This Yamaha street tracker is based on a XS650, though the motor has been bored out to 750cc and it’s got a Shell cam. Other highlights of the work include a Mikuni VM36 carb, Dunlop flat track tires, Yamaha XT500 seat, Galfer stainless steel brake lines, Brembo front brake, Boyer ignition, Hugh’s Handbuilt stator/rotor kit, a new wiring harness, and …
Sonic Weld Frame – 1967 Triumph 750 Street Tracker
Post Sale Update: This Triumph sold for $7,400 after 36 bids on eBay. As flat track racing enjoyed a dramatic rise in popularity in the US, companies were formed to support the burgeoning scene. One popular firm was Sonic Weld, which was created in 1967 by Neil Keen. Sonic Weld would eventually be marketed under the Trackmaster brand, but no …
Cafe’d Smoker – 1972 Yamaha R5 Custom
Post Listing Update: This R5 did not get any interest at the BIN of $8,500. There’s something really special about two-stroke cafe racers, and this one-off Yamaha is a prime example. This build supposedly started out as a ‘72 R5 that received a refresh with the air-cooled parallel-twin getting all new rings, gaskets, and seals, while the carbs were rebuilt …
Endurance-Inspired – VTR Customs’ BMW K100 “24 Hour”
BMW motorcycles have become increasingly popular choices of donors for bespoke builds, and while plenty of shops utilize the German machines for one-off projects, very few do it better than VTR Customs. Be it a vintage flying brick or modern R1200R or R9T, the Swiss shop has one hell of a knack for customizing the Bavarian bikes, as demonstrated by …
1 of 58 – Ducati Thailand Scrambler Hailwood Edition
Post Listing Update: This custom Ducati did not get any interest at the asking opening ask of $22,500. Back in mid-2011, Ducati announced it would be opening a “final assembly” plant in Thailand. Fast forward to 2014 and the Italian brand revealed the new South East Asian facility would be piecing together the company’s (then) newly unveiled Scrambler range for …
Ending Soon – “GARMR .003” 2009 Harley-Davidson Reverse-Leaning Trike Custom
Post Listing Update: This Harley did not get any interest at the opening ask of $25,000. I’ve never been a big fan of custom trikes, but this one-off Harley isn’t your average three-wheeler. Built by Barghest Motive, this tricked out trike is built around an unspecified 1,200cc V-Twin from a 2009 Harley-Davidson. Dubbed the “GARMR .003”, the trike reportedly gets …
Fastec Racing Build – 2001 Ducati M600 Dark Custom
Fastec Racing first came into existence in 2010 when several employees at Fastec Engineering — a UK-based precision engineering firm that specializes in CNC machining – splintered off to do their own thing, focusing on motorcycles. Taking the knowhow and expertise they’d picked up at the engineering outfit, the team now runs Fastec Racing as a one-stop-shop that offers service …
Maria Riding Company’s “Kalahari” – 1992 Honda Africa Twin Custom
Bespoke ADV builds are a rare breed, so whenever a fully transformed custom adventure mount from a big-name shop pops up for sale I feel obligated to share it. We’ve previously featured a one-off build from Portugal’s The Maria Riding Company, however this highly-modified ADV rig is a far cry from the track-spec (Ducati) GT1000 from back in October.
Naked Panigale V4 Custom – Officine GP Design’s “Penta V4”
When Ducati first unveiled the Panigale, many thought it wouldn’t be long before the Bologna-based brand pulls the cover off a naked version of the full-faired flagship L-Twin. To the dismay of many a Ducatista, the Italian marque never opted to release a production Panigale Streetfighter…though rumors have been swirling that we may be treated to a naked version of …
The Foundry MC Build – 1991 BMW K75 Street Scrambler
A while back I wrote an article about Carlos Ormazabal; a Spanish bike enthusiasts who abandoned the security of his corporate career to pursue building custom motorcycles full time. On top of loving Carlos’ story, I also really dig his work, so when I saw a BMW Scrambler of his was for sale, I just couldn’t resist.
Manx-ish – 1959 Norton ES2
Post Sale Update: This ES2 sold for $11,000 after 2 bids on eBay. Introduced in 1927, the Norton ES2 started as a sporting single but over its nearly 40 years of life technology (and other models) passed it by. Still, it apparently makes a nice platform for a Manx knockoff that you can enjoy for much cheaper than the original. …
“Mental Illness” – 1980 Suzuki GS1100 Trike
Post Listing Update: “Mental Illness” did not meet reserve despite 29 bids up to $9,100 on eBay. Alright, this really has nothing to do with a Suzuki GS1100, but that is how the crazy trike is titled in the state of Texas. It’s an entirely custom three-wheeler that utilizes a 5.3 liter LS1 motor with a C5 Corvette transmission…and a …
Unexpected – 1975 BMW Chopper with R69S Frame
Post Listing Update: This custom BMW did not meet reserve with 20 bids up to $3,338 on eBay. The “R69S Frame” part of the title might upset you, but this is an interesting custom built with a BMW frame/motor (the seller doesn’t identify the powerplant), a Harley-Davidson Springer front fork, and HD Bobtail rear fender.
Ginger McCabe Build – 1977 Yamaha XS400 Custom
Ginger McCabe of New Church Moto is a popular name to call when someone needs a new seat made for a motorcycle. Her work has become parts of hundreds of custom builds all over the country, so it stands to reason that she’d have plenty of inspiration for her own two-wheeled creation. Here’s what she created with a Yamaha XS400. …
180 Claimed HP – 1984 Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo
Post Sale Update: This GPz Turbo sold for $7,100 after 19 bids on eBay. According to the seller, this custom Kawi has over $20,000 invested in it – at one point it had a “stage 5” turbo that led to 235 horsepower, but that blower needs a rebuilt so the bike is currently equipped with a “stage 2” turbo that …