time to change the rear end of the bike. The guys took out the double suspension and began work on a mono shock absorber. The mono was taken from an old Yamaha shock!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The seat is completely handmade and specially designed for the rider with cleverly moulded features. The colour of the bike is also a customer request. To finish off this unique project, Entrophy Motorbike opted for a Metzeler Karoo offroad tyre, this makes the bike handle well, but keeps a really strong and aggressive edge to the overall feel.

Follow the Builder

Follwo Entrophy Motorbike:  Facebook | Instagram | Web

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Argentina has become a hotbed of tracker and scrambler style builds, with builds being turned by the likes of Herencia Custom Garage, Triple Ocho Garage, and STG Tracker.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This Honda CB250 scrambler may appear to be built by one of these well-known shops. Incredibly, this is the first bike of Matias Aguirre, who built with the help of his friend Ariel Ruiz of new shop D-locos Customs. Both live in Rio Tercero, Cordoba, and Mati spent more than two years designing and planning the build. Photography is his other hobby, and he took these great shots. Below, we interview him for the full scoop on the build.

Honda Nighthawk Scrambler:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Answers by Matias Aguirre. Questions and highlights by us.)

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your history with motorcycles.

My name is Matias Aguirre, and I’m from Rio Tercero, a small city near to Cordoba (Argentina). This is my first personal bike, but I drove small bikes before. Iv’e been planning and designing this bike for more than two years, searching about the style, the legend bikes, the classics. Waiting for the right donor.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

This is a ’94 Honda Nighthawk 250cc — great engine for a small bike! It’s my first personal bike.

What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

In the beginning I was looking for a café racer — low clip-ons, small tail seat — but the research put in front of me the Honda CL 350 scrambler, and that was it. I fell in love of those exhaust pipes, the stance of the bike, everything. So I start my search for the donor.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The idea was not to spend much money on it, about 2000 dls was the limit and the same amount for the parts/custom works. The other thing I had in mind was the color style. I want something classic, kinda vintage style, but not that far. The first thing I get for this project was the gas tank. Its from a ‘77 xs400, I loved the lines, I don’t care what the bike gonna be — with that thank, any bike will turn out great.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A few month slater, I found the Nighthawk and brought it home. So I called my friend Ariel, who was starting a kustom shop in his garage (D-locos Customs) and asked if he want to take my project. So I sent him ideas from blogs, pinterest, and such. He started chopping right away!

What custom work was done to the bike?

• The first thing was the custom-made exhaust pipes (CL350 style).
• Front fork, we lowered about 15 cm. The original was “custom” style.
• Next, the rear fork, we shorted 10 cm.
• Replaced subframe for a clean triangle ended in a loop, scrambler style, and the seat base with in-seat led light (stop and turns)
• Make room under the gas tank for the gel battery
• The handle bar is for a Yamaha fz16
• The original rims was replaced by 410×18 rims , front and back

Please include a list of the changes made/parts used.

• The gas tank was replaced for the xs400 tank
• Black pipes tape
• Custom headlight
• Custom universal speedometer
• Bitwell grips
• 410×18 rims and tires
• Custom air intake
• Satin black epoxy paint job, on all the bike, engine included
• Custom leather seat
• Engine rebuild, new jap pistons and rectifier, set of new gaskets

How would you classify this bike?

This bike is a crossover between a scrambler and a brat, I really like both styles, I think the essence of this bike is in the balance of this two styles.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

I really like the sub frame , empty and clear, just the air filter, this is something hard to find in project nowadays. And the result overall, considering the really low budget the bike is solid, simple, has really neat lines, and the sound is great!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Follow the Builders

• Builder:  Ariel Ruiz of D-locos Customs
• Owner:  Matias Aguirre
• Photography:  Matias Aguirre

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Today, we’re thrilled to present “Project Multipass,” a Ducati Multistrada scrambler built by John Goldsberry of Behind Bars Customs. John is the perfect man to build such a machine. At the age of 23, he became the (then) youngest Ducati Master Tech in North America!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

He originally bought this 2007 Multistrada as quick flip, but a jaunt around the local supermoto track changed his mind.  He was hugely impressed with what “Big Red” could do, and he wanted to test the bike’s limits further. He decided to build the bike for the Super Hooligan class race, and what a machine he’s created — a street-legal monster that can race both TT and flat track.

Super Hooligan Racing Rules

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Post Super Hooligan Race!

Super Hooligan harks back to the “run-what-you-brung” days of old. As such, the rules are loose:  Super Hooligan bikes are street-registerable, 750cc and larger bikes in stock frames with dirt track tires and no front brakes. Putting heavy bikes on a short dirt track makes for some wildly entertaining racing.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

As one fan has said:

“The only thing I can compare it to, given I’m from Texas, is a dozen or so Cowboys making the miles to get a haul home. Anything could happen out there. It’s wild.”

Below, we interview John for the full story on this Ducati Super Hooligan.

Project Multipass:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Answers by John Goldsberry of Behind Bars Customs. Highlights by us.)

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your workshop.

When I was about eight years old my Dad got me an ATC 70 and I have been riding ever since. I started stunt riding when I was sixteen years old, and have also raced a few local motocross races and AMRA desert races. I was always working on my own bikes, but attended Motorcycle Mechanics Institute at age eighteen, and started working at a Ducati dealer shortly after graduation. At age 23, I became the youngest (at the time) certified Ducati Master Technician and Desmosedici certified technician in North America.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

I love Ducatis and am heavily influenced by the history of Ducati along with Moto GP, flat-track, and off-road racing. My wife and I currently live in Los Angeles, California with our two rescued pit bulls but we are relocating to San Diego, California in February of 2017. I currently have a small workshop at our house with pretty much everything I need for now and I plan to build a similar set up in San Diego.

Why was the bike built?

I bought the bike, a 2007 Ducati Multistrada 1100S, to flip it. While I had it, I rode it out to a supermoto track to photograph friends. I ended borrowing a race suit and taking it on the track to see what it could do. After backing her into corners, doing wheelies on the straight, and jumping the dirt sections, I saw the potential that was hiding under the big fairings.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

I wanted to test the bike’s limits further, so raced a Hell On Wheels MC flat track race. It looked out of place, and the announcers nicknamed the bike “Big Red,” but it ran great! That night, I decided instead of flipping it, I wanted to build the bike for Super Hooligan class races.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

The design concept behind Project Multipass was both function and aesthetic. I wanted a street legal bike that I could use to race TT and flat track. When I stripped all the fairings I understood the design I wanted. It needed a grungy, Mad Max feel, while still retaining some of that strange Multistrada style. I knew I wanted no fairings, a motocross style front number plate and dirt bars. I wanted people to see that you can take a bike and transform it into anything you want. I also want to make some heads turn and have fun banging bars on the racetrack.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Mission Accomplished!

What custom work was done to the bike?

The biggest change to the bike, is that I shortened and strengthened the back section of the frame. The back section was changed for cosmetic reasons and because the exhaust was no longer going to be mounted under the tail section. I hand-formed the front and rear number plates because both were somewhat of a strange design that I wanted.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

While jumping the dirt section at the supermoto track, I cracked the front engine mount. Given the lesson learned at the supermoto track, I repaired and strengthened the front engine mount. I fabricated external engine supports so the engine could sustain the abuse of jumping.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

I removed all the fairings besides the stock fuel tank, and routed all the wiring including the battery, to under the fuel tank. I also removed all the frame tabs to clean up the lines on the frame. I shortened and modified the exhaust and then wrapped it. I relocated the rear seat latch so the line of the rear seat/seat cowl flows better. I fabricated frame tabs under the tail and mounted a Motobox LED license plate frame, that includes running light, brake light, turn signals, and license plate light all-in-one.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

I powder-coated the frame and wheels sun gold. I also powder-coated engine covers and a few other parts gloss black. I then painted the rest semi-gloss black with worn edges to show a gold base layer. The ECU was flashed by Rexxer USA, because I wanted the bike to run no ignition, dash, or O2 sensors. This required wiring a new ignition switch, starter button and switches for the lights, which are all mounted on the sides of the air box. This tucked everything inside the trellis frame nicely. The front brake line was also custom-made for the bar risers and high bend Pro Taper bars.

List of changes made/parts used

Besides the list of custom modifications, we added a few parts for this build. The most noticeable are the Continental TKC 80 tires. When I go to the flat track races I will be using flat track style tires and the bike will be lowered. I installed LED light pods that were added for headlights and they are mounted to the sides of the frame. MotoBox USA sent me one of their license plate frames that has everything you need, all in one frame.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

I routed all the wiring under the tank which included the battery. I wanted to run a lighter battery so I used a featherweight lithium battery from WPS. I installed a Hypermotard 1100 oil cooler and lines so I could mount the oil cooler behind the front tire. I used bar risers and Pro Taper Pastrana bend bars for comfort and looks. To keep my hands and levers safe, I got some Acerbis supermoto handguards. These are sporting MOVE OVER (backwards) on the front of the handguards for the wonderful California traffic. I will be adding more aggressive/wider foot pegs, a skid plate and front fork guards in the near future.

Classify the bike

If I had to classify this bike, I would say this would be a cross between a street-tracker and a scrambler. This is my version of a hybrid flat-tracker/street-tracker with an apocalyptic flair.

Was there anything done during the build you are particularly proud of?

I love this entire bike! When you ride it, it just gets even better. It’s big, filled with torque, loud as hell, wheelies all over the place and looks like you just don’t care. I will be more proud of this bike when I win some trophies with her.

Follow the Builder

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

• Follow Behind Bars Customs:  Facebook | Instagram | Web
• Other Links:  Pro Italia (Ducati Dealer) and Stand Up for Pits

Save

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The Honda CL77 or Scrambler 305, introduced in the mid-60s, is still one of the most beautiful two-wheeled machines ever made. Powered by a 305cc air-cooled parallel twin, this 27-hp “Gentleman’s Scrambler” differed from the Honda CB line of sport bikes by offering several modifications that allowed for moderate off-road riding, including a larger tube frame, 19-inch wheels with “universal” tires, and of course that beautiful high-mount exhaust.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

1967 Honda Scrambler 305

Years later, Honda would produce the “Gentleman’s Sport Bike,” the CB550F. Toby Jones of OtC Custom motorcycles had a CB550F sitting on the stand, and he wanted to create:

A reasonably comfortable and dependable vintage two-up bike with enough grunt to get the job done…

What a fitting tribute he’s created to the Scrambler 305, a new “Gentleman’s Scrambler” with many of the same design cues of the original but a lot more grunt. Below, he gives us the full story on the build.

CB550 Scrambler / Restomod:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Toby Jones of OtC Custom. Highlights by us.)

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your workshop.

My name is Toby Jones. I was born and raised an Indiana farm boy, but have spent most of my adult life in sunny Florida. Our shop, OtC Custom motorcycles, was started by my brother in-law Jim VanAlst and I when I moved back to Indiana for a few years. Jim picked up a basket case T120 Bonneville chopper that we put together. He is a first class fabricator/welder and I had done a lot of mechanical work and painting so the chopper turned out pretty sweet. Also we think a lot alike so we work together really well. Unfortunately, due to my moving back south, we don’t get to work together much anymore, but still share input on each other’s projects. You might even notice that, even though I work alone on these builds, most of the time I refer to OtC Custom as “we”. My partner is always a big part of them. Although we build and sell a couple bikes a year, OtC was, and still is, more of a hobby than anything else. We joke about Jim’s garage in Indiana being OtC’s northern division and my in garage in Florida being the southern division.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

This build started with a 1975 Honda CB550F. In ’75 these bikes were known as the “Gentleman’s Sport Bike.” The motorcycle press at the time used almost no superlatives to describe them. In almost every category they were labeled “adequate”, however, unlike most bikes, the testers had nothing bad to say about the midsize four. Almost like the sum being greater than its parts and in the end most concluded that the F-bike was a “damn fine motorcycle.”

Why was this bike built?

Originally this bike was a customer build. An older gentleman had seen our KZ650 café bike and really liked it. The plan was to build his CB550 along the same lines as our Kawasaki. As he and I discussed the project it became clear that what he wanted was an almost exact copy of the KZ. Eventually a deal was struck, he rode off on our Kawasaki café bike and I ended up with his tired old Honda (it had a tractor muffler on it). It sat in a corner of my garage for a few months while I finished the CB400F café bike that was featured on your site a few months ago.

What was the design concept / influence for the build?

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Honda RS750 Scrambler by Denny Berg for Cobra Engineering

A couple of things influenced the direction we went with this build. First and foremost was the RS750 Honda that Denny Berg built in 2010 for Cobra Engineering. The bike featured the color scheme and a lot of design elements that Honda had used on their 305 Scrambler in 1967. The first time I saw the build it just blew me away that a bike could remain that close to stock and still look so cool. The second thing was I really wanted a reasonably comfortable and dependable vintage two-up bike with enough grunt to get the job done. The CB550 fills the bill nicely. I guess the word “understated” pretty much sums up what we were after.

What custom work was done to the bike?

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Actually this one was a lot different for us than our previous builds in that it didn’t require a lot of fabrication. Our aim was to make the bike look like a showroom new motorcycle that Honda could have (and maybe should have) offered forty years ago. We even went as far as using the big old stock mirrors that look like something off Pee Wee Herman’s bicycle. Some of the subtle changes involved small things like using only a speedometer and adapting the simple indicator light panel from Honda’s earlier model CBs. This also required relocating the ignition switch and building brackets for it and the single centered speedometer. We also went with scrambler style bars and an early style front fender with two braces in place of the single brace late model front fender. The rear fender was shortened a couple of inches to show a bit more tire. I found a very nice set of used alloy rims from a CB750A. The rears are wider and 17” as opposed to the 18” stockers that came on the CB550 and regular CB750 bikes. I think the smaller diameter rear rim with larger tire adds a bit of a purposeful look to things.

Parts List / Modifications

• The top end of the engine was freshened with a valve job, honing and new rings.
• The carbs were rebuilt and the bike was tuned.
• The frame, swing arm, center stand and kickstand were sand blasted and powder coated.
• The tank was stripped to bare metal, filled and smoothed. It and a set of new reproduction side covers were painted in base/clear metallic silver. Vintage Honda transfers and aftermarket rubber knee pads were also added to the tank.
• The lower fork legs were polished along with the brake drum hub, tappet adjusting covers and sprocket cover.
• The headlight mounting ears and bucket were painted to match the frame.
• A small Lucas style taillight was added in place of the stock piece.
• A new reproduction speedometer was installed along with new handlebar switches.
• All Balls tapered fork bearings were installed.
• CB750A alloy rims were laced to the original CB550F hubs.
• As with all our builds the bike got news brake shoes/pads, tires and swing arm bushings.
• The tired old rear shocks were replaced with new stockers.
• For parts sources we used our friends at Dime City Cycles, 4 into 1 and David Silver Spares among a few others.

How would you classify this bike?

I guess I would have to classify this build as a resto-mod with subtle scrambler undertones. What I do know is, when people in my age group check it out (even people that aren’t into vintage bikes) they always look as if they recognize something about it from their past. I think that’s pretty cool.

Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The thing I’m really proud of about this build is actually how quickly we got it done. We finally decided what we wanted to do with it about a month before the Barber Vintage Festival and wanted to take it along. We weren’t sure we could make it happen, but after getting the frame back from powder coating a week early things began to fall into place. We actually named the project “The Race to Barber” and we won. Spent a lot of late nights and early mornings in the shop on this one, but seeing the reaction it got from the folks at the festival and taking a few laps around the track with my lovely wife on the back was well worth the effort. Since finishing this build we have picked up two CB400F bikes that are going to get the OtC treatment and an older SL70 Honda that we are doing for a charity auction to be held at the Riding into History Show in St. Augustine FL next year. The auction is to benefit the K9s for Warriors project. Unfortunately we can’t keep all these great bikes if we want to keep on building more of them so this bike and our little yellow CB400F café racer are both for sale.

Follow OtC Customs on Facebook

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Tim Roberts of Roberts Performance Group has a long history in building race cars, where weight, clutter, and weakness is the enemy. He has brought that same mentality to his bike builds, and it shows. Last year, his first build, a Yamaha Virago, was third on our list of the Best Custom Bikes of the year.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Now Tim is back with his second build, a ’74 Honda CB360 scrambler, which he’s dubbed “Blue.”  This was a budget-conscious build with a rough-and-ready attitude, and we’d love to put this little brawler to work on some of the trails in Tim’s home state of Colorado.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Below, Tim gives us the full story on the build.

Honda CB360 Scrambler:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Tim Roberts of RPG. Highlights by us.)

A little bit about me:

I’m a designer, moonlight fabricator, and bike builder based in the Denver, CO area. This is my second bike build, commissioned by a fan of my previous piece. My design inspiration comes from my love of building and racing cars. When building racecars every component is on the car because it HAS to be there. Every part serves a purpose and is optimized for that purpose, otherwise it’s just extra weight and clutter. I use the same philosophy with my bike builds. I think this gives my work a very clean and purposeful look where there’s no place for poor craftsmanship to hide.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A little bit about the bike, “Blue”:

The owner of this 1974 Honda CB360 is a recent transplant to Denver. He had reached out to several other builders in the area but got no response. I answered his call and we began to plan out the build immediately. The donor was a clean but well used commuter bike that lived its life on numerous college campuses and military bases along the East Coast and Midwest. He wanted it turned into a light and nimble scrambler that could tear up the city streets as well as the mountain dirt roads. He wanted big fat knobby tires, an open ‘triangle’ under the seat, wrapped headers, and an overall rugged look. Everything else was up to me.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Since this was a budget-conscious build we opted to keep the tank original and engine internals stock. The engine was cleaned up, painted, and given some fresh hardware. A custom under-frame exhaust was fabricated using a small bullet muffler that tucks neatly between the frame rails. The tank got scrubbed down then buried under several layers of clear coat to preserve the 42 years of patina it had earned. I also slightly repositioned the tank on the frame to line up better with the new low profile seat.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Frame work began by completely chopping off the rear half and fabricating a new sleek structure to integrate the seat, high mount fender, and passenger pegs. The remaining half of the factory frame was de-tabbed, stripped, and smoothed before getting a fresh coat of gloss black urethane. Motocross pegs were also adapted to the reworked factory mounts.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A beefier CB550 front end replaced the original components. I drilled and scalloped the CB550 front rotor and adapted it to a CB360 hub and 18″ rim. The front fender was dug out of a pile at the local wrecking yard. It sits perfectly tucked up to the lower triple with a simple bracket that doubles as the headlight mount. Longer rear shocks were fitted to the new subframe and stock swingarm to give the bike a bit more travel and ride height. Identical Bridgestone TW42’s are fitted the front and rear rims. The rear drum brake is stock but the tension rod, linkage, and pedal were reengineered.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

A custom wire harness was built with modern automotive connectors and new electronics to replace the factory ignition and charging systems. The LED headlight and strip tail lights help keep current draw low so I could use a battery small enough to tuck between the frame rails above the air filters. The gauge is a KOSO T&T digital/analog unit that neatly keeps track of all the bike’s vitals. Rider controls are a mix of finds from various late model sport bikes and wrecking yards.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

I think the bike came together perfectly. I really love how rugged and raw the bike seems yet there are so many little finely finished details to take in when you look closer. Best of all, the owner is overjoyed with his new old bike

Follow the Builder

Follow Roberts Performance Group, LLC:  Facebook | Instagram | Web

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Speedtractor of Tokyo is one of our very favorite custom builders in the world. They’re motto is “dirty good fun,” and each of their builds is a vehicle for just that. The shop got its start several years ago, when some friends were worried that motorcycling was losing its soul. They were tired of waiting for the big manufacturers to build bikes that stirred their spirit, so they decided to build their own. Speedtractor bikes never fail to inspire. As they say…

Our motorcycles are never the fastest and rarely the latest but will always leave you wearing the biggest grin.

Yamaha SRV250:  “Thou Wolf in Sheep’s Array”

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This Yamaha SRV250, nicknamed “Odd Job,” certainly looks the grin machine. The SRV250 is not a bike that’s particularly well-known. In fact, Luck and Wild has a great post entitled “What the Hell is a Yamaha SRV250?” In fact, the bike was produced from 1992-1996 as a “Retro Theme Bike” — a throwback to the cafe racers of old. The bike has a frame reminiscent of old Nortons and Triumphs, and yet it’s packing a V-twin. Yes, this is the motor from the XV250 Virago, but fortified with dual carbs and a different camshaft profile, resulting in an output of 27 horsepower — six up from the Virago. That might not sound like much, but given that the stock machine weighs only 308 pounds, the SRV250 quickly became known — to quote The Bard — as a “wolf in sheep’s array.”

“Odd Job” SRV250 Cafe Bobber:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Matthew Roberts of Speedtractor. Highlights by us.)

A ruggedized Cafe Racer, or a Hot Rodded Bobber, or perhaps a Scrambled Cafe, whatever the hell you want to call it, it had to be one mean little ride just as of capable of ripping up the streets of Tokyo as the mountains beyond.

Starting point was Yamaha’s pint-sized V Twin SRV250, which won us over 20 years ago with its sleek castings, punchy low-end delivery and sweet handing. It’s the frame, however, that is the double edged sword, bringing many best laid custom plans to a screaming halt with its Manx-esque double loop and high steering head. For all its handling bliss comes with a bucket load of “considerations” for those on the road to re-design.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Not wanting to accidentally rid the machine of its main virtues, our approach was to settle for a drastically cropped rear sub-frame braced at the shock mounts. Battery, Uni filter pods on air intake funnels (to maintain a little intake air velocity) and bespoke fuel cell all now happily live under the one-off carbon, S-glass and epoxy composite body, giving the bike totally revised proportions and longer, lower lines. To further keep the cockpit as simple as possible, a mini speedometer with warning lights was set into the top of the body, visually mirroring the fuel cell’s machined alloy filler cap, while leaving the top triple clamp clear.

We had initially cleared out the under seat area, though that much negative space just left the motor feeling far too diminutive. Our solution was to fab up a set of one-off alloy side covers, polished to a satin finish that visually work as a continuation of the engine mechanicals.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The engine itself was simply treated to a top end freshen up, clutch internals, and far too many further hours of polishing to bring it up to better than factory performance and finish. Oh and those drag style, high-low twin pipes, yes well…ahem….two pots, two pipes, why the hell not!!

(Yes dear readers, this was one of those rare builds that when practicality came knockin’ we told it to tell its story walking — notice also the lack of guards.)

The tuned length headers match the OEM spec and terminate in staggered reverse cone megaphones for a somewhat throaty exhaust note. Part of Yamaha’s secret in developing such a lovable V-twin was their efforts in exhaust header length tuning and the twin carbs intakes for the best low and mid range, so we made sure not to cock these elements up.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The steering head height is a bit of a killer on these machines. Looking to keep a congruous line from tip through stumpy tail, a one-off headlight shell that transitions seamlessly into a mini fairing as a single unit helped smooth out the Yamaha’s notoriously high riding triple clamps. Top triple was machined, welded and smoothed and clip-ons fitted, though their placement still makes for an all-day ride friendly seating position. Brakes were overhauled, braided lines and a more compact master cylinder made friends with the alloy clip-ons.

Wheels are first series SRV hubs overhauled and laced to slightly wider than standard alloy rims. We were pushing for some meaty road Bridgestone tyres, but for some reason conversations ensued based around a more apocalyptic vibe. We couldn’t bring ourselves to run full-on block tyres as requested, but as we’d already left practicality at the door, the compromise ended at rubber being Pirelli Scorpion, giving the little bruiser a bit of a rough and tumble look but without sacrificing road manners too much.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Front forks were overhauled and internals revised for a slightly firmer ride and are accompanied by a set of Ohlins twin shocks at the rear. Perhaps overkill, but this previously mentioned lover affair stemmed two decades earlier from the SRV’s totally planted ride. Even in standard trim these machines eat up corners better than motorcycles twice their capacity, so we though, what the hell, we may as well go to town on it.

The ride position belies the slightly extreme appearance and is strangely all day comfortable as the rear-set foot controls move the riders feet back under the hips and lean the body forward for the medium reach to the bars.

Rounding out the ensemble is a striking lick of paint and colour matched diamond stitched Alcantara seat with a neatly frenched in tail light. Indicator lights are somewhat experimental with T3 LEDs grafted into the main headlight reflector and LEDs in the bolt heads of the number plate, (not fitted for the photoshoot). The plate doubles as a minimal rear guard similar to many Speedtractor builds.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

All in all nothing too serious, just a fun, rideable and affordable foray into bespoke motorcycles. And the name? Odd Job? well every villain needs a henchman to help execute their fiendish plots… and we figure this little SRV is just about as bang on for that role as you could get.

Special thanks to:

• Higashiyama-san for helping with the polishing marathon
• Miauchi-san for his seat stitching A-game
• Nakata-san for getting that deep red just right
• Daria P for commissioning the build and bringing tickets to this crazy train.

Follow the Builder

Follow Speedtractor:  Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Vimeo | Web

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

There is nothing we love more than a killer garage-build. This KZ400 scrambler is exactly that, built by Nick Petterson of Milwaukee’s Motofied Cycles. This is Nick’s first build, and it’s an auspicious start. Instead of treading over old ground with a CB750 or XS650, Nick decided to take on a challenge:

I wanted to take a bike that is generally thought of as a “girly” beginner bike and make something that looked aggressive and functioned more like a dual sport.

Early advertisements of the KZ400 promoted the bike’s fuel efficiency, pitting the bike against a VW Beetle with the tagline:  Think even smaller.  Not exactly what you would think of as aggressive, compared to older siblings like the KZ650 and mighty KZ1000. Of course, Motofied changed all that, building The Brown Bomber:  a mean, mud-colored little ripper we would kill to ride. Best of all? Total budget, including bike, was only $1300!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Below, we have the full interview with Nick about the build.

The Brown Bomber:  Builder Interview

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Highlights by us.)

• Please tell us about your history with motorcycles and your workshop.

My name is Nick Petterson, from Milwaukee WI. I am new to the vintage moto scene as this is my first build. I operate out of a quaint, one car garage with plans to build up my business and get into a full functioning shop. I’ve been into motorcycles for roughly three years. The first motorcycle I bought was a 1982 Kz650 CSR. I began to change things on the bike and became friends with many people around the Milwaukee area because of it. Since then I’ve owned more than 20 motorcycles and my lifestyle has drastically changed; now riding, building, mechanics, welding and fabrication are my true passion.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

Kawasaki, 1978 Kz400b

• Why was this bike built?

Started as my first custom motorcycle build, soon after I started a good friend offered to buy it.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

I wanted to take a bike that is generally thought of as a “girly” beginner bike and make something that looked aggressive and functioned more like a dual sport.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

Starting out as a stock bike, I have since built a loop for the tail with a custom integrated taillight, custom seat pan that was upholstered at Milwaukee Cycle Salvage, frame modifications, side pipe exhaust, tank paint, machined headlight bracket, chain slide for the swingarm, battery tray, and a machined bracket for seat pan mounting.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

• Please include a list of the changes made/parts used.

-New parts and work for this build include: Shinko SR241 tires, painted wheels, grated headlight, Bitwell grips, Renthal moto bars, custom emblems made by John McGeen, seat done by Ron at Milwaukee Cycle Salvage, RFY shocks, K&N oval pod filters, Anti-gravity battery, custom built side pipe exhaust with a 2 into 1 collector using a Cone Engineering Muffler, custom LED integrated taillight that uses bronze flanged bushings press fit into the frame.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

-The taillight took a lot of work for it to turn out correctly but I am very pleased with the outcome of my work. The exhaust was another big challenge for me because I have only a handful of welding and fab tools available to me. Altogether, I am proud of this bike because of the things that I’ve learned and the new challenges I’ve encountered while building it. Also, this bike was built for only $1300 including the cost of the bike and parts. Labor not included.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Follow the Builder, etc

• Follow Motofied:  Facebook | Instagram
• Seat builder:  Milwaukee Cycle Salvage
• Emblem designer:  John McGreen
• Mentor: Jeff Stephens of Godffery’s Garage
• Photography:  Zeb Rausch

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The BMW R65 was introduced in 1978, offering a 648cc airhead motor with 44 horsepower.  Owner maintenance is standard practice with these BMW touring bikes, and the bike came with a full tool kit and even a hand-operated time pump. Though BMW expected that owners would take care of most maintenance, they probably did not expect them to rebuild their machines in such radical ways.

Enter Mad Max, a BMW R65 bobber built by Gabriele and Massimo of Sicily’s Delux Motorcycles. The duo describe themselves as:

Two good guys united by the same passions, including surfing, skateboarding, rock music, R&B.

BMW R65 “Mad Max”:  Build Story

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This R65 was originally purchased in 1983, and the Delux Motorcycles crew found the bike in an old farmer’s barn, dust-covered and rusting away despite just 45,000 km on the odometer. Given the knobby tires on the bike, they believe the bike had been used for chores around the farm.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

They decided to rebuild the bike in a Mad Max style, meaning they would use whatever components they could get their hands on.  As they say:

He is reborn of everything.

They wanted a bike whose style was extremely simple, light, and minimal.

In the project we have always followed the idea of ​​keeping a compactness and simplicity of a bicycle.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

For most of us motorcyclists, the love of two wheels began on pedal-powered BMX, mountain, or racing bikes.  Certainly it did for the crew here at BikeBound, and we love custom builds that draw their design cues from the cycling world. The most obvious bicycle-influenced design element of this bobber — and perhaps the signature component of the entire bike — is the gas tank, which recalls the top bar of a bicycle frame.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The tank was hand-built from a 60cm length of water pipe. The wall thickness is 1cm (!), and the fuel lines and cap are re-purposed natural gas conduits. Another bicycle design cue comes in the form of the saddle, sourced from BRN (Bernardi), an Italian bicycle component manufacturer that’s been in business since the 1940s.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The crew left the patina intact, and went with zero instrumentation — after all, few vintage bicycles have speedometers or cyclocomputer displaying cadence (RPM).

Follow the Builder

• Follow Delux Motorcycles:  Facebook | Email
• Photos by Floriana Di Carlo.
• Pipeburn also covered this bike here.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Today we’re thrilled to present our 10 Best Custom Motorcycles of 2016, as judged by you, our readers. Your visits, likes, comments, and shares serve as votes, and we ranked these bikes according to their popularity among our readership. This is the most objective ranking we could achieve.

Don’t see your favorite in the list?  Stay tuned for our Best Cafe Racers and Best Trackers & Scramblers lists!

We noticed two big themes in this year’s 10 Best:

• Two-Strokes:  Obviously, you guys are big fans of blue smoke, as three of our 10 Best Customs were 2-strokes. There is something so brutal and atavistic about the fury of a two-smoke, like riding a fire-bellied rattlesnake, and we hope to see more 2-smokers in 2017.
• Garage-Builds:  Nearly half of these builds were the work of garage-builders instead of well-known professional shops, proving that determination and a keen eye for stance, proportion, and geometry can supersede a big budget and arsenal of tools.
• Scramblers and Trackers:  We certainly can’t call this list the 10 Best Cafe Racers of 2016, as we might have in years past. Only half of these bikes could be classified as cafe builds, and we’re excited to see a number of dual sport based customs making the list.

Without further ado, here are our 10 Best Custom Bikes of 2016.

10. BMW K100 Custom by Z17 Customs

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The BMW K100, aka the Flying Brick, certainly wasn’t the prettiest bike ever to come out of Germany. But the crew of Moscow’s Z17 Customs has an affinity for these 80s motorbikes.  We featured one of their K100 builds in 2015, and this bloodred Bavarian bullet, dubbed “The Rebel,” is so well-sorted, it looks like something that could have come directly from the draft tables of BMW Motorrad engineers.

9. Monoshock CB750 Cafe Racer by Andrew Wales

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This monoshock CB750 may look like the product of a high-rent, name-brand custom shop, but it’s not. Nope, it’s the work of Andrew Wales, a machinist/millwright and fabricator out of Calgary, Alberta, whose motto is “Modern Mind, Classic Heart”. What’s more, this build was especially bittersweet, as a serious accident gave him the opportunity to complete his full vision for the build.

8. Yamaha RD350 Scrambler by Moto Exotica

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Nicknamed “Eight,” this 2-stroke, 210-pound RD350 scrambler built by Arjun Raina of India’s Moto Exotica is one of the wickedest scramblers we have ever seen. Those stainless steel expansion chambers are pure sex, each TIG-welded from 45 separate sections, and the bike reportedly has a top speed of 125 mph — 20 more than stock! We’re a huge fan of this machine, and it certainly deserves its place as one of the best custom bikes of 2016.

7. BMW R80 Cafe Racer by Ironwood Custom Motorcycles

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Arjan van den Boom of Ironwood Custom Motorcycles is one of our favorite people in the worldwide customs scene. This 1986 BMW R80, “The Renegade,” simply oozes power and class. We love the negative space, and the way the tank and seat seemed to float over the black hunk of airhead power.

6. Yamaha RD400 Custom by Keith Carlson

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Keith Carlson of Indianapolis built this two-stroke machine-age banshee by mating a ported and polished 1977 RD400 motor to a 2002 Honda CRF450R frame. In the process, he created one of the wildest scream machines we have ever seen.  This bike was a huge hit with our readers, generating dozens of comments on social media, and well-deserved.

5. Honda NX650 Tracker by Dab Design

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We see so many beautiful bikes, but few are innovative in ways that surpass the custom scene and apply to motorcycling as a whole.  The LM-0 NX650 street tracker is one such bike–a collaboration between Simon Dabadie of Dab Design and one of our favorite builders, Cafe Racer SSpirit of San Sebastian, Spain. The bodywork of the bike is built from lin (or flax) fiber, a green material that’s being used in the surfboard, snowboard, and furniture industry. However, this is one of the first motorcycles ever built utilizing this green material, and we were proud as hell to break it to the world.

4. Suzuki GS500 Cafe Racer by So-Low Choppers

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This bike, the “Spirit of Sheene,” was built by 22 year-old Jay Ransome, whose father, Clive Ransome, owns So Low Choppers.  Though Jay is only 22, he has been building bikes since he was just 16. This was his first cafe-style build — a departure from the choppers he normally works on — and he chose the oft-overlooked Suzuki GS500, one of the most plentiful and affordable used bikes on the market. We love seeing such a young builder make our list, especially with a build that pays homage to one of our favorite racers of all time.

3. BMW R80 Scrambler by The Bike Maker

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

When he isn’t tuning vintage BMW iron, Alexandre Ciaramella designs and engineers dials for Swiss luxury watches. That legendary attention to detail shows in this BMW R80R. Sure, some haters will decry the clip-ons combined with knobby tires, but we prize such boldness — especially when it’s executed with such minimalist precision. This bike is so incredibly clean, and it’s hard to beat the extreme cuteness of Alexandre’s son riding his bicycle alongside this burly build.

2. Yamaha RX King 135 Cafe Racer

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Two-strokes have been a theme this year, much to our glee, as have debut garage builds that owe their impact to raw determination rather than big-money budgets and six-figure shops. This two-stroke screamer is the height of that form. Teguh Setiawan, an engineering student in Indonesia, built this bike in the garage of his boardinghouse with makeshift tools, Youtube videos, and a helluva lot of heart.  If that isn’t the essence of the custom culture we love, what is?

1. Honda NX650 Scrambler by Janne Hietakangas

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Drumroll…and the 2016 BikeBound Bike of the Year is this NX650 Scrambler by Janne Hietakangas! We originally shared this scrambler with the caption “Good as Gold.”  Geoff Balwin, the man behind Return of the Cafe Racers, commented to say:  “I don’t know why exactly but something about this bike’s proportions really appeal.”  We could not agree more.  Even better?  Janne, who lives in Finland, built this bike for only $550!

Other Best Lists of 2016

• Bike EXIF Top 10 Custom Motorcycles of 2016
• The Pipeburn 2016 Bike of the Year Award

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We are huge fans of scramblers and trackers here at BikeBound. Apparently so are you, our readers, as half of the machines on our Best Custom Motorcycles of 2016 are running knobby tires and riser bars. We decided to follow up with a list of last year’s most popular scramblers and trackers, based on traffic and social shares. Some of these were true social darlings, accruing tens of thousands of likes on Facebook and Instagram, which we have noted where possible.

Without further ado, here are the BikeBound Best Scramblers and Trackers of 2016, presented in alphabetical order by builder.

KTM 690 Duke Scramblers by Droog Moto Concepts

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Max and Erica Droog are quickly becoming kings of the modern desert sled. This PAIR of KTM 690 Duke scramblers are just damn amazing. One is a 2015 model, the other a 2016. Both sport three-wheeler tanks, skid plates, vintage fenders, and more. Bike EXIF chose the bike as one of their Custom Bikes of the Week, saying, “If you ask us, builds like this would be a perfect factory fit for KTM, combining their history in the dirt and prowess on the street.”

Ducati Multistrada Scrambler by Behind Bars Customs

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

This Italian super hooligan, “Project Multipass,” was one of our favorite bikes of the year. It accrued more than 15.6K likes on Cafe Racers of Instagram and thousands more on Dropmoto. This is one of those bikes that’s truly unique, the work of a builder with a keen vision and super fabrication skills.

KTM “HiRider” by Engineered to Slide

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

When a picture of this minimalist KTM tracker garnered well over 6000 likes on our Instagram account (@bikeboundblog), we knew we had to do a feature on it. The builder, Nigel Petrie, is by day a prototype machinist for Ford Motor Company, and by night a visionary custom builder with incredible fabrication skills. His shop, Engineered to Slide, is a one man show operating out of his garage in Geelong, a port city in the State of Victoria, Australia.

Yamaha XJ400 Scrambler by Entrophy Motorbike

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Entrophy Motorbike is a small garage in Perugia, central Italy, founded by a group of pro enduro riders. They decided to overhaul not only the chassis but the very soul of the bike. This included CBR forks, Guzzi v35 front wheel, Suzuki DR600 rear wheel, handmade tank, and Metzeler Karoo offroad tires. Cafe Racers of Instagram was kind enough to share the bike on Instagram, where it received more than 18.4K likes!

Honda XR600 Tracker by Herencia Custom Garage

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Argentina’s Herencia Custom Garage, based in Buenos Aires, has quickly become one of our favorite builders.  This 1994 Honda XR600R street tracker was the 34th build by Federico Cubik and German Karp, and we just love it so much we want to buy a ticket to Argentina for a ride! The bike continues to be popular on the blog, with lots of return visitors — perhaps perusing the bike for inspiration with their own dual sport builds.

Kawasaki KZ400 Scrambler by Moto-fied

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

There is nothing we love more than a killer garage-build. This KZ400 scrambler is exactly that, built by Nick Petterson of Milwaukee’s Moto-fied Cycles. Incredibly enough, Nick has owned a whole stable of different bikes, but this was his first custom build. The “Brown Bomber” gained more than 16.5K likes on Cafe Racers of Instagram — not bad for a bike built for $1300!

Honda CB360 Scrambler by RPG

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Roberts Performance Group’s first build, a Yamaha Virago, was third on our list of the Best Custom Bikes of 2015. Last month Tim Roberts returned to the blog with his second build, a ’74 Honda CB360 scrambler dubbed “Blue.”  This was a budget-conscious build with a rough-and-ready attitude. Scramblers & Trackers was kind enough to share this bike on Instagram, where it accrued more than 21K total likes!

Stasis Scrambler 900

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

At this year’s Handbuilt Show, we were lucky enough to discover the work of Cliff Fisher, the man behind Stasis Motorcycles.  He simply blew us away with his “Stasis Scrambler 900,” a modern incarnation of a custom Triumph desert sled. He described the bike as a “long-legged, knobby, cattle-guard jumper for the rural Texas dirt roads” — music to our wind-blown ears!

Yamaha XS650 Scrambler by Therapy Garage

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Headman Toby Reed of Therapy Garage built this ’81 XS650, “Jolie,” for his best friend, so the two of them could burn up some fire roads together.  They wanted the scrambler to look like an off-road bike while remaining street-legal and highway-ready — mission accomplished! This bike made the rounds on social media, and continues to be a favorite on the blog.

Triumph T100 Scrambler by Triumph Saint-Lô

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Few Bonnevilles have undergone such radical transformations as this Bonneville T100 scrambler, built by Triumph Saint-Lô and featured in French magazine Cafe Racer. Our friends at Drop Moto were kind enough to share this bike on Instagram, where it received more than 9.1K likes, and it also made Bike EXIF’s Custom Bikes of the Week in December.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Argentina has been turning a staggering array of customs in recent years, mainly trackers and scramblers. At the cutting edge is Herencia Custom Garage, run by our buds Federico Cubik and German Karp. These guys create some of the most killer street trackers and scramblers in the world, many of  which we have had the honor of showcasing, and their incredible Honda CBX1000 custom was recently featured on Bike EXIF.

Recently, we were perusing the HCG builds and came across this Honda CB550 brat tracker we had never seen before. These bikes typically make great cafe builds, but it takes more work and keener eye to build a Honda CB tracker that looks this good. We reached out to Federico for the full story on the build.

Honda CB Tracker:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Federico Cubik.  Translation and highlights by us.)

The idea for this bike, following the HCG ethos, was to conserve the essence of Honda while improving weight, suspension, carburetion, exhaust, and electricals.

Up front, we adapted an inverted Beta suspension with disc brake. We used Japanese mini-switches and Koso digital speedometer.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We replaced the old carburetors with four Keihin CRs with K&N filters. The exhaust is handmade in stainless steel (we kept the design of the mufflers since they are very characteristic of these models).

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

We installed an Antigravity lithium battery and we replaced the coils with a set of Dynatek with NGK cables.

The subframe was slightly modified, and the seat is fabricated and upholstered in leather. The tires are by Coker.

Follow the Builder

• German Karp:  @karp_hcg
• Federico Lozada:  @fedecubik
• Herencia Custom Garage:  Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Web

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Save

Save

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Giorgio De Angelis of De Angelis Elaborazioni is the man who built this incredible BMW K1100 cafe racer, which easily made our list of last year’s best cafe racers. Now Giorgio is back with another burly Bavarian, and this one is built for the dirt roads instead of tarmac:  a 1994 BMW R80G/S scrambler.

Unlike many scrambler builds, the BMW GS has true off-road potential. The G/S designation stands for Gelände/Strasse in German, meaning “offroad/street” — and the R80GS was the first of the BMW GS dual-sport family. The airhead flat-twin produced 50 horsepower, and the bike proved its mettle by winning multiple Paris-Dakar rallies throughout the 80s, while Ed Culberson’s R80GS “Amigo” became the first motorbike to cross the Pan-American Highway completely by land. The R80GS was the first of what would become one of the most popular and battle-tested adventure bike platforms in the world.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Giorgio decided to pay homage to the bike’s Paris-Dakar history with this build. Below, he gives us the full story on the build.

BMW R80G/S Scrambler:  In the Builder’s Words

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Words by Giorgio De Angelis. Highlights by us.)

BMW R80 GS year 1994, processed to make it super light but at the same time very powerful.

I replaced the entire front end with Marzocchi forks of 55mm and number plate made of machined aluminum alloy. The old rear suspension has been replaced with a beautiful Ohlins with preloads.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The handlebar with all controls have been replaced and fitted with Accossato Racing models.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The rear cradle was built entirely to make it super lightweight and shorten the length of the bike frame. The seat has been redone with the classic Orange Paris Dakar.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The tank has been replaced with that of a BMW R100 and painted with colors Paris Dakar. But headlight mask was created in iron and cut laser.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

In the old engine it was equipped with a complete terminal by collectors without plugs and carburetors mounted on K & N filter. The bike became very light and also very powerful despite his years.

Follow the Builder

• Website: www.deangeliselaborazioni.it
• Instagram: @deangeliselaborazioni
• Facebook: De Angelis Elaborazioni

Save

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The Triumph TR6 is one of the most iconic motorcycles of all time. Built from 1956 to 1973, the “desert sled” carved its name into history competing in — and winning — major off-road races like the Catalina Grand Prix, Big Bear Run, AMA Scrambles and Cross Country Championship, and the International Six Day Trials. A favorite of Steve McQueen, the bike starred in The Great Escape, disguised as a WWII-era BMW R75, and legendary stuntman and racer Bud Ekins jumped a TR6 over the fence in the movie’s most famous scene. The TR6 launched a whole genre of desert sleds that continue to be built, imitated, modernized, and otherwise interpreted to this day.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Photo by Cal West, June 1964 edition of Cycle World Magazine. Found via Selvedge Yard.

Today, we have a very special example of the breed — a 1972 Triumph TR6 Tiger 650 — brought to us by one of our favorite photographers, Nic Millan. Nic was kind enough to interview the owner, Jerry, about the bike. No surprise that Steve McQueen’s desert sled was the inspiration for this build, which was resurrected from the pear orchard of a local motorcycling legend and transformed into a 60s-style desert sled/scrambler.

Triumph TR6 Desert Sled:   Builder Interview

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

(Interview conducted by Nic Millan.  Highlights by us.)

Please tell me about yourself and your history with motorcycles.

Like many kids I had a few old bikes growing up. In my 20’s I stopped riding bikes and started racing sports cars and raising kids. Always missed bikes, so on the way home from dropping my youngest off at college, I picked up an old CB350. This opened the flood gates to buying cooler and cooler “broken” bikes to fix up. I worked my way through a few old Hondas and kept my eye out for my next projects.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

1972 Triumph TR6 tiger 650

Why was this bike built?

When I got back into bikes, a vintage Triumph was always at the top of my wish list.

What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

Two words, Steve McQueen. When you think of vintage Triumphs or anything cool for that matter he is the first person that comes to mind. The Desert Sled was made famous by him and Bud Ekins.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

What custom work was done to the bike?

This bike was found in a pear orchard and was pretty much a frame and motor. Some friends of mine put it together and turned it into a running bike. I came along and decided the world did not need another pristine restoration. I had intended to do a full disassembly, powder coat the frame, polish up everything etc. I decided the scratches rock chips cobbled together parts were much more in keeping with the true Desert Sled mentality. First I basically removed all the 72’ parts I could and sourced 60’s parts from my friends parts bins. Rebuilt the forks, added some progressive springs. Simplified all the controls and electronics to just a toggle switch for the headlight. Fabricated mounts and installed high pipes with period correct “snuff-or-nots.” Bobbed the rear fender and replaced the front with an old school aluminum fork brace. Then added some Shinko trials tires and a saddle bag I got from a tack shop.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

How would you classify this bike?

60’s Desert Sled / Scrambler

Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

The fact that the bike was found in a local motorcycle legend’s field (Floyd Young) and was saved and put together with a bunch of free or cheap parts from friends. Using as many used parts I could find and leaving some age on them makes the bike feel more genuine to me.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Follow the Photographer

Follow Nicholas Millan:  Facebook | Instagram | Web

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save