122 of the world’s finest custom bikes were on display last weekend as the 10th annual AMD World Custom Bike Championships kicked off in Essen, Germany. 23 countries were represented in the five competition classes with motorcycles, scooters and sidecars all vying for the top prizes. Of the 66 bikes in the Freestyle class, (where pretty much anything goes) the ...
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 13 May 2013
Some specials are definitely more special than others - and this one has caused MCN Senior Reporter Andy Downes to 'have a slight crisis' on the Kawasaki stand in Milan. Built as a one-off for Kawasaki's 40th anniversary of the Z model line, this absolutely stunning Z1000-based creation marries modern cycle parts to the iconic styling of the original Z900. ...
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 13 November 2012
This stunning Kawasaki GPZ900R was created by Japanese specials builder firm AC Sanctuary. It’s got Ohlins suspension, a Nitro exhaust, OZ wheels and Brembo brakes. The firm says it’s made for ‘ease of handling during long touring’. We say it’s for blasting about.
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 28 September 2012
Jacks Hill Cafe is an unremarkable-looking transport cafe on the outskirts of Towcester. But in the 1960s it was the meeting place for youngsters racing along the A5 on their hot-rodded British bikes. Five years ago the first Jacks Hill Cafe Ton-Up Day was run and it has become the annual place of pilgrimage for the hardcore rocker - a ...
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 27 July 2012
This gorgeous reinterpretation of the original Ducati Pantah 500 is the latest from Spanish firm Radical Ducati. It’s actually based on a mid-‘80s Cagiva Alazurra 350 (which used Ducati engines before Cagiva took over Ducati completely), but with a modified Paso 750 engine, one-off rear end, 851 forks and mudguard, Ducati Monster wheels, Pantah-style fiberglass tank and solo seat by ...
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 15 June 2012
This gorgeous, retro-styled, all-black café racer is based on a Yamaha TZR250 V-twin two-stroke. It’s been built by Japanese custom shop 09Racing and uses the rear wheel and swingarm from a Honda RVF400R. For more info: www.09racing.com.
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 08 June 2012
A “breakthrough for the Japanese motorcycle industry” was one headline when Honda’s stunning six cylinder CBX was first announced in 1977 and the first photographs which appeared in MCN that year certainly left a lasting impression on one West Country teenager. Thirty five years on Paul Pursey now owns seven of the iconic sixes including this, which features an 1170cc ...
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 16 March 2012
This is the latest example of the increasing number of immaculate cafe racers coming out of America. Called the Honduki, it's an award winning build based on a 1975 Suzuki GT550 but, as you can see, it looks nothing like the pudgy streetbike Japan intended it to be. It's made by Motohanger, a burgeoning custom bike shop specialising in cafe ...
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 24 February 2012
Victory Motorcycles isn't a firm you normally associate with cafe racers, but all that could be about to change thanks to Zach Ness, grandson of customising demi-god Arlen Ness. The bike you see below is the NessCafe. Designed and built by Zach Ness and publicly displayed for the first time at last month's New York motorcycle show, it's based on ...
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 08 February 2012
Built entirely from new parts, this bespoke Norton Commando is the product of a partnership between Northampton Norton specialist Mick Hemmings and deeply patriotic customer Nick Gosse. Hemmings spent nearly a year building the red and white tribute, the first in a series of vehicles Gosse has planned that exemplify the “iconic image of the ‘spirit of St. George’”. The ...
- Motorcycle News
- Custom & modified bikes
- 03 February 2012
