The two custom motorcycles that headline this week’s edition of Speed Read couldn’t be more different. One is a Harley Pan America with wild scrambler styling, the other is a classic Triumph TR6R Tiger bobber. The second half of our round-up covers new mid-sized releases from European OEMs; the BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR, and the KTM 790 Adventure.
Harley-Davidson Pan America by Black Cycles This wild creation is the result of a dirt bike guy named Josh walking into a Harley dealership and leaving with a 2022 Harley-Davidson Pan America.
Despite what literally every motorcycle manufacturer’s marketing department will tell you, an adventure bike is really not a dirt bike. Josh quickly realized this, but had a plan to remedy this situation: take the Pan Am to Noel Muller of Black Cycles Australia and let him work his magic.
Stripped of its factory bodywork in the Black Cycles workshop in Sunnybank, Queensland, the H-D presented a much slimmer package than originally thought. To use this to their advantage, Noel suggested they turn the bike into a street scrambler.
Josh loved the idea, so the project kicked off with two custom fuel tanks being made from scratch. The long, skinny main tank is on top of the frame, while the auxiliary tank sits under the engine, boosting the combined fuel capacity to just under 3 gallons. That’s plenty for the type of riding Josh likes.
The dashboard was removed and remounted on top of the new fuel tank. The bodywork was all handmade from aluminum and was heavily inspired by motocross bikes. Twin Highsider LED headlights are nestled inside a custom numberplate with an integrated high-mount front fender.
A custom exhaust snakes its way up the right-hand side of the bike, exiting via a Vance & Hines muffler. A custom bash plate was made for the front of the engine, and a lower set of bars and risers were bolted on, along with new mirrors, and tiny Kellerman Atto indicators.
The seat was made to Josh’s specs and upholstered by Adam at Carman’s Auto Trimmers. The stunning matte black paint and custom graphics were laid down by Justin at Pop Bang Classics.
Josh’s Pan America is long, skinny, and ridiculous… and we love it. [Source]
1970 Triumph TR6R Tiger by Defined Motorcycles This über-clean Triumph TR6R Tiger bobber is the result of a decade’s worth of work. It was a box of bits when graphic designer Mick Scott, A.K.A. Defined Motorcycles, picked it up at auction. But he was on a mission to build his dream British bobber.
The Triumph frame was cleaned up and the back end was chopped off in favor of a hardtail conversion. The front forks were dropped a few inches and shrouded in modified Maund Speed covers, and a shortened 4” ribbed fender was mounted with custom brackets.
A Bates-style headlight sits in front of gorgeous, custom-made 1” handlebars, which are shod with Biltwell Inc. grips. In the middle of the bars, set atop a custom mount, is a Beeline Moto navigation unit that acts as a speedometer. The bike was rewired with modern components, with the simplified wiring hidden inside the frame to keep it looking clean.
The 650 cc Tiger engine was rebuilt (with Mick’s thanks going out to local British bike legend, Murray Johnson, for his help), and finished with a custom open primary and a set of Lowbrow Customs pipes.
The exhaust ends were cut down and flared to complement the velocity stack on the Amal carburetor. The vertical oil tank is from Tinworksinc and looks suitably vintage sandwiched between the frame and rear wheel.
One of Mick’s favorite parts is the Mudslide Candy paint finish, expertly done by Brooke at MCS Motorcycle Painting.
A black strip with gold pin-striping adds a wonderfully subtle detail, stretching from the tank to the modified Lowbrow ribber rear fender. Finally, a diamond-stiched leather seat matches the grips to tie everything together.
Inspired by craftspeople like Ian Barry (Falcon Motorcycles), Dustin Kott, and Kengo Kimura (Heiwa Motorcycles), Mick used the luxury of time to ensure everything was perfect. [Defined Motorcycles]
2025 BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR The road-focused, mid-sized twin market is a hot one, so BMW has just face-lifted their F 900 R and F 900 XR. It’s more of an evolution than a revolution, with BMW gently massaging bodywork and ergonomics. As a bonus, there are also a slew of small updates on the engine, weight, and tech side.
The F 900 R is the sportier model with naked styling and ergonomics. The riding position is slightly canted forward from neutral, thanks to the new handlebar and footpeg geometry. The 895 cc, 270-degree twin pumps out six more horses than its predecessor, bringing the max output up to 105 hp.
BMW now includes ‘Dynamic Traction Control’ as standard, and the wheels and battery have had their weights reduced; almost six pounds have been shaved off the wheels alone. The taillight and rear turn signals have been integrated into a single unit, and the front forks are also new for 2025.
The F 900 XR features the same sporty styling as the F 900 R but with touring in mind. One look at the large fairing, tall bars, and decent-sized windscreen tells you all you need to know about this bike; it’s designed to go far, fast. The four-gallon tank limits time between gas stations, but with Euro 5+ standards the range should still be close to 200 miles.
The windshield has been updated on the F 900 XR, with a tall option available as an accessory. The front fairing has been optimized with improved aerodynamics and hand guards are now fitted as standard. We’ll take a 2025 F 900 XR in the red, white, and blue ‘Sport’ colorway, a long weekend, and a destination far from home, thanks. [BMW Motorrad]
2025 KTM 790 Adventure We’ve always thought the front end of the KTM 790 Adventure was about as attractive as an insectoid gargoyle hewn by a drunk stonemason… but KTM has finally done something about it. We heaved a sigh of relief when KTM released the updated 890 Adventure, and now the Austrian outfit has finally given the 790 the same visual upgrades.
The 2025 KTM 790 Adventure will replace the current base model 890 Adventure, sitting below the 890 Adventure R in the KTM adventure bike lineup. Are we confused yet?
Besides the updated rally-style side fairings that join the headlight to the fuel tank, the biggest upgrade is the suspension. Lifted from the old 890, the 790 Adventure is now equipped with 43 mm separate-function WP APEX open cartridge forks. The rear shock is another WP APEX item and comes with rebound and preload adjustability.
KTM has updated the throttle bodies for cleaner and more efficient fuelling and has introduced a knock sensor to deal with lower-octane fuels. The airbox has been massaged, and the 2025 model retains the ‘Power Assist Slipper Clutch’ that was added in 2024.
Even though this is supposed to be the entry-level mid-sized variant in KTM’s lineup, the seat height still towers at a smidge over 33 inches. But at just over 440 lbs dry, it’s not terribly heavy. That said, if KTM could knock three inches off the seat height it would certainly make their cheapest mid-sized adventure bike more approachable.
Reports indicate that KTM isn’t doing too well financially, so slimming their mid-sized dual-sport range to just two models might be a move to save costs.
We’re all for it because the 790/890 was getting far too bloated. Additionally, KTM is offering an extended four-year warranty period—which should allay customers’ fears about the 790’s infamous camshaft issues.
With updated style, better suspension, and a longer warranty, things might be looking up for the KTM 790 Adventure. [KTM | Images by Francesc Montero]
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