Texas motorcycle-maker Jason Wonder’s Wonder Bikes are simple, elegant machines; modern classics that pack today’s technology into old school finery. The Bobber’s hardtail frame, sprung girder front end, and stripped down look are powered by the reliability of a new H-D Sportster motor. In other words, it is roadtrip ready.
Japanese builders have long been the vanguard of high-style, underground bike design but now Taiwan-based design house Rough Crafts is making some noise. Their fully custom builds blend old school style and modern technology for bikes that look classic but won’t leave you stranded in a pool of oil. Their Iron Guerilla model (shown above) beefs up and murders-out a ’10 HD Iron, transforming it from bone-stock into a beautiful beast.
A lot of Harley purists hated on the V-Rod when it was released 10 years ago. They hate new stuff. The buying public however, jumped right on it. With a big 60º V-Twin motor and a drag-inspired design that offers comfy cruising, The V-Rod quickly became one of the pack. Now, H-D is releasing a limited-edition Ten Year Anniversary model that’s all chrome, polished steel and aluminum.
It’s happening. Electric motorcycles are actually starting to look cool. The craftsmen at the Netherlands’ Orphiro Motorcycles have just released a bike that look s like a vintage hardtail bobber, complete with belt drive and a one-up saddle. But look a bit closer and you’ll see it’s a plug-electric. Sure, it looks like a blast from the past but electric vehicles are the future. Get on board.
Known for making some of the world’s best performance motorcycle exhaust systems—think Aprilia, Ducati and Japanese sport bikes, the guys at Akrapovič have teamed up with another Slovenian cycle brand called Dreamachine. The result of their romance is a bike looking like a chopper/board tracker/sci-fi movie bike. Aside from its 113-c.i. S&S powerplant, this thing is totally custom.
Everywhere in the world, except America, small displacement bikes are all over the roads. This highly modified café from Aussie style mavens Deus Ex Machina is built off a Yamaha Scorpio 225. In Indonesia for instance, this is the biggest bike Yamaha sells. For crowded city streets & incredible fuel economy, bikes of this class just can’t be beat.
It sure looks good, but if you don’t know much about scooters, the finer points of this build will go right over your head. Almost completely hand-fabricated, the Black Falcon from LA’s Falcon Motorcycles, is a true ground-up custom. Built around the rare & legendary Vincent Black Shadow motor, a custom frame, front end, brakes, tins and much more were all one-off creations for this beastly bike. Museum quality construction and 140 mph, what do you think you’d pay?
Are you ready for this? You sure? Okay, this is an electric motorcycle, um, superbike. Not quite the two-wheeled Prius you would’ve expected, right? Looks more like a Buellcati or a stunt bike from Tron. With no clutch and incredible torque you’ll go from 0-180 miles-an-hour like you’re floating on air. Full charge lasts nearly 300 miles. This is evolution, get on board.
Back when frontier Americans were still cowboying it up, Italians were fighting for their independence. In 1861, Italy was unified. Vespa, the iconic Italian scooter brand, is marking 150 years of unification with the release of a new, commemorative scoot. Featuring a red-green-white color scheme, this 4-speed, 150-cc model is a proven performer with over 3 million having rolled off Vespa’s Pontadera production line.
If you geek out on custom bike blogs, you’ve probably noticed BMW’s R series has practically taken over Honda CB’s top spot as the #1 choice for a restoration bike. Maybe it’s the vintage look, big engine cases, horizontal cylinders and the chunky tanks. Maybe it’s the durability of German engineering. Whatever the reason, few builders are making R bikes as sweet as the ones coming out of the garage at London’s Untitled Motorcycles. Their look is all about simplicity in form & function. (Source)
