The Bone Shacker

Yamaha XT 600 Teneree "Spacca Ossa" ( transl. Bone shaker)

by Lorenzo Fugaroli a.k.a. Fugar Metal Worker - Ancona, Italy

Photos by Ruben Lagattolla

When I first published the early photos of this bike, the feedback of my readers was good but probably less of what I expected. Having admired this bike live, heard her voice screaming and felt my bones shaken, I decided to publish some more shots professionally taken by our friend Ruben... Enjoy the photoshoot and read -just in case you missed- the Lorenzo's intro to his iron horse. 

"Fuck the purists and the nostalgic lovers of the old and obsolete big enduro bikes... Huge elephants with tanks that need a capital to be filled, equipped with ugly plastic fairings and shock absorbers that make you seasick... I cut, welded and forged an old Yamaha Teneree, making it an unconventional bike which cannot and doesn’t want to be categorized in any cliché... It's not a scrambler: too low. It's not a dirt-track: the handlebar is too bent. It’s not a street-tracker, because of the knobbly wheels. It’s a male machine. Evil mechanics and a doubtful exercise in style. Are you brave enough to ride it? 55cv and 105 kg, all-aluminum, kick start. Its name is Spacca Ossa (Bone Shaker). The electrical system is ridiculous. The engine is pissed off. The work on the details? Titanic. If you don’t like... I still have all the fairings: pale blue and loose bowels yellow". Lorenzo 

 

First read on http://inazumacafe.blogspot.it/

CB750 Copper

CB750 SOHC Copper Tank

built by Robinson Speed Shop - Southend, UK

Top photos by Aaron Jones (slightly Inazumized)

79 Honda CX500 – 502 Moto

It’s a truism to say that most builders have a kind of love/hate relationship with their project bikes. From the elation experienced when a seat comes together perfectly with a frame to the utter torment of broken bolts, mysterious misfires and parts that magic themselves into other dimensions after they hit the floor, it’s more than common for builds to drag their makers through a gamut of emotions. But I think it’s fair to say that Brad White from Louisville, Kentucky’s 502 Moto has a painful build story that beats most. And when I say painful, I mean just that.

The Little Stranger build literally started as an accident. After the 450 lb. 1979 CX500 purchased by sculptor and fabricator Brad White ended up on top of him, fracturing his collarbone but only slightly injuring his ego, he knew things had to change. Even prior to the accident the vintage Honda was in need of everything; brakes, tires, fluids, and just about anything else you could imagine. Following the accident, Brad made his way down the I-71 South, from Columbus to Louisville, Kentucky; a town which is becoming widely recognized for its ever-growing vintage bike scene.

Brad, who is known both regionally and nationally for other vintage bike builds, recently teamed up with mechanic and partner Michael Van Benten, to form 502 Moto. Little Stranger is the bike that has launched the look of their fledgling company; a look that was described by one recent observer as “metal as fuck.” The long, low stance is a result of the guys stretching the swing arm four inches back and raking the steering neck to create a more menacing look. By lowering the narrow forks internally, placing a pentagram wheel upfront and inserting bronze Paiste cymbals in the rear. Yes, you read that right. Paiste – as in drums. Little Stranger is equal parts Slayer and Salt Flats record setter.

Paiste cymbals never looks so good. Drum roll, anyone?

At first look, what most people notice is the custom deluxe tank, which Brad gently manipulated with a ball pen hammer to create a tasty pair of knee pockets and a trick, recessed fuel filler. To visually balance out the fatty 4.5 gallon tank, the rearmost section of the frame was removed, altered with a hoop, and then new shock mounts and tail section were crafted to create a more aesthetically pleasing look. Digging into their previous chopper builds for some inspiration, the front fairing got some vintage stacked rectangle lights that have been frenched into a manipulated KZ400 fender found lying on a shelf.
Brad’s trademark black and white paint scheme wasn’t left behind, as the front forks got striped “hooker stockings” to match up with the race inspired side covers, painted to mimic last-minute electrical tape number changes seen by Brad and Michael over the years at the local races. The rest of the bike was shot in-house with Audi Nimbus Gray pearl with a “vintage Moto Guzzi” stripe on the tank and cleared in satin to keep it as punk rock as possible.

Flames and smoke are kick ass during a rock show, but Michael wanted to make sure that never occurred while on the road with Little Stranger. To achieve this he rewired the entire bike, placing any of the previously visible electronics under a soft-leather seat with the irregular stripe in the stitch, crafted in-house by the boys at 502 Moto. The exhaust system was chopped up and rerouted as a two into one. Bespoke heat shields continue the stripe pattern and it’s finished off with an upswept Triumph muffler, which lines up nicely with all the angles and is quiet like a Honda should be.

All up, 502 have created a good-looking, comfortable ride from a barn find that responds well in the corners and goes like hell on the straightaways. And Little Stranger doesn’t look out-of-place in the twisties with clean vintage restos or stretched out along side a chopper or five. Next time you find yourself south of the Mason Dixon line, why not stop by?

[Photos by Nicholas Karem]
first appeared in http://www.pipeburn.com

Fate Customs Honda CB550

I think that custom bike builds generally come in two forms. There are those built to adhere to a particular style or genre such as Cafe Racers or Choppers that feature all the "required" modifications and design elements to be considered a correct representation of that style. Then there's the builds that are created purely as a form self expression. Both of these approaches share similarities, but the big difference is that a bike built as an expression of personal style gives its builder the freedom to do what ever they want. Which way is better? Neither, but if I've learnt anything from building bikes it's that personal touches are what really connect you to your bike. People will always have opinions, good and bad, but at the end of the day it's your bike, not theirs, so have some fun with it...

"My name is Nils J. Ksienzyk and I'm a 28 year old bike builder from Germany. From the age of 15 up to 24 I've owned several bikes from 50cc to 1050cc. I've always changed parts to give them my own style, but began feeling like bolting on parts was boring and fake. I decided to sell my bike and go for something older. Then I bought a busted up Honda CB550. It was in bad condition. I wanted to see if I was able to repair the Honda and make it my own."

"The CB had a dirty red frame and a white tank that were in very bad condition when I bought it. The engine wasn't running, it came with no documents, no keys, lots of missing parts and I didn't even know if it would ever run again. I wanted an original fuel tank with a patina that showed it had history. My plan was to build a bike that appeared flat and low and had a seat that was as slim as possible. That was my vision for the perfect bike to match my style and attitude! No fancy leather boots, no white scarfs. I didn't want that classic cafe style. I wanted something new school were I could wear my everyday clothes and just be myself, nothing over the top."

"I disassembled the bike and bought all the necessary parts on the internet and at a local shop to get it running again. I then swapped out the old and broken parts with new ones. The rebuild began with powdercoating the frame in black, relacing the wheels, painting the forks, coating the rims and putting on new vintage style Avon rubber. Then I polished all the alloy parts such as the brake callipers, brake arms, engine side covers and so on. I also drilled holes into the side covers and the rear brake plate to give it an unique look and repeat the pattern of the front brake discs. I had to over haul the engine, carburettors and the entire wiring system because it was a real mess, one of the wires changed colour 5 times from its starting point to end!"

"I added pod filters, adjusted the carbs, cleaned the frame, added clip on's and a different headlight. Small bar end blinkers replaced the bulky original ones and I mounted new switches. I fit the brake system from a CBR 600 to get the right pressure on the double discs and mounted a different triple tree to clean up the top of the forks. I found the right tank and a beautiful tail end. I then lowered the suspension from 350mm to 260mm, lowered the front forks about 40mm and shortened the frame so the new tail end would fit. I mounted a handmade leather seat pad, Side numberplate with mini custom brake and tail light and changed the exhaust using a customised muffler from a Harley.

When I was finished it started first kick and I then knew that my dream bike had become a reality.“

 

First appeared in http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/

Fate Customs     |     Photos by Christopher Rausch

Pure Klasse: Diamond Atelier’s BMW R80

The BMW R80 ticks all the boxes for custom builders. It’s reliable, simple to work on and cheap to buy. And, as with all R-series airheads, it looks pretty good straight out of the box. Unfortunately, the popularity of the venerable BMW means it’s edging into cliché territory: most customs look pretty much the same. The R-series is ripe for a fresh approach, and here it is—courtesy of two young, first-time builders from Munich, just down the road from BMW’s own headquarters.


Diamond Atelier is the new company of 21-year-old Tom Konecny, and 24-year-old Pablo Steigleder. “We’re not building bikes to become rich and famous,” says Tom, “but to add something to the custom scene. “We’ve never raced around a track, but we know what looks good. And that’s what we’re trying to achieve.” Believe it or not, this 1992 R80 RT is Tom and Pablo’s first build. Tom has owned the bike since he was 17, and felt it was time for an overhaul.


Hardly anything from the original R80 remains. The 18” spoked front wheel and floating brake discs are from an R100R; they’re now hooked up to a Brembo PSC-16 brake master cylinder and Brembo calipers, via stainless steel hoses. The forks have been lowered three inches to improve stance, and are clamped by custom upper triples. Top-flight controls are fitted to Fehling clipon bars—including Magura levers and a Tommaselli quick-action throttle system. The headlight is a combination of Yamaha and Honda parts.


The componentry is beyond approach, but it’s the perfect lines that catch the eye. To match the angle of the new seat unit, Tom and Pablo lifted the fuel tank a couple of inches. The tail section is crafted from fiberglass and padded with industrial-grade caoutchouc—a natural rubber compound. “We built the entire rear frame from scratch,” says Tom, “and made it about 15 centimeters narrower, to give the bike a sleek and lightweight look.” The rearsets are from Tarozzi and underneath the seat is a featherweight Porsche GT3 Cup car battery.


Diamond Atelier have kept the stock exhaust headers, but ditched the middle silencer and fitted short cone pipes—which have custom-made inserts to pass the strict German TÜV regulations. Little touches help to give the bike its highly crafted feel. The frame has been completely de-tabbed and cleaned up, and new housings were designed for the alternator, starter and shaft drive. Round valve covers and air filters complete the look.
The delicate blue paint is not something you’ll find in the Glasurit color guide: it’s hand-mixed to create the palest of pale blues, with vestigial black pinstriping providing a link back to BMW’s heritage.


The result is simply jaw dropping. And even the hardcore stalwarts of the Munich custom scene were impressed: “At the local biker hangout bar, a guy described us as ‘the boys who would never win a race, but have the coolest looking rides,’” says Tom. “I admit we would gladly accept this description!” “The R80 wasn’t built to be faster or more comfortable than the original, or to save gas. But it’s got our own Diamond Atelier look going, which we think is unique and just right for us.”
It’s just right for us too—and a good omen for the future of the custom BMW scene.
Diamond Atelier website | Facebook page | Images © 2014 Philipp Wulk.

The post Pure Klasse: Diamond Atelier’s BMW R80 appeared first on Bike EXIF.

CB350F by Speed Deluxe

1973 Honda CB350F cafe racer
by Speed Deluxe - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Main specs. Shaved top tree, clip-on handlebars, custom mounted mini gauges, new fork brace, mini bullet LED turn signals front and rear, handmade stainless steel exhausts, relocated footpeg mounts, Dime City Cycles pegs, under the seat area was stripped, the parts were relocated under the seat, frame detabbed and smoothed, center stand removed, rear frame chopped, bent tube for the rear welded to the frame, handmade steel racer pod, handmade steel seat pan, which houses the electrics and gel battery, rewired with new hand controls, engine covers polished, wheels stripped, rims powder coated, hubs polished, wheels relaced with stainless spokes, painted with House of Kolor black, and leather seat pad custom made. 

first published on http://inazumacafe.blogspot.co.uk/  r