Sunday, 25 June 2023

Speed Read: A handmade 4.4 liter J.A.P. V8 motorcycle and more

The latest vintage motorcycles, custom bikes and news
Pavel Malanik doesn’t customize motorcycles—he builds them from scratch. We kick things off this week with his latest creation, a vintage bike with a handmade J.A.P. 4.4 liter V8 engine. We also profile a Suzuki GSX-R1000 and a Honda XR600R from Italy, and the limited edition Mickey Mouse Vespa Primavera.

Pavel Malanik’s 4.4 liter J.A.P. V8 motorcycle
Pavel Malanik’s 4.4 liter J.A.P. V8 motorcycle John A. Prestwich & Co (or J.A.P., as they are more commonly known) started making motorcycle engines at the start of the 20th Century. You may have seen some of them around—most notably in HRD (who later became Vincent), Brough Superior, and Triumph motorcycles. J.A.P. has a rich racing heritage, but also made aircraft engines during WWII, which is where the story of this fantastic creation begins.

Pavel Malanik’s 4.4 liter J.A.P. V8 motorcycle
This is a J.A.P. V8-powered motorcycle that was built entirely by hand. Its creator is Pavel Malanik, a toolmaker from Czechoslovakia who has been working with motorcycles for almost half a century. Being a skilled machinist means that Pavel can make anything out of metal.

He combines his extreme mastery of machine work and fabrication with his love of motorcycles—and the results speak for themselves.

Pavel Malanik’s 4.4 liter J.A.P. V8 motorcycle
Together with motorcycles, Pavel has a penchant for early flying machines. The engine inside this motorcycle is a hand-built recreation of J.A.P.’s 4.4 liter V8 aircraft engine. No, that’s not a typo—Pavel made this engine himself after taking a trip all the way from his home in Czechoslovakia, to the Science Museum in London.

The museum houses a surviving example of the J.A.P. V8, so Pavel was able to take measurements and photos of the engine’s inner workings before diving in and building his own. Did the museum actually let him take apart a piece of British aeronautical and engineering history? Well, no—but they didn’t have to.

Pavel Malanik’s 4.4 liter J.A.P. V8 motorcycle
Some industrious and forward-thinking people at the museum had actually decided that their J.A.P. V8 would better serve the public if they cut parts of it open. This not only made for a much more interesting exhibit, but it meant Pavel could get in there and study the engine’s internals.

The next challenge that Pavel had to overcome was the fact that the J.A.P. V8 was never actually fitted to a motorcycle. Sure, it was in planes and even a few cars, but it was never intended to be a two-wheeled form of transport. This meant Pavel also had to create everything else, not just the engine.

Pavel Malanik’s 4.4 liter J.A.P. V8 motorcycle
A tubular steel frame cradles the long engine and transmission, with a double-chain final drive. The lubrication system is handmade too, along with the fuel and oil tanks. Finished in grey paint with period-correct nickel plating, we just love everything about this. The result is a stunning and well-crafted engineering marvel. [Via]

Suzuki GSX-R1000 café racer by Francis von Tuto
Suzuki GSX-R1000 by Francis Von Tuto Since moving back to his homeland of Florence, Italy, from Australia, Francis Von Tuto hasn’t wasted any time getting stuck into another custom build. This naked Suzuki GSX-R1000 is the first project he’s completed since settling into his new workshop, and it’s a looker.

Like his previous creations, Francis started with a modern bike and made a slew of modifications and visual upgrades. A 2004-model GSX-R was chosen, arriving at his shop in a fairly original condition. Okay, it had been slightly crashed—but that made it all the easier to get rid of the factory fairings, since the damage was purely cosmetic.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 café racer by Francis von Tuto
With only 20,000 km [12,427 miles] on the odometer, and being the last Gixxer with 170 hp and no traction control, the old Zook still had plenty of life left in it.

“The good thing about building a special based on a modern sport bike, is that you don’t need to rebuild the engine,” says Francis. “You’ve already got plenty of horses and amazing ridability without the need of a front-end swap or wider rims, better suspension, or brakes. Just braided lines and a good set of tires will do.”

Suzuki GSX-R1000 café racer by Francis von Tuto
However, in typical Von Tuto style, Francis didn’t stop there; instead, he decided to build a stripped-down café racer. For this, he fabricated a new front section using a 4.65” LED headlight, custom bracketry, and a fiberglass biking fairing that looks very Norton Manx-esque. He then refitted the factory dashboard, along with a new set of clip-on handlebars for a very sporty look and feel.

The tank is stock, but with its custom Mercedes AMG-inspired paintwork, it looks a lot better. The GSX-R1000 was designed to be a sportbike, so the fairing usually hides some rather unattractive hoses and radiators. Francis made some custom radiator shrouds which not only cover these up, but look great too.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 café racer by Francis von Tuto
The original subframe was made from square-section aluminum but Francis decided to replace it with a tubular unit, covered by a custom fiberglass tail section. We love the elements of the old Kawasaki Z-series ducktail included in the rear end—and Francis has made a mold for it too, so expect to see it again on his future builds. The seat was upholstered by BF Tappezzarie, Von Tuto’s trimmer of choice.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 café racer by Francis von Tuto
As mentioned, Francis didn’t need to do any engine work but the bike did come to him with a full titanium exhaust. The muffler was dented and scratched, so he did away with that, chopping the end of exhaust and adapting an Arrow muffler to fit.

A lot of naked sportbike conversions are a swing and a miss, but we think Francis Von Tuto has hit yet another home run. [Francis von Tuto | Images by Rafael Montañes Ruiz]

Honda XR600R by GPgarage Moto
Honda XR600R by GPgarage Moto If you’re into old Baja and desert racers from days gone by, you might already know GPgarage Moto—the motorcycle division of Italy’s GPgarage. This incredible Honda XR600R racer is the latest build from their workshop in Castelnuovo del Garda, near Verona, Italy. It’s big, it’s red, and we love what they’ve done to it.

GPgarage’s Matteo Gualandi is no stranger to Honda’s venerable XR, having built numerous Baja replicas in the past. However, for this build, he wanted to build something fresh for himself. Something that looked to the future, but respected the past.

Honda XR600R by GPgarage Moto
“After various replicas, finally free from any historical constraints I made one to my liking,” says Matteo. “Inspired by the Baja races, it is the result of whole days spent sifting through the photographic archives of the American races of the 90s to find inspiration.”

Building on the vast amount of technological improvements people have made to old XRs over the years, Matteo was able to infuse this big thumper with performance. The engine was stripped down and rebuilt with an HRC 628 cc big bore kit. Running a Keihin FCR41 flat slide carb, a front fork-mounted oil cooler, and a lightened flywheel, this Big Red has a lot more poke.

Honda XR600R by GPgarage Moto
The custom exhaust is a work of art with twin pipes (one for each exhaust valve, as is the way with Honda’s big singles) snaking their way through the frame. Terminating with a pair of 25-year-old Vance & Hines mufflers, it looks more like something you’d find on a two-stroke. Matteo assures us that the period-correct part actually increases the airflow over the original.

A clear Clarke fuel tank was fitted, along with rebuilt front and rear suspension. A solid HRC-style 270mm front brake disc with stainless steel braided lines provides more performance and feel.

Honda XR600R by GPgarage Moto
There are fresh Acerbis plastics all over, and a grippy cover over the stock seat base. Together with the red frame, black swingarm, wheels, and engine, the GPgarage XR looks like a thoroughly modern recreation. Moose Racing handlebars, an Acerbis bash plate, and some case savers round out the build.

Seeing as it’s supposed to be a racer, all the lights were removed (bar the taillight) with a slew of custom CNC parts all over the bike. The final touches are the stickers, which add to the 90s vibes. If we could start the big boy, we’d ride the heck out of it. [GPgarage]

Limited edition Disney Mickey Mouse Vespa Primavera
Vespa x Disney Mickey Mouse Edition Bike EXIF’s staff are no strangers to the world of Vespa—they were once the commuter of choice for both Chris Hunter and Wes Reyneke. We also have it on good authority that Rough Crafts’ Winston Yeh commutes on a Vespa (finished in black, of course).

Today we are pleased to share that Vespa has teamed up with an equally iconic brand to produce a limited edition scoot. It’s another collab that nobody asked for, but that we’re glad happened. This is the Disney Mickey Mouse Edition by Vespa, built to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary.

Limited edition Disney Mickey Mouse Vespa Primavera
Few motorcycles are as iconic as the Vespa and few cartoon characters are iconic as Disney’s Mickey Mouse, so what better way to celebrate kawaii culture than by combining the two? The Vespa Primavera 50 cc and Primavera 150 cc are the models that will receive Disney’s touch.

The limited edition run is purely a styling exercise, but that is not a bad thing. The front fender has been colored a bold yellow, which pops against the black and red front section. The red interior panel, black seat (with inlaid Mickey Mouse signature), and black rear panel give off iconic Disney vibes.

Limited edition Disney Mickey Mouse Vespa Primavera
There are also subtle sketch designs added to the front and rear panels. We would’ve loved to have seen some wraparound Disney-themed hand warmers just for the memes. Then again, the factory mirrors do already look like Mickey Mouse ears.

Both models will be available in the US in August 2023. The 50 cc will be going on sale for $4,699 and the 150 cc (which would be our choice) is going for $6,049.

Limited edition Disney Mickey Mouse Vespa Primavera
Piaggo’s Michele Colaninno calls it “a tribute to creativity, imagination, light-heartedness, and fun—the very values that have always anchored Vespa.” But the real question is, does Mickey Mouse even ride a scooter?

According to three different Disney shorts, one of which you can watch below, he sure does. [Vespa]



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Thursday, 22 June 2023

Canyon carver: A BMW boxer restomod built for Californias twisties

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
Robert Sabel’s name is synonymous with ultra-clean BMW boxer restomods. His projects turn out so tidy, that it’s almost ironic that his California-based shop is called Roughchild. But they’re not just visually neat; Robert likes to imbue them with modern performance and reliability too.

This particular BMW boxer restomod was built for Randy Garver—a landscaper that counts the who’s who of Hollywood among his clients. “Now in his 60s, Randy had reached a point in his life where many of his friends had passed on,” Robert tells us. “He wanted the opportunity to ride the best motorcycle of his life now… before it’s too late.”

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
Robert sourced a 1985 BMW R80RT locally as a donor for the build. ”It belonged to the owner’s recently deceased father,” he explains, “who rode it sparingly, given the documented very low mileage. It just needed, well, everything, to get it roadworthy.”

“We bought the bike at roughly the same time we were moving into our new facility in Glendale, California, an existing motorcycle service shop. With existing orders on the books, I was keen to snap it up and get our first build underway in the new premises. With that we set about our mission—the R80 was stripped to the bones and thoroughly inspected for wear and tear before modifications commenced.”

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
A stock BMW R80 makes around 50 hp, but Randy and Robert wanted more from the vintage boxer. So Roughchild rebuilt the engine with a 1,070 cc kit from the BMW big-bore specialist, Siebenrock. Along with the bump in displacement, they added an upgraded cam and a twin spark ignition system.

The 1980s boxer motor now pushes out 75 hp (as verified on a dyno), and still uses its original airbox for reliability’s sake. It also looks brand new on the outside, finished in black with contrasting fins in all the right places, and adorned in custom Roughchild branding.

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
Take a peek underneath the motor, and you’ll spot a long and low oil pan. “That’s a special piece, made out of magnesium,” says Robert. “It has all the benefits of a deep sump pan without visually looking deep.”

“Extra oil cooling capacity becomes a vital piece of the puzzle when increasing the displacement as significantly as we did. This explains why we used an upgraded oil cooler in addition to the larger oil pan.”

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
For the suspension, Roughchild specced the BMW boxer with Öhlins components at both ends. The OEM wheels have been redone in satin black, and now sport modern Metzeler tires. Twin Brembo disc brakes slow the bike down up front, with the refurbished BMW drum brake doing duty at the back.

Custom yokes hold the upside-down forks in place, with OEM-style headlight brackets wrapped around the thicker fork uppers. They grip a JW Speaker adaptive LED headlight, supplied by Motodemic.

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
A digital Motogadget dash sits up top, followed by a set of handlebars that were fabricated specifically for this build. Robert wanted to keep the cockpit as uncluttered as possible, so the lever mounts are welded directly to the bars. Other considerations include tiny switches that are integrated into the left grip, internal wiring, and an internal throttle.

“The throttle now rides on a bearing,” says Robert. “It makes the motion of actuation incredibly smooth and, dare we say, dreamy.”

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
The bodywork is mostly standard Roughchild fare. The OEM fuel tank takes center stage, with a stubby fender up front, and a bobber seat for one out back. There’s no real subframe below the seat—just a tubular seat support that also houses an LED taillight.

Finishing off the lighting are stealthy Motogadget turn signals, and a pair of Denali spotlights. “Randy could light up a field and land a small aircraft, should he need to,” quips Robert.

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
As we’ve come to expect from Roughchild, the boxer’s paint job is as classy as they come. It’s a mostly black affair, save for a few pops of chrome and god pinstripes that match the Öhlins parts. Custom Roughchild roundels add an extra touch.

Compact and stylish, Roughchild’s newest BMW boxer restomod also looks like it’d be a fun ride too. “Randy is based in Ojai, California, and blessed with some of the state’s greatest riding roads,” says Robert.

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild
“His favorite route, he told us, is a well-rehearsed 60-mile loop. He wanted a fast, reliable vintage motorcycle that had all the handling and stopping power of a modern machine. It’s a simple-looking machine, marrying high-end modern components and BMW parts from the airhead lineage.”

“Our best to you, Randy. May you ride the bike to the very last mile.”

Roughchild Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Leo Mayorquin

Classic BMW boxer restomod by Roughchild



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Wednesday, 21 June 2023

The PiperMoto J Series is a KTM powered 120 mph super scooter

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper
Flicking through photos of the recent Bike Shed custom motorcycle show, one bike in particular caught our eye; the PiperMoto J Series. On the outside, it looks like a scooter, albeit a rather stylish one. But pop the hood, and you’ll discover a KTM 690 Duke engine hosted in a bespoke chromoly chassis.

PiperMoto’s founder, John Piper, calls it a “super scooter.” Maxi-scooters are nothing new—but the J Series’ high-end aesthetic, 67 hp motor, and wild engineering put it in a class of its own. Which is not surprising, given John’s pedigree.

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper
An engineer and designer, John’s portfolio includes F1, Le Mans and World Rally Championship cars, plus numerous prototypes and concepts. He designed the gearbox for Nigel Mansell’s 1985 Williams FW10, the Foggy Petronas FP1 World Superbike motorcycle, and the vehicle that currently holds the diesel-powered World Land Speed record.

John formed PiperMoto a decade ago—drawing on his experience to build motorcycles that combine precision engineering with a hand-built feel. And that’s exactly what the J Series is. Sticking a big engine into a scoot is one thing, but this is a ground-up machine that also happens to look impossibly stylish.

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper
At the core of the J Series scooter sits a TIG-welded chromoly space frame; a work of art on its own. The KTM 690 mill is housed toward the back of the bike, tucked into a life-sized Meccano set that links up the custom rear suspension system. Offering 120 mm of progressive travel, it features an ExeTC remote reservoir shock, hooked up to a custom swingarm via a push rod and rocker.

The front suspension is slightly more traditional, utilizing a set of KTM upside-down forks with 150 mm of travel. 17” laced wheels sit at both ends, wrapped in Bridgestone Battlax BT090 tires. The brakes come from Brembo, with a four-piston caliper grabbing a 320 mm disc up front, and a single-piston floating caliper biting down on a 240 mm disc at the back.

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper
Accompanying the KTM LC4 engine is an assortment of tasty upgrades. It inhales via a generous pod filter and exhales via a stainless steel exhaust system. The exhaust terminates in a box muffler that blends seamlessly with the bodywork, and even includes a catalytic converter.

Other features include a semi-dry sump with twin Eaton oil pumps, and a pair of aluminum core radiators with electric thermostatically controlled fans. Fuel is held in a 14 liter [3.7 gal] reservoir that sits in front of the engine, with an internal fuel pump. And the six-speed transmission shifts gears via an electronic system, triggered by paddles on the switchgear.

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper
And then there’s the J Series’ elegant bodywork. Made from a woven carbon composite material, and finished with well-judged chrome touches, it has a premium OEM feel. Where most scooters are utilitarian and basic, the J Series makes a statement.

To create it, the PiperMoto team started by building a wooden armature to work around. Next, they perfected the riding position and ergonomics. Pieces of cardboard were laid over the structure next, then the final form was shaped out of clay.

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper
The final design is incredibly cohesive, showing ridiculous levels of consideration. The scooter sports twin storage compartments in the front fairing, both lockable, while the rear shell flips up to offer access to the engine and rear suspension. It’s finished in a jaw-dropping blue paint job, with split saddles that recall vintage Vespa and Lambretta designs.

Twin Smiths gauges sit in the cockpit, alongside a mix of beautiful CNC-machined details and more OEM-style trim. The mirrors, turn signals, headlight, and taillight all feel like factory items, as does the rear license plate bracket. Packaged neatly under the bodywork are a maintenance-free gel-type battery, and a military-grade wiring loom.

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper
If you like geeking out over numbers, the J Series scoot has a 1,500 mm wheelbase, a 52-degree lean angle, and a dry weight of 160 kilos [353 lbs], with a 50-50 weight distribution. It can do zero to sixty in four seconds, with a top speed of 120 mph.

If that piques your interest, the good news is that the J Series is not a one-off. PiperMoto will build these to order, with several personalization options to suit potential customers.

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper
Maxi-scooters are typically sporty, angular affairs. But what PiperMoto has created, is a high-performing custom KTM scooter, with a timeless look that straddles the line between retro and modern. More of this, please.

PiperMoto | Instagram

Custom KTM scooter by John Piper



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Sunday, 18 June 2023

Speed Read: A Yamaha MT-25 street tracker from Bali and more


This week’s edition of Speed Read is a pick ‘n’ mix of interesting machines from all over. We start with a Yamaha MT-25 from Indonesia, then look at Australia’s fastest Honda CT90. A Danish company offers us an electric bike with a suitcase for a tank, then a German garage builder transforms a 1990s Triumph Thunderbird Sport.

Custom Yamaha MT-25 by Treasure Garage
Yamaha MT-25 by Treasure Garage Underlining the extreme popularity of Yamaha’s naked MT range is a fascinating fact; you can buy an MT with one, two, three, or four cylinders, depending on where you live in the world. We can’t think of another manufacturer who has this level of versatility in their range.

We’re looking at the smaller end of the MT spectrum today with this 249 cc, twin-cylinder Yamaha MT-25 street tracker. It’s been artfully reworked by Imanuel ‘Nuel’ Prakoso and his outfit in Bali, Treasure Garage.

Custom Yamaha MT-25 by Treasure Garage
Due to budget constraints, the team started with an older model as a donor bike. Earlier models had spindly little front forks so they started by ripping these off. A set of upside-down forks from a later model MT was installed, along with a twin braking setup.

Blessedly, the stock MT fairing and lighting also found their way into the bin. In its place is a custom unit, complete with twin stacked LEDs. It looks approximately 3,995,739 times better than the factory design.

Custom Yamaha MT-25 by Treasure Garage
All the bikes’ bodywork was actually replaced, shaped by hand from sheet metal. After the rear subframe was shortened, the single-piece tank cover and seat unit was designed to fit over the MT’s awkward frame design. The ‘winglets’ on either side of the tank house some sneaky custom indicators, for the eagle-eyed amongst you.

The side covers and top tank cover were crafted from carbon fiber, which looks great against the blue paint. The diamond-embossed black seat with contrasting blue stitching ties into the overall theme perfectly.

Custom Yamaha MT-25 by Treasure Garage
The bike’s instruments were integrated into the carbon fiber part of the tank cover for a clear view over the new handlebars. Sporting all-black grips, switches and mirrors, it’s got a mean look to it that we are all about.

The engine was left mostly alone. However, like most great custom builds, this one sports a full custom exhaust system, terminating in an Akrapovič muffler with a carbon cover. A pair of Michelin Pilot Sport tires were spooned on, rounding out the build sheet.

Custom Yamaha MT-25 by Treasure Garage
We don’t know many people who would call the factory Yamaha MT-25 good looking, so what Treasure Garage has done is exemplary. With the high quality of the finishes, you wouldn’t for one second think this was a ‘budget’ build.

You could say they are providing a valuable public service, by saving the world, one ugly MT at a time. [Source]

Honda CT90 land speed race bike
Honda CT90 land speed racer by SXK Moto No matter where you are from, you should be familiar with the Honda CT90. It was sold around the world before production mostly ended in 1979. We say ‘mostly,’ because there are a few places in the world where the CT90 went on to become as iconic as Vegemite on toast.

Yes, we’re talking about Australia and how Big Red’s scrappy scoot went on to dominate the local mail delivery industry. Before Amazon, before eBay, before almost every delivery method down under, there was the Honda CT90—or as we call it, the ‘postie bike.’ Some say they emerged in the late Cretaceous period and survived, virtually unchanged until they reluctantly evolved into the CT125 that they are today.

Honda CT90 land speed race bike
Straight from the Japanese factory, the Honda CT90 had a mind-boggling 7 hp on tap. The carbureted 89 cc powerhouse had an aluminum head, a dual-range gearbox, and… not a lot else, to be honest.

This postie bike, however, does have a lot else. This extreme CT90 was built by Matt Sheppard and Matt Kennedy, two enterprising Aussies that have joined forces to form SXK Moto. Based out of their workshop in Enfield, South Australia, they have built what is (possibly) the world’s fastest postie bike.

Honda CT90 land speed race bike
That’s right, this mail delivery machine lives for the salt flats. The boys wanted to compete in the 100-MPS-CG class (meaning up to 100 cc, modified, partially streamlined, classic and running on regular gasoline), and the CT90 seemed like the perfect starting point.

Matt ported the head and fitted a new intake manifold and exhaust. A 28 mm Yoshimura downdraft carb delivers the fuel and, amazingly, there’s a performance camshaft inside. Also, Matt found that by using a Honda CB175 piston (and some persuasion) he could get a bit closer to the 100 cc limit.

Honda CT90 land speed race bike
The hotted-up engine was then transplanted into a highly modified Honda CT110 frame. The front end was raked out, a steel wrap-around fender was fabricated for the front wheel (to slice through the air), and a Yamaha RD350 fairing was fitted. New handlebar mounts and a modified seat setup got Matt’s six foot-plus body tucked in behind the new fairing.

With the fabrication done, the bike got a fresh coat of paint to make it extra slippery.

Honda CT90 land speed race bike
The bike was completed just a few days before Speed Week, so the real test runs had to wait until the salt flats opened. After waiting for the weather and working through a few electrical and fueling issues, Matt was rewarded with a timing ticket of 66.06 mph. His average speed for all of his runs was 62.81 mph—the new Australian record for the 100-MPS-CG class.

“As a fun side note,” quips Matt, “I can’t find any info on a Honda CT90 with the standard engine going any faster. Is this the world’s fastest CT90? Maybe…” [Source]

Poulsen Motors electric motorcycle concept
Poulsen Motors electric motorcycle Tank bags are a bit dorky, but you can’t deny their convenience. Plus there are companies out there that make tank bags that actually look good. Well, if you like tank bags then you’re going to love this electric bike from Poulsen Motors in Denmark.

Poulsen has eschewed traditional motorcycle design in more ways than one. The first and most obvious way is something we’ve never seen before—using the tank space to stash a copious amount of luggage. Since an electric motorcycle has no need for fuel storage, Poulsen has flipped the script.

Poulsen Motors electric motorcycle concept
What we’re essentially looking at is 60% motorcycle and 40% tank bag. Poulsen calls their suitcase design a “lifestyle product that can be used with or without the bike.” They plan on releasing suitcase designs in different colors, sizes, and materials.

Buyers can choose which style they like or need, depending on their activities. Just nipping to the shops to grab a few things? Slip on a small bag. Going away for the weekend? Slide the full-size suitcase into place. Poulsen also plans to offer customers the same customization options for the seat.

Poulsen Motors electric motorcycle concept
But the funk doesn’t stop there. Poulsen has also designed their concept with a less-than-traditional frame design. According to their website, each part is designed so simply that the same part can be used in several different places as a way of cutting down on manufacturing costs. We’ll gloss over the fact that hub-centered steering systems are wildly more complex and far more uncommon (and therefore more expensive) than a traditional motorcycle fork, but we appreciate the sentiment and dedication to the craft nonetheless.

Poulsen Motors electric motorcycle concept
Smack bang in the middle of the bike sits the powerplant. It sports a beautifully designed casing and drives the rear wheel with a belt drive. Mono shocks and matching mudguards are used front and back, again to cut down on manufacturing costs. There are no range or power figures just yet, as the bike is still in the concept phase.

While the looks don’t necessarily light our fire, it’s certainly an interesting and practical package from the Danish firm. And it’s refreshing to see an electric bike with a useful ‘fuel tank.’ [Poulsen Motors]

Custom Triumph Thunderbird Sport
Triumph Thunderbird Sport by Erik Before Triumph released their wildly popular Bonneville range, the British marque had already tried tapping into the retro market. That market was a far cry from what it is today in terms of popularity, but Triumph was trying nonetheless. Leading the charge was the Triumph Thunderbird 900.

Released in 1995, it had a 900 cc inline triple engine, a classic-shaped tank, and Triumph’s ‘portcullis’ tank badges. Side by side with a Hinckley twin, the Thunderbird 900 is an obvious relative.

Custom Triumph Thunderbird Sport
This particular Thunderbird started life as a Thunderbird Sport—the slightly more aggressive evolution of the Thunderbird, produced a few years later. This one’s owned by a German guy named Erik Wankerl, and is his interpretation of what a modern Thunderbird could look like.

To get a bit more pep out of the Thunderbird’s step, Erik swapped the engine out for another of Triumph’s triples—the Trident T300. Dyno tested at 108 hp, it’s got a lot more juice than the 70 hp Thunderbird, and it still manages to retain a few retro styling cues.

Custom Triumph Thunderbird Sport
The bodywork, as you may have guessed, is all handmade from aluminum. The bike was sent off to Erik’s mate Ekkehard Homann, a mechanical engineer and artist, who made the exquisite bodywork from aluminum. The small front fairing houses a twin LED headlight and the fuel tank was designed to hug the engine, cutting a fine figure from all angles.

The combined seat and tail unit looks like something from an aircraft, which we love. An exquisite brown leather seat sits up top, while a small LED tail light rounds out the package.

Custom Triumph Thunderbird Sport
The wheels and brakes were donated by a Ducati 999, and look especially purposeful wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires. The engine produces more than enough power but it was still treated to a new three-into-one-into-two exhaust. A YSS rear shock was bolted on to provide a more supple ride.

For a garage build, Erik and Ekkehard have done a stunning job with the Thunderbird, don’t you think? [Images by Ben Schmelter]

Custom Triumph Thunderbird Sport



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