Bike exif

Thailand's K-Speed is a house of many talents. But there's one particular trick that they excel at, and that's turning small-capacity motorcycles into custom machines with big attitudes. So we're not the least bit surprised to see them apply their signature style to the freshly minted Triumph Scrambler 400 X and Speed 400. Created in collaboration with the massive Indian marque Bajaj, Triumph's new 398 cc singles exist to offer potential customers a lower point of entry into the brand…

Twenty years ago, street-legal supermotos weren’t really ‘a thing.’ But in Europe, change was in the air—and the KTM Duke II was one of the catalysts. The rough-and-ready 625 cc single was huge fun on short trips, and helped set the template for future supermotos. Over the past couple of years, custom supermotos have become more common, delivered by builders who value performance as much as aesthetics. And one of those builders is Garett Wilson of Dubstyle Designs in Colorado, USA. “These…

The alt-moto scene is full of enthusiasts that have a measure of good taste, but don't have the means to build or commission a full-bore custom. So for every top-shelf bike you see here, there's dozens on the street running a smattering of similar mods—often purchased and installed incrementally. Because of this, some custom builders have had the good business sense to develop bolt-on kits for particular makes and models. And those kits are even better when they're made of parts that can be…

The sheer diversity of Freeride Motos Racing's stable makes it difficult to lump them into one silo. You’re just as likely to find a svelte supermoto in their workshop, as you are a 90-year-old Moto Guzzi. Shop boss Pierre Dhers is clearly onto a good thing—so it's no wonder that he gets return customers. One such customer is Dakar Rally driver and flat track racer Pierre Lachaume. The two Pierres met some time ago when M. Lachaume wanted a custom bike. He wanted his 1989 Yamaha XT 600…

Moto Guzzi doesn't make too much noise these days, but they do have some gems in their collection. One of these is the Moto Guzzi V85 TT. Sure, it's not the most exhilarating adventure bike on the market—but it has oodles of character, and charming looks that set it apart. Filippo Barbacane of the Italian workshop Officine Rossopuro is a fan, citing the V85 TT's no frills design as its biggest drawcard. “It's a motorcycle dedicated to touring, but without the pursuit of extreme technology…

Murdered-out customs used to be all the rage. But lately, builders have been favoring more diverse color palettes. Which is a real pity: done right, black-on-black can be downright beautiful. Clockwork Motorcycles' Samuel Guertin proves it with his latest offering: a 1978 Honda CB750 with a brawny stance and subdued finishes. “It needs to be all-black” was his client's primary request—and the helicopter-mechanic-turned-bike-builder was more than happy to comply. But first, he had to get the…

Back in the 90s, the Japanese manufacturers went through a phase of building Italian-style sportbikes. Honda had the SuperHawk, and Suzuki the TL1000S—both 90° V-twins. Yamaha, however, took the 10-valve DOHC parallel twin used in its sport tourers and came up with the Yamaha TRX850. The critical reception was mixed, to say the least, but these days the TRX850 is appreciated a little more. It’s a good value secondhand buy, and with upgrades to the suspension and brakes, it’s a torquey and…

Ironwood says goodbye to older bikes with their last carb'd custom. We've also rounded up another fresh Triumph from Tamarit, a Zero with handcrafted bodywork, KTM's new 450 Rally Replica, and a modern homage to the Ducati 750 Sport. Honda GL500 by Ironwood Custom Motorcycles Arjan van den Boom is no stranger to these pages. He’s been making custom bikes since 2012 and has been rather prolific, to say the least. What might come as a surprise, is that you're looking at the last carbureted…

When Honda released the CX500 in 1978, they had no idea how significant it would become in the custom world roughly four decades later. Initially released to scores of adoring fans, it eventually fell out of favor—and its design hasn't aged well. But the revival of the café racer scene has meant a resurgence in CX500 popularity, led by builders that have figured out how to navigate its awkward layout. Austria’s NCT Motorcycles clearly know their way around the Honda CX500. They've just…

It’s always a pleasure to stumble across a new custom workshop, especially when their work is top-notch. And if the donor bike is a little out of the ordinary, that’s extra marks all round. This eye-catching CBF600 comes from an outfit called Custommade C.A. They're based in Athens—the one in Greece, not Georgia—and this Honda is the latest in a steady stream of sleek, well-finished customs. “We build motorcycles in a small garage,” says founder Chris Foskas. “We’re three guys, and we all…