Over the last decade a community of alternative custom motorcycle builders has begun to form. With design teams and industry leaders from Ducati, BMW, Yamaha and Harley Davidson constantly watching and collaborating with these custom builders they have begun to create their own Custom Revolution. Custom Revolution brings together the most avant-garde and influential custom built motorcycles in this one of a kind exhibit showcasing artistic style and craftsmanship. Read more.

Being an explorer is an inherent part of the biker spirit along with the need of freedom. In its heyday Route 66 satisfied these two basic needs for many Americans. Because of the nations desire to grow and prosper the interstate highway system was devised as a way to increase commerce and speed people to their destinations. The problem is that it put the focus on the destination and took the joy of the journey out of the equation. This started the decline of two things, all the small towns along Route 66 and people’s ability to enjoy the journey and not replaced it with the need or instant gratification.

Read more.

Hey,

I had a strange day yesterday. My mission was pure creativity, to come up with an artistic notion for the Flying Piston Charity Builder’s Breakfast in Sturgis about a month away.

I was burning daylight with no concept, materials and limited time. It was 4th of July and my mind spun with my plans for getting on the road to Sturgis, which would cut my deadline back for making a metal piece and shipping it, or hauling it to Sturgis.

I went to the Long Beach VA for a healing hands treatment Tuesday and struggled trying for focus. My son wants me to write a book about my life and when I think about it all the Bandit shit I’ve done floats to the surface.

Read more.

One of the iconic bikes produced by Triumph was the Tiger Cub. Mike Estall has gone through great effort to record the history of this fine machine for posterity. He has researched the history of the bike and all the trials and tribulations that have been apart of its past. In this book you will find the history of the bike from both a personal and technical view. Covering the individuals that brought this bike to life and how they struggled to make it a success, Mike brings the story to life.

Read more.

One of the iconic bikes produced by Triumph was the Tiger Cub. Mike Estall has gone through great effort to record the history of this fine machine for posterity. He has researched the history of the bike and all the trials and tribulations that have been apart of its past. In this book you will find the history of the bike from both a personal and technical view. Covering the individuals that brought this bike to life and how they struggled to make it a success, Mike brings the story to life.

Early customer service is defined by how Triumph dealt with the growth of its fledgling bike. To make sure issues were addressed Triumph published “Lightweight Service” for its dealer and service network. The document covered the 23 most common faults with the Tiger Cub.

— David “Dangerous Dave” Campbell
Earl’s Garage – Motorcycle, Hotrod, and Event Photography

It’ll be “Just Another Day in Paradise” when Phil Vassar, one of the most recognized singer/songwriters in Nashville, takes the Buffalo Chip’s Wolfman Jack Stage on Monday, Aug. 6 just prior to a performance by the Chip’s self-proclaimed house band, Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“Vassar churns out infectious, feel-good melodies that capture the heart and soul,” said Rod Woodruff, President of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. “He’s sure to bring ‘The Best Party Anywhere!’ to its feet. His music is the perfect backdrop for a summer music festival not soon forgotten.”

 

 

As a singer/songwriter, Phil has hit the Top 5 seven times with songs like “Carlene,” “Last Day of My Life” and “American Child” and topped the charts with “In A Real Love” and the perennial favorite “Just Another Day in Paradise.” Known as one of Nashville’s top tunesmiths, his songs other artists have taken to #1 include “My Next Thirty Years” by Tim McGraw, “She’s Right On The Money” by Alan Jackson, and Jo

Dee Messina’s “Bye, Bye” and “I’m Alright.” New artist David Nail had a hit with Phil’s “The Sound of a Million Dreams,” which Billboard named the #1 song in their Top 10 Country Songs of 2012.

The Southern Rock Gods Final Farewell 

Lynyrd Skynyrd is bringing their “Last of The Street Survivors’ Farewell Tour” to the Chip to offer fans a proper goodbye. One of the longest standing Buffalo Chip traditions includes feeling the amphitheater shake with the roar of V-twins while hearing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” blast through the main stage speakers. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will bring their hits home to the Wolfman Jack Stage on Monday, Aug. 6.

The Flaunt Girls Pull Out All of the Stops

Part dance, part cirque, and 100% tease – The Flaunt Girls’ shows at the Chip will be the ones you will never forget with burlesque dancing, fire drumming, aerial bartending and a whole lot more. Catch them on the Wolfman Jack Stage opening for Pop Evil on Friday, Aug. 3 and for Chevelle and Queensrÿche on Saturday, Aug. 11 and on the Kinison Stage all of the nights in between.

 

The 2018 Lineup Includes:

• Friday, Aug. 3
  • Pop Evil
  • The Flaunt Girls
• Saturday, Aug. 4
  • Foreigner
  • Red Sun Rising
  • HUNKS The Show – #1 All Male Revue
• Sunday, Aug. 5
  • THEORY of a Deadman
  • Buffalo Chip TT American Flat Track Grand National Championship Races                    Presented by Indian Motorcycle
• Monday, Aug. 6
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • Phil Vassar
• Tuesday, Aug. 7
  • Aaron Lewis
  • The Marshall Tucker Band
  • HUNKS The Show – #1 All Male Revue
• Wednesday, Aug. 8
  • Eric Church
  • Reverend Horton Heat
  • RSD Super Hooligan National Championship Races Presented by Indian Motorcycle
  • Street Drag Invitational with Crazy John
• Thursday, Aug. 9
  • Kid Rock
  • Lita Ford
• Friday, Aug. 10
  • John Kay & Steppenwolf
  • Yelawolf
• Saturday, Aug. 11
  • Chevelle
  • Queensrÿche
  • The Flaunt Girls

 

Admission pass prices for the Best Party Anywhere will never be lower. More information and reservations buy clicking on the banner below.

Indian Motorcycle Racing’s Scout FTR750 continued its dominance at the Lima Half-Mile with its seventh consecutive podium sweep of the 2018 American Flat Track season. Reigning Champion and Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees took first place, marking a monumental win at his home track and securing his eighth victory of the season. Indian Motorcycle privateers Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Roof-Systems, Indian of Metro Milwaukee) and Henry Wiles (Bandit Industries/Wilco Racing/Willy Built) rounded out the all-Scout FTR750 podium with second and third-place finishes, respectively.

Mees was seeking redemption on Saturday night at the Lima Half-Mile as this was the only race he did not finish on the podium in the 2017 season. Determined, Mees edged out the competition early in the race and held the lead throughout the Main. Carver bolted to the second position and managed to close the gap between him and Mees in the second half of the race, but Mees was able to maintain his lead and further his lead in the 2018 points standings.

“I’ve had my sights on winning Lima ever since last year. This is a tough track and getting this win is especially meaningful for me,” said Mees.  “I have to thank my team who does an incredible job at keeping my Indian Scout FTR750 in top form.”

In his first race on the Indian Scout FTR750, Indian Motorcycle privateer Briar Bauman (Zanotti Racing/Roof Systems/Western Powersports) finished fourth. Wrecking Crew rider Brad Baker battled his way to his seventh top-five finish of the season.

“The Lima Half-Mile is one of the most challenging races of the year, and we’re thrilled to see another Scout FTR750 podium sweep,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology & Service for Indian Motorcycle. “This was a momentous win for Mees in what has been an exceptional season for him and Indian Motorcycle Racing.”

Through 10 races, Mees continues to control the leaderboard with 220 points, while Wiles sits in second with 153 points and Baker in third with 130 points. Carver, Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Nila Racing/Columbia Avionics), Bauman and Wrecking Crew rider Bryan Smith rank fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

The Indian Wrecking Crew and stable of privateers aboard the Scout FTR750 will continue its season on July 7th at the New York Short Track. For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, backed by Allstate Insurance, the Indian Wrecking Crew and Scout FTR750, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. For information on purchasing a Scout FTR750, please contact Racing@IndianMotorcycle.com.

Ride in honor of those left behind. Click the link to learn more about Rolling Thunder Charities and make a donation towards veterans ➡ http://www.rollingthunder1.com/

 

Being an explorer is an inherent part of the biker spirit along with the need of freedom. In its heyday Route 66 satisfied these two basic needs for many Americans. Because of the nations desire to grow and prosper the interstate highway system was devised as a way to increase commerce and speed people to their destinations. The problem is that it put the focus on the destination and took the joy of the journey out of the equation. This started the decline of two things, all the small towns along Route 66 and people’s ability to enjoy the journey and not replaced it with the need or instant gratification.

As a child I traveled Route 66 with my family, in fact we lived only a short distance from the famed road. We frequented Springfield and Joplin Missouri and some of the attraction on the route. Now my childhood was at the end on an erra and I am sure much of the glory had already vanished. But I do remember some of the locations and sites that Drew Knowles captures in this book.

Drew provides a treasure map for exploring Route 66 and as with most treasure maps it leads you close to your destination. The problem with the route is constant change, whether it be roads or landmarks. Ask any farmer for directions and he will tell you to go down the road until you come to the brown cow on the right side of the road by the red barn then turn at the next intersection. My luck is the cow just died so I ramble on way to far and end up lost. To help out in this day of technology Drew has provided some GPS coordinates. Along with his excellent directions I have no doubt you can find all the hidden gems of Route 66.

It was a pleasure reading this book and discovering that many of the locations I have been to along the route are still there and I was at the right place. He provides some photos and maps to aid in your journey. I’m including some of my photos of the route and locations I have enjoyed discovering.

My recommendations that this book is a guide for your journeys and allows you to discover a little of the nations history. Get on your bike, stay off the interstate and discover Route 66.

 

Route 66 Adventure handbook: High-Octane 5th Edition
By Drew Knowles
Santa Monica Press
ISBN-13: 978-1-59580-091-6

— David “Dangerous Dave” Campbell
Earl’s Garage – Motorcycle, Hotrod, and Event Photography
www.earlsgarage.co www.facebook.com/garage_photos

Over the last decade a community of alternative custom motorcycle builders has begun to form. With design teams and industry leaders from Ducati, BMW, Yamaha and Harley Davidson constantly watching and collaborating with these custom builders they have begun to create their own Custom Revolution.

Custom Revolution brings together the most avant-garde and influential custom built motorcycles in this one of a kind exhibit showcasing artistic style and craftsmanship.

BMW ” Alpha”

Meet the BMW “Alpha” by Mark Atkinson and Mehmet Doruk Erdem. Based on the BMW K75 Triple, this collaboration between Turkish designer Mehmet Doruk Erdem and American machinist Mark Atkinson resulted in a bodywork design inspired by great white sharks.

T-500 Cross

Meet the T-500 Cross, custom built in Indonesia by Indra Pratama and Barata Dwiputra of Thrive Motorcycles. This fully customized Yamaha bike was inspired by a “grey area” that exists between good and evil.

See more customs beginning Friday, April 13 at our opening reception for Custom Revolution featuring live entertainment, food and a panel discussion with curators, builders and, influencers.

Members of the Petersen receive a special rate. For additional information or to sign up for membership visit our website or contact our membership department at 323-964-6366 or at membership@petersen.org.

Can’t make it to the opening reception? Custom Revolution opens to the public Saturday, April 14.

2 Stroke Attack (2015)
Built by Roland Sands – Los Alamitos, CA

The “2 Stroke Attack” is a mashup of Roland Sands’ two loves: racing and building customs. It has an air-cooled 1974 Yamaha RD400 two-stroke motor on a 1997 Grand Prix Yamaha TZ250 chassis. While a mix of Yamaha parts seems like a natural fit, the motor and chassis are from wildly different eras and built for totally different purposes. Sands sourced parts from World Champion Kenny Roberts’ shelves and his own pile of racing bits, and he built the fairing out of carbon fiber and the seat of hand-pounded aluminum.

Style: Road racer
Original Manufacturer: Yamaha
Year & Model: 1974 RD400 / 1997 TZ250
Frame: Yamaha TZ250 GP
Bodywork: Yamaha TZ tank, handmade aluminum set
Motor: 400cc straight-twin
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated expansion chamber

Ago TT (2016)
Built by Deus Ex Machina – Venice, CA

Founded in Australia with locations in California, Bali and Milan, Deus Ex Machina is a bona fide institution in the alt. custom world. At their Venice, California “Emporium of Postmodern Activities,” Design Director Michael “Woolie” Woolaway builds Deus’ signature custom motorcycles. The “Ago TT” is Woolaway’s homage to Giacomo Agostini and his amazing record of wins at the Isle of Man TT—considered the ultimate road race for its complication, length and danger.

Style: Café racer / road racer
Original Manufacturer: MV Agusta
Year & Model: 2017 Brutale RR
Frame: MV Agusta
Bodywork: Handmade aluminum tank and seat
Motor: MV Agusta 3-cylinder 800cc
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Asymmetric Aero (2014)
Built by Alp Racing & Design – Los Angeles, CA

The “Asymmetric Aero” is the fastest unstreamlined pushrod-engine motorcycle in the world for all capacities under 1000cc, but its speed is not why it has been included. The “Aero” was 3D-sketched as a unit with a rider, an approach which resulted in a minimized frontal area, eliminating dead-air pockets and reducing wind resistance. It meant pulling builder and rider Alp Sungurtekin’s body into a gapless bond with the chassis, where he positioned his head, arms and torso a bit to one side in an asymmetrical reflection of the motorcycle itself.

Style: Dry lakes racer
Original Manufacturer: Triumph
Year & Model: 1950 Thunderbird
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 650cc twin-cylinder
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Beezerker (2010)
Built by Speed Shop Design – Boston, MA

The highly finished construction and interesting surface textures of the “Beezerker” reveal builder Christopher Flechtner’s experience as a silversmith. Every detail is precisely crafted, with almost everything apart from the 1965 BSA A65 motor imagined and fabricated by Flechtner himself.

Although unusual looking to traditionalists, its dropped handlebars, rear set footrests and humped seat nonetheless identify the “Beezerker” as a café racer.

Style: Café racer
Original Manufacturer: BSA
Year & Model: 1965 BSA Thunderbolt
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 650cc twin-cylinder
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Black (2011)
Built by Falcon Motorcycles – Los Angeles, CA

Among the designers building new-generation customs, none rose as quickly into superstardom as Ian Barry and his Los Angeles-based Falcon Motorcycles team.

The execution of each Falcon is so detailed as to defy belief. The “Black” began as a 1952 Vincent Black Shadow, a machine of legendary performance and the fastest standard motorcycle in the world for decades.

Falcon made it faster, better and technically more intricate with a totally new chassis bristling with innovative modifications sensitive to the bike’s heritage.

Style: Café racer
Original Manufacturer: Vincent
Year & Model: 1952 Black Shadow
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 1000cc V-twin
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Blue Monday (2017)
Built by NYC Norton – Jersey City, NJ

After leaving the publishing industry, NYC Norton founder Kenny Cummings turned to restoring motorcycles and building custom Seeley-framed race and road bikes. “Blue Monday” was built specially for “Custom Revolution” and is representative of NYC Norton’s racing bikes, which differ only slightly from their road bikes. Cummings’ race-oriented but vintage-inspired work is a bridge between the classic café racer era and today’s alt. custom scene, as it fits comfortably within both camps.

Style: Road racer
Original Manufacturer: Matchless
Year & Model: 1962 G50
Frame: 2015 Roger Titchmarsh Seeley
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 500cc single-cylinder
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

BMW Alpha (2016)
Built by Mark Atkinson – North Salt Lake, UT

If there is a “vaporware” star in the custom motorcycle design scene, it is Mehmet Doruk Erdem—a Turkish industrial designer whose computer-generated motorcycle studies spread quickly on the internet. His sketches are so convincing it is difficult to tell whether they are photographs of real objects. Erdem’s designs typically remain images, but his “BMW Alpha” concept became reality via a Bonneville Salt Flats regular named Mark Atkinson, a dedicated professional machinist and motorcycle builder in Utah who saw the promise of Erdem’s design.

Style: Salt flats racer
Original Manufacturer: BMW
Year & Model: 1991 K75
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Handmade carbon fiber
Motor: BMW K75
Exhaust: Custom stainless steel

Crapshoot (2018)
Built by Alta Motors – Brisbane, CA

Of all the current e-bike builders, San Francisco’s Alta Motors has the most buzz because they focus on building extremely competitive off-road machines. The “Crapshoot” has just enough traditional drag-bike styling to seem vintage, but the motor is a versatile stock 50 horsepower Redshift electric underneath the fairing. The “Crapshoot” is among the first electric customs to excite traditionalists by showing respect to the best builders of the past while incorporating contemporary “green” technologies.

Style: Dragster
Original Manufacturer: Alta Motors
Year & Model: 2018 Redshift MXR
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: Alta Redshift electric

Dirty Pigeon (2017)
Built by Heiwa Motorcycle – Hiroshima, Japan

Built around a 1971 Triumph TR6 engine, the barebones, elegantly-reductive chassis of the “Dirty Pigeon” took top honors at the annual Mooneyes Custom show in Yokohama in December 2017.

It is the premier bike from the foremost custom motorcycle show in Japan, and its success instantly amplified Heiwa’s visibility outside builder Kengo Kimura’s home country. Its perfected style complements its tightly conceived construction, both of which contribute to its popularity as much as the accolades the “Dirty Pigeon” has received.

Style: Bob-job
Original Manufacturer: Triumph
Year & Model: 1971 TR6
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 650cc twin-cylinder
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

E-LisaBad (2017)
Built by Krautmotors – Heidelberg, Germany

The “E-LisaBad” is nearly silent, but like most electric bikes it is also extremely fast. Most exciting about “E-LisaBad” is the mashup of the origami-like “dustbin” fairing with the bare metal of the exposed battery pack.

They are opposite textures, but the creative mix works and makes for a unique and unusual motorcycle. According to builder Rolf Reick, “designers want to be revolutionary. They want to break out of the box, cause a stir or attract attention. I think this project does all that. It will inspire many more new ideas.”

Style: Dragster
Original Manufacturer: BMW
Year & Model: 2017 C-Evolution
Frame: BMW
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: Electric

J63 Schwantz (2014)
Built by Revival Cycles – Austin, TX

Revival Cycles’ founders Alan Stulberg and Stefan Hertel are the geek squad of the custom scene, reveling in their love of technical details and enthusiasm for design, fabrication and technology.

The “J63 Schwantz” began as a Ducati 900SS SP, an aged design with modest performance and “plastic-bike” looks. Pushing their skill set, the Revival team designed their first custom frame for this project, which Stulberg sketched on a napkin and Hertel translated into metal.

Style: Café racer
Original Manufacturer: Ducati
Year & Model: 900SS SP
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 900cc L-twin
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

L-Concept (2018)
Built by Bandit9 Motorcycles – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

While the motorcycle industry in the West has grappled with attracting non-riders onto two wheels, Vietnam’s Bandit9 has had much more success. Bandit9 takes utilitarian bikes and transforms them into striking and thoughtfully-designed motorcycles. Resembling a jet or pistol in profile, the ultralight, 297-pound “L-Concept” has a top speed of 68 miles per hour and is powered by a 125cc, four-speed, air-cooled, four-stroke engine.

Style: Retro-futurist
Original Manufacturer: Honda
Year & Model: 1967 Super Sport 125
Frame: Honda
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 125cc four-stroke single-cylinder
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Mission One (2009)
Built by Mission Motorcycles – San Francisco, CA

In February of 2009, a dramatic next-level electric sport bike was unveiled by Mission Motors of San Francisco—the “Mission One.” It looked like the future of motorcycling then, and it still does. The shape of the “Mission One” was developed by Fuseproject, the studio of international industrial design celebrity Yves Béhar. While Béhar had never before designed a motorcycle, he captured the zeitgeist of the “green revolution,” stylishly combining silence with speed.

Style: Café racer / sports bike
Original Manufacturer: Mission Motors, San Francisco, CA
Year & Model: 2009 Prototype, Mission One
Frame: Built by Sandy Kosman of Kosman Specialties
Bodywork: Designed by Fuseproject (Yvés Behar)
Motor: Mission Motors proprietary

Mission R (2011) (On display exclusively at the opening event, 4/13)
Built by Mission Motorcycles – San Francisco, CA

The “Mission R” is Mission’s second-generation prototype production-intended electric motorcycle, developed in 2010 after the “Mission One.” With a new chassis by James Parker, styling by Tim Prentice, and a newly developed Mission-designed powertrain capable of 100 kilowatts (135 horsepower), the “Mission R” dominated a 2011 TTXGP/International Motorcycle Federation electric motorcycle race, winning the eight-lap race by nearly 40 seconds. The motorcycle was marketed as the “Mission RS” but never put into production.

Style: Road racer
Original Manufacturer: Mission Motors
Year & Model: 2011 Mission R
Motor: Electric

Musket 2 (2017) (On display exclusively at the opening event, 4/13)
Built by Hazan Motorworks – Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles wunderkind Maxwell Hazan rapidly fixed his star in the custom motorcycle space with his impeccable design sense. He is a rare builder, earning near-universal admiration among both jaded observers and online critics; it seems everyone loves his “silver machines.”

His “Musket 2” is a custom twice over, built from a limited-production engine by Aniket Vardhan (called the “Musket”) with a chassis fabricated wholly by Hazan. The “Musket 2” has an appealing schematic quality, one of the reasons Hazan’s creations are among the most sought-after.

Style: Bob-job
Original Manufacturer: Musket
Year & Model: 2018 Musket
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 1000cc V-twin by Aniket Vardhan (Musket)
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Needle (2005)
Built by Chabott Engineering – Los Angeles, CA

Shinya Kimura’s 2005 “Needle” was on display at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance in 2006, where it sat humbly in a display of extravagant, enormous customs from then-dominant television star builders.

Unlike the others, the “Needle” was built around an unpolished vintage Triumph engine with a bricolage chassis assembled from blackened scraps and metal oddments, with rustic, hand-hewn aluminum bodywork in strange shapes. Kimura’s discerning and artistic aesthetic set the tone for the coming alt. custom generation.

Style: Dry lakes racer
Original Manufacturer: Triumph
Year & Model: 1957 TR6
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Handmade aluminum tank and seat
Motor: 650cc twin-cylinder
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Oishi Yoshio (2015)
Built by Ronin Motorworks – Denver, CO

Like the mythical phoenix, Ronin rose from the ashes of a dead motorcycle brand, Buell, and emerged a transformed manufacturer. The “Oishi Yoshio” is a radical-looking motorcycle, matching the Buell’s equally radical cast-aluminum frame. The “Oishi Yoshio” was built around a Buell racing motor to compete at the Pike’s Peak Hillclimb, where it took second place against a field of factory-backed racing machines. While “ronin” means “leaderless samurai,” the unusual name of the “Oishi Yoshio” was derived from a powerful samurai leader.

Style: Road racer
Original Manufacturer: Buell
Year & Model: EBR 1190RX
Frame: Buell with Ronin forks
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 1190cc Rotax V-twin
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Petardo (2015)
Built by El Solitario MC – Vigo, Spain

Anyone who understands motorcycles is intrigued by the “Petardo” and how it resolves the “list” every motorcycle must address—where is the fuel, how is the rider placed, and how does s/he interact with the machine?

The “Petardo” answers such fundamentals in a radically different way, and as a result looks like no other motorcycle. It is truly El Solitario’s first masterpiece, a paradoxically mature expression of David Borrás’s vision. The word “petardo” means “firecracker” in Spanish, and like its namesake, the “Petardo” must be noticed.

Style: Scrambler
Original Manufacturer: Ducati
Year & Model: 1993 900SS
Frame: Ducati
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 900cc L-twin
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Rondine (2013)
Built by Medaza Cycles – Cork, Ireland

From a small town near Cork, Ireland, Medaza Cycles grabbed the traditional custom motorcycle world by the nose, winning the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building in 2013.

The single-cylinder Italian motorcycle had prevailed against the long legacy of V-twin-based customs, planting the flag of the alt. custom movement at the heart of the old custom world. That the “Rondine” was voted the winner by a jury of its bike-building peers speaks volumes about the changes in the global custom scene.

Style: Café racer
Original Manufacturer: Moto Guzzi
Year & Model: 1974 Nuovo Falcone
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 580cc single-cylinder
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Sleeper (2007)
Built by Chabott Engineering – Los Angeles, CA

If one person represents the origin point of the alt. custom movement, it must be Shinya Kimura. Working since 1992 in Japan with Zero Engineering, Kimura developed a highly personal chopper aesthetic that became known as “Zero style.”

All his work includes his distinctive style of bodywork of hand-hammered aluminum, but the “Sleeper” also incorporates a totally custom-fabricated frame that is built around a vintage motor. In this respect, both the “Sleeper” and “Needle” are especially unusual in Kimura’s artistic oeuvre.

Style: “Zero style”
Original Manufacturer: Excelsior
Year & Model: 1914 Twin
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Handmade aluminum tank and seat
Motor: 1000cc V-twin
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Speedster (2015)
Built by Ehinger Kraftrad – Hamburg, Germany

While the Ehinger Kraftrad “Speedster” appears to be the most traditional and the least alt. custom of the group, in some regards it is the most high-tech machine in the “Custom Revolution” exhibition.

The high-tech part of the “Speedster” came in crafting the engine, using 1937 UL crankcases and modified Knucklehead top ends.

These parts do not really mix, as their unconventional pushrod angles attest, but Ehinger’s computer simulation proved it could be done. He considers engines the heart of his creations.

Style: Speedway
Original Manufacturer: Harley-Davidson
Year & Model: 1937 UL
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom
Motor: 1000cc mix of Harley-Davidson UL and EL motors
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

Suavecito (2013)
Built by Sosa Metalworks – Las Vegas, NV

Cristian Sosa is a metalworking veteran even in his mid-30s, having taken his high school metalwork training to a job at Count’s Kustoms for 12 years. This led to an early brush with celebrity as the shop was the focus of the custom car TV show Counting Cars.

After branching out as an independent shop in 2012, Sosa has made his own name, garnering big-brand sponsorship and appearing at the 2013 Mooneyes show in Japan with this highly modified 1940 Indian-based “Suavecito” (“smooth” in Spanish).

Style: Board track
Original Manufacturer: Indian
Year & Model: 1940 Scout
Frame: Custom-fabricated
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 750cc V-twin
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

T-005 Cross (2008)
Built by Thrive Motorcycle – Jakarta, Indonesia

The remarkable Indonesian team of Thrive has managed a rare feat: their builds are simultaneously a hit on both motorcycle and haute-design blogs. The global alt. custom scene is borderless and digitally propagated, and an Indonesian brand exciting such interest is proof. The bike stamping Thrive’s reputation—the “T-005 Cross”—is the darling of a hundred design pages and shares something with Vietnam’s Bandit9 in being crossover-ready to a non-motorcycling public.

Style: Scrambler
Original Manufacturer: Yamaha
Year & Model: 2008 Scorpio 225
Frame: Yamaha
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: 225cc single-cylinder
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated

White Phantom (2015)
Built by Kingston Custom – Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Dirk Oehlerking’s “White Phantom” began as a BMW R80RT. Viewers first notice the striking bodywork of the “White Phantom,” characterized by a white parallelogram with curved ends arcing in consonance with the wheels.

The fairing hides a powerful 800cc turbocharged engine, and Oehlerking carefully installed Formula 1-appropriate insulation to protect the rider.

Style: Dragster
Original Manufacturer: BMW
Year & Model: 1986 R/T
Frame: BMW
Bodywork: Custom-fabricated
Motor: Turbocharged 800cc flat-twin
Exhaust: Custom-fabricated