Lucky Custom's bikes always stand out. Quite some time ago I wrote a post about their Maxima#11 Café Racer - also Honda but with a very different styling. Check it out here.

Here we have a blacked out Tracker with several contrasting yellow elements. A fat Michelin rear tire has all the space for itself - with the mono shock mounted right behind the engine and under the tank there is no need for the excessive frame tubes over the wheel (except for the seat frame hoop).

The exhaust pipe was cut off and lined up with the air filter and mono shock with a yellow spring. The headlight in the front is installed onto a rectangular plate that matches the handlebars which look well together.

If you find this Cobra #5 Tracker interesting, you will also like this Honda CR500 - the bike's got some really exciting technological features and very similar design so check it out.

At first glance the bike might not seem heavily re-built or customized. That curvy touring style of a 94s' stock Gold Wing is a little misleading in this case as one would expect some dramatic changes in appearance. But, the work done on this project is huge.

The bike was sent to us by Blake Morley and here what he has to say about this project:

"This project started in 2008. At that time I was a designer in the power boat industry where I became proficient in mold design.
The redesign of this 1994 Gold Wing consists of 11 newly designed panels, each of which is a huge job in itself. I had to first make the ‘plug’ for each panel (the plug is the first part of a molded fiberglass piece), then the ‘mold’ (the mold is made from the plug and is the inside shape of the final piece), and finally the ‘part,’ which was sprayed on the mold with fiberglass chop. All of the other modifications that make up the bike are designed and manufactured by myself such as the new glove box, which meant relocating the ignition switch, the switches for the air suspension and light controls.

The bike took me about one year of fairly steady work to complete ,and has been my daily rider for the past 10 yrs. Finished in Fresco green pearl, dark green valve covers and Aspen green graphics, I have won many trophies in bike shows and draws a big crowd wherever the bike goes."

Very recently, Heiwa Motorcycles workshop posted on their Instagram page this nimble looking TR6. At first glance, the overall style is quite appealing -reminding me of the vintage Enduro bikes, however a rear-end looks somewhat "heavier" than the classic Enduro does. I guess the guys at HM decided to give the bike a new seat, that changed the look completely but leave the rear part of the frame alone.

A new exhaust, headlight, much higher front fender, different style tank - these are only a few obvious changes that meet the eye. I'm not sure about the bars though, it looks like those are a little higher than the stock ones.

I can safely say that the Japanese workshop did a great job redesigning this Tr6.

I quite often see Auto Fabrica bikes on the Internet. A great build and professional photography work make a photo look 'addictive' and the build spreads easily throughout the Web among motorcycle enthusiasts, hitting every possible social media platform. No doubt AF guys totally deserve it - what they do is truly amazing and their bikes please the eye.

According to the guys, this Yamaha (simply named 'Type 4') exists due to the success of its predecessor - Type 3. Type 3 was built around the same model - SR250 and brought to AF a lot of attention along with another commission. That's how the whole project started.

In order to move forward with anything in life, one must learn to push boundaries and be ready and hungry for new knowledge and experience. It's especially true among creative minds and artists. I've said many times that custom bike building is a form of art and it must be appreciated and treated like one. AF team say that working on this SR250 allowed them to master new skills and gain valuable experience.

Type 4 comes with a fully rebuilt engine, lightened frame with a rear loop modified, custom-made aluminum tank, 18" chunky wheels re-laced with stainless steel spokes and custom-made seat. The bike also got new electric wirings and hand-bent stainless steel exhaust.

Painting: pastel green tank and rear fender and black frame.

Yamaha SR250 Type 4 has joined a private collection somewhere in the USA, making the owner a happier man or woman.

It's gracious as always with XTR Pepo customs. The R100RS model is a nice bike itself but after the work done by the well-known Spanish workshop in collaboration with Revival of the Machine, the bike can easily blow your mind. Even standing still the design implies movement!

The build was a project for the last year's Bike Shed Show in London. XTR Repo ran by Pepo Rosell and Revival of the Machine magazine (both based in Madrid) teamed up to produce an extraordinary machine with an improved engine and enhanced design.

The project started off with rebuilding the engine that got a competition camshaft, high compression pistons, Lectron Power Jet carburetors with K&N pod filters. The ignition was replaced by a new digital set. The front end got BMW R nine T fork and the rear end was swapped for the one from BMW R850 R Guarda Civil with an adjustable Hagon monoshock. Both wheels are wearing Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa tires.

The seat is truly unorthodox: first of all, it's wooden based and secondly - the shape is very unusual,  it's a perfect fit for the design though. The unit was fabricated by a guitar maker - Javi Moldes from Spain.

An aluminum bullet-like fairing along with the fuel tank were both thoroughly hand-shaped and became two leading pieces among other visual parts. After all, that's what the guys were going for.

To make this BMW R100RS build really special and unforgettable the guys went for an interesting addition - a Zenith Pilot Type 20 wristwatch incorporated into the fuel tank, which is both - practical and beautiful.

'The Musket 2' Bobber is a sequel to a Royal Enfield 'The Musket' build - the bike is so amazingly elegant and neatly built that one would even argue it is perfect. Its younger brother isn't that far away, though. Given the two builds look alike, The Musket 2 must be getting tons of attention and it's just for the exterior - the engineering of that bike is a whole new topic of discussion and admiration.

As the headline suggests the engine displacement has been doubled with a pair of Royal Enfield cylinders powering up now the V-twin engine that resembles a bit an old Harley-Davidson.

I can imagine how much work and adaptation it took to make the whole thing function properly. To house all the extra internals the crankcases were hand-cast, plus the electrical system had to be rebuilt so the engine, which makes up a huge part of the bike's weight, wouldn't have problems running with two pistons.

The Musket 2's bodywork is simple and sleek: everything is chromed and shiny. An interesting detail can be found at the front: the fork and the pair of triple trees are one solid piece with the springs on the bottom. There's also something that particularly tells apart The Musket 2 and its predecessor - the spokeless rear wheel.

The brake pedal has been granted more functionality because of the minimalistic approach with the bike design - especially with the front end and the handlebars. So, the pedal is actually a dual-pedal mechanism controlling both brakes simultaneously or just the rear one.

'The Musket 2' is a truly impressive and finely executed project. I would really love to hear the sound of that massive motor.

Such a weird but surprisingly fascinating Bobber isn't something you stumble across every day. Bikes like this need balance. If a builder gets carried away by his creativity he might end up with a bunch of metal pieces stuck together hardly resembling a motorcycle. On the other hand, if there are not enough changes the build can easily seem kind of incomplete or look like there's something missing. Luckily, it's not the case with this Yamaha XV250.

Although the owner and the builder - Tony Wong says the Bobber isn't the most comfortable and "soft" to ride due to some compromises he and his friend Brendon Anthony had to make to achieve the desired design, it doesn't really matter to him. Tony doesn't travel far on that bike, plus it was all about an unconventional approach for him

The idea to build a bike based on Virago XV250 crossed his mind while traveling throughout Japan and seeing a few custom motorcycles based on this particular model. This bike is cheap and runs forever, as he says, so after some research, the donor was found and the whole thing started.

From the very beginning, Tony wanted to build a Bobber that wouldn't be just different, but something "...it's not supposed to be". "The point of this build was to consciously make it what you’re not supposed to do", he says. In his mind, the bike looked a lot like a messed up project from 1920s and 30s: asymmetrical and wacky. It can be a risky business to exercise, though!

The guys got rid of the shocks replacing them with two solid bars. The fork was cut down and adjusted for the lowest front end possible leaving a minimal amount of travel. All of this was done to get that classic and aesthetic Bobber base.

This bike is all about compromises, even the tank is unbelievably small as for XV250. They got it custom-made especially for this build by a guy from the US who makes parts for motorcycles and hot rods. It's a 4.5-litre extinguisher reminding item - really nice looking and quite sufficient for short distance travels.

The handlebars were also made in the USA. Tony found the guys that make steel bars for beach cruiser bicycles. They fabricated nice bobber style bars which look great on the bike and additionally hide the wires. The exhaust is modified and adapted Moto Guzzi piece.

The guys had difficulties finding a good fit for the rear wheel (15-inch rims aren't very popular among brandy cool-looking tires). The only tire they could get was from some sort of farm machinery or tractor.

The essential goal for Tony was to explore his creativity making untypical, one-off Bobber on a low budget (obviously the price of the XV250 donor helped a lot with that). So, it's not a surprise the bike's a little rough to ride: the springs don't do much and you feel every bump, but it's still enjoyable and the build was worth it, Tony admits.

Do you like Bobbers? Then check out our Top 10 Bobbers list.
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The difference that makes Dab Design stand out of the crowd is their unusual and I wouldn't hesitate to say - progressive approach to custom bikes building. 3D printers are the yesterday's news but printing motorcycle parts with them - that's something I'm excited about. In fact, I believe this practice will get even more popular as technology improves and I'm not talking about big factories here but rather small workshops that would probably benefit a big deal from such flexibility in producing various parts in different forms.

Dab Design is a French motorcycle building garage ran by Simon Dabadie. Recently, they celebrated the first anniversary and to make it even more memorable Simon previously set a goal to build a bike like never before - the result is this futuristic Honda CR500.

The donor is 491cc 2-stroke engine Honda CR500 that was found in the back of a customer's garage. This enduro model was made for extreme riding and has proper characteristics to back it up. Dab Design wanted to preserve that dirt bike style while transforming it into something completely new with the particular custom design (DB stays faithful to) - a bike that wouldn't have analogs in the world.

The bodywork uses 3D printed molds. This way the whole design can be visualized and precisely planned at the very beginning. A customer can see what the end result is going to look like. Lightweight materials like fiberglass, carbon or even linen make parts a perfect fit for a custom build.

But taking advantage of the modern technology doesn't stop there. There's also a flat headlamp made using a LED system.

The exhaust of this CR500 is a hand-made unit misleadingly routed to the one side of the bike, then redirected to the other and finally finished with an FMF silencer under the seat. To save space the original air filter was replaced. The new one was fitted onto a specially printed pipe, routed around the Ohlins mono shock which was developed and adapted specifically for this build by Bud Racing.

The bike's engine was completely disassembled and put together again by experts. The front suspension has been designed and made right there at DB. The tank was replaced as well and with that a new radiator had to be installed. After calculating all the measurements and actually designing the new unit, it went right between the fork and the frame where it's supposed to be.

The whole build came together impressively great! Featuring black leather seat and finished with deep black and some contrasting yellow, the project is absolutely something to be proud of.

This is the third JM Customs' bike we feature (two others are FlatLiner and Morpheus) and I have to say, James Moir and Chris Burnett do an amazing job making dreams of their clients come true. Every build the guys produce is very special and full of passion. This one isn't an exception. Being a big Airheads admirer myself I can't help but love this beautiful R45 so appropriately named 'Black Beauty'.

Several days ago James got in touch with us sending their Bio and the build story. After reading it I decided to publish everything as it is because no one would tell it better than James does. So, here it goes.

Words by James Moir:

JM Customs is a grass roots custom shop owned and ran by myself ( James Moir ).

Having worked in the Oil and Gas industry for over a decade all the job satisfaction I used to obtain had gone ... each day blended into the next, things had to change.

I have always had a love for Design and Fabrication. Having the ability to create something inspiring from raw materials is and continues to be my passion.
Having worked on several motorcycles over the years I found that Building custom Motorcycles was the perfect outlet. Blending Form and Function together on a medium which I believe to be infinitely versatile! When it comes to bikes there really is no limit. If you can dream it, you can build it.

At JMC we have adopted the ethos of 'Built Not Bought'. And we work tirelessly to practice what we preach. Designing and fabricating as much of the motorcycles as we can in house, We want to keep the hand crafted element to Bike Building alive, as we feel it's disappearing. But ultimately, there is no better feeling in the world than stepping back and looking at something you built with your own hands. Every motorcycle truly is a labour of love.

JMC has been open for business for two years now, with my head to the grindstone working in multiple builds and occasionally working offshore to support the shop, I soon realised that I would have to share the workload and focus on my skillset.
This is where our Lead Mechanic Chris Burnett came in. Chris is around the same age as myself, and shares the same Vision and Passion that I have when it comes to motorcycles. And as a business owner when you find Good people, you hang on to them.

With over 12 years experience as a motorcycle Mechanic, Chris is an absolute wealth of knowledge. And Brings such a positive attitude to the shop.
When you have a Designer/ Fabricator and a mechanic with an astute eye for Function. You have the makings of an excellent Team. And with each build You can see the development and passion.

Which brings us to our build.

'Black Beauty' a 1982 BMW R45

This Bike came to us from our Client Steve who had been following our progress on social media. He had had this bike laying Dormant in his garage for almost a decade. Begging to be revived!
Like many of our Clients, we were given a select few items to be included in the build but generally given Carte Blanche to create something special. A great trust which we never take for granted.

Upon arrival at JMC, as with all our builds we ensure that The bike ran and drove. This allows us to focus in on any issues that may raise cause for concern further down the line.
We then stripped back the bike to the bare essentials, removing all the unnecessary parts of the bike that we didn't plan to keep. This gives us the opportunity to really see what is achievable. And Throw around all the ideas that we have to build a Unique Custom.

What we settled on, was building a stripped back Motorcycle, that embodied the Classic Cafe Racer style.
And from the outset we know we wanted Black And Gold. Which are synonymous with the John Player Special colours.

We designed and fabricated a new subframe and Shock mounts, installing new black YSS shocks. These give modern performance without such a modern look to them.

We fit tabs at the rear for a Tail tidy which holds the Number plate, Tail Light and Indicators. All very compact.

Creating a seat base and shaping Foam into the contours that we wanted and having our friend Scott at creative Upholstery here in Perth do the leather work. Where necessary to outsource we always try to stay local and support our local independents.

Once we got finished with the subframe, we fabricated a battery box and mount. This being a Lithium-ion battery, much smaller and lighter than the stock one. This opening up the rear of the bike.

We pulled the engine, and whilst we had the engine out we installed a new clutch kit. With the bike being 35 years old it was worn. We stripped and rebuilt the carbs installing Choke Plungers that were supplied by Cafe Racers United. These are a nice touch and allowed us to clean up the handlebars by removing the thumb Choke.
Polish Finishing the carbs and installing Pod Filters really changes the whole appearance of the engine. As you can do away completely with the stock airbox.

For all the original BMW parts including the Airhead cover and Propellor Gas Cap we went to Motorworks, from Huddersfield, England. They are our go to guys for parts with BMW's.

The Tank was beaten up pretty badly, with a horrible dent along the ridge of the tank. We managed to pull the dent back very close to its original shape, so we were able to salvage the original which is always cool. We installed a Propellor style Gas Cap. It's almost flush fitting and coming in Satin black it has the perfect look.

Upfront we modernised and simplified the cockpit. Adding new Clip-On Bars, Levers, Heated Grips and modern switch gear. Centred by a Koso Gauge all supplied to us by Digital Speedo UK.

We stripped apart the original Wiring Loom and grafted in the new components. Building a custom loom which fit neatly into the bike. Concealing as much of the wiring as possible for a minimal, clean look. We took the original front mudguard and cut it down to half its size, then gave more contour to the leading and trailing edges for a cleaner, more modern look.

We installed a small Daymaker Headlight and Bullet Indicators which fit neatly between the fork tubes. The forks were rebuilt and the lowers painted Satin Black. Reinstating the original Amber reflectors.

The Brembo Calipers were stripped, rebuild and powdercoated. Upgrading the front brake Discs and Pads all fed from custom brake lines supplied by Hel Performance UK.

The final drive was tore apart and powder coated in Satin Black too. We fabricated mounts and linkages for rear sets, to change the ride position and lend itself towards a Racer feel. We stuck with the stock exhaust headers, wrapping them in Titanium Heat wrap, and installed Short Black Megaphones. Which not only look great but have a growl to them that invokes the most maniacal grin! Ha ha

The wheels we powdercoated Gold and rebuilt. Wrapping them in Avon Roadriders .

We powdercoated the framework and associated parts Satin Black. Cleaned, prepped and detailed the Engine In Gloss black, with Gold pin striping to accent the outer head casings.

The paintwork was outsourced our good Friend Ross Sinclair. Hitting the tank and mudguard with a smooth Satin black, Gold Pinstriping and Custom decals. Although there is plenty Modern additions to this bike. The paintwork really pulls it all together and keeps the Overall style of the bike classic.

Only once fully assembled did we really take in what we had built. A Beautifully simple Cafe Racer. Reinvigorated and transformed into something that will be enjoyed for many years by our client. And that really is the beauty of what we do for a living.

In short, at JMC we are two young guys. Who eat, sleep and breath motorcycles. We are inspired by what we see and motivated by what can be achieved. We continue to work hard and stay humble. And most importantly have fun.

Pictures by Oliver Young

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