Run for the tenth time of the Malle Mile is one for the books, and from what we hear, it was one of the most memorable. Hordes of motorcycle enthusiasts descended on the stately grounds of the Grimsthorpe Estate for a weekend of dust, petrol and smiles.
Amidst the chaos, a curated collection of custom, vintage, and rare motorcycles lined up in the courtyard of Grimsthorpe Castle as part of the first official Malle Mile Custom Build Challenge. Prizes were awarded across the day in all but one category—the Bike EXIF People’s Choice Award. And that’s where you come in.
We’ve narrowed it down to 10 machines, listed below in no particular order. Check out these awesome machines at your leisure—but when you’re done, let us know which ones you love in the comments.
After we’ve sifted through the comments, polled social media channels, and debated amongst ourselves, we’ll announce the winner of the official EXIF-voted Malle Mile Custom Build Challenge Bike award.
Andrew Stevens’ 1923 AJS Model D Even though Andrew J. Steven’s AJS Model D is 100 years old, it still knows how to party. Built in 1923, the bike has never been restored and raced on the Malle Rally exactly like this—100-year-old patina and all.
The AJS Model D underwent several modifications before and after World War I, with a 50-degree V-twin engine starting at 648 cc and producing a maximum power of 6 horsepower.
Andrew’s Model D was a post-World War I version of the bicycle, so the fuel tank was longer and the seat was improved, while the power (in 1923) was increased to 7 horsepower.
Andrew says his Model D can comfortably do 40mph on the King’s Highway, which is fast enough for a Sunday drive when you want to look cool.
Norton Manx by Simon Warren The Norton Manx was built as a factory racer by the British company to win the Isle of Man TT. Continuing on from the Norton International, the Manx featured a smooth-running (for Norton, anyway) twin overhead cam engine, with the famous Norton featherbed frame arriving a little later. Unlike the International, the new Manx featured telescopic forks and twin-guide front brakes, and was shorter and lighter than its predecessor.
The bike you see here is a great example of the Norton Manx 500 Classic TT. The single-cylinder engine is hidden behind a beautiful bodyshell finished in British Racing Green. The front and rear fairings feature Union Jack emblems and the high-mounted exhaust pipes help to vent hot air out the back of the bike.
Everything, down to the last nut and bolt, looks like new. And with upgraded disc brakes and a Mikuni carburetor, we bet it runs (and stops) well, too.
Sebastian Miller’s Triumph Bonneville T120 scrambler Ever wondered what a Triumph T120 would look like with a scrambler? Triumph T120 by Sebastian Miller Bonneville The scrambler built by Sam James at LIND Triumph in London answers that question.
Sam started with a standard T120 and teamed up with the likes of Charlie Stockwell and Hitchcox Motorcycles to create this desert sled. It features longer-than-OEM closed-back forks, taller fenders and dirt-friendly rubber. A custom, reinforced seat sits up top, with a headlight grill adding some classic British scrambler style.
Hitchcox has fitted a stainless steel shotgun exhaust which looks fantastic. The catalytic converter is gone too, which alone probably saved 20 pounds. Dubbed the ‘Grimsthorpe Growler’ (Sebastian and his family live on the Grimsthorpe Estate), the bike is shown here in classic Hare Scramble style, with no turn signals, taillights or mirrors.
Robert McLaurin’s Triumph TR6 SR This custom Triumph TR6 SR, owned by Robert McLaurin, originally came from Johnson Motors—the same dealership that gave Bud Ekins his first Triumph. We don’t know the exact history of the bike, but somehow it made its way back to England and now looks like a true classic desert racer.
In true desert sled style, the front fenders are gone, as are the lights and gauges. The large tank can hold plenty of fuel, which is fed to the engine by a single carburetor.
Twin pipes curve along the sides of the bike, ending before a short rear fender. The generously padded single seat features hand-painted lettering on the back, in the same style as the Triumph tank logo and side cover illustration.
Equipped with Kenda Sand rear tires and test tires up front, this bike mixer just begging to be thrown onto a dusty road.
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Motorcycle by Cherry’s Company This black and chrome masterpiece comes from the one and only Cherry Company from Tokyo, Japan. Starting with the new Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, Kaichiroh Kurosu and the team at Cherry added a handmade three-wheeler to their creation, which was displayed at Malle Mile after wowing the crowds at the Yokohama Custom and Off-Road Show.
The leading-link front forks are handmade, as is the large headlight with a custom plastic lens. A wider, taller front section and custom fuel tank give the new seat a lower look, and the rear wheel has been replaced with a wider one, thanks to a new swingarm design.
The 19” rear wheel is a 60 spoke custom with a gorgeous dual brake setup. But while the rear wheel is complex, the 21” brakeless front wheel is simply gorgeous.
This gorgeous chair was inspired by a classic stroller design and (oddly enough) traditional Dutch wooden clogs. The list of details is endless, but we especially love the gold leaf and striped accents.
Rowan Horncastle’s Royal Enfield Interceptor This is the most colourful bike of the Malle entries. Royal Enfield’s in-house customisation team teamed up with Top Gear editor Rowan Horncastle to create this one-of-a-kind bike. Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.
Inspired by Alexander Calder’s 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL Le Mans, a rugged-style fairing was added to the Enfield, which was then painted in the stunning livery you see here. Even the custom Tom Hurley seats were included in the brief.
The exhaust is from BAAK and the rearsets are from Harris Performance. The baskets are from Malle London themselves, with a Nitron shock at the back to smooth out the ride. The hubs were sent to Central Wheel Components for custom rims, allowing the RE team to fit wider profile tyres.
Who says sports cars can’t be sexy?
Super73 S2’s King Kenny Tribute Officially named the ‘Super73 KR1 Yamaha YZR500 Tribute’, this stunning yellow electric bike is a tribute to legendary rider Kenny Roberts and his famous yellow uniform. Based on the Super73 S2, it was built by Daniel Lescot, Head of HALO Europe.
The traditional Super73 pedals were the first thing to go, giving the bike some motorcycle-inspired styling. A short front fork was added and anodized in bronze, with a pair of clip-on handlebars in place. The top clamp and front number plate are both custom items and add to the racing aesthetic.
The wheels are painted gold and the brakes are upgraded with a variety of Magura components. The super-cool tires are Maxxis Super Suckers and the short cafe-style seat is custom-stitched in Alcantara.
This isn’t a bike for cross-country (or even cross-city) riding, but it would certainly come in handy for cruising around the track.
Yamaha MT-07 Custom by Dan Stone Stibnite Moto’s Dan Stone has a particular fondness for the Yamaha CP2 engine. Found in the Yamaha MT-07, XSR700, and Ténére 700, it’s compact, versatile, and incredibly fun—so who can blame him?
For the 2024 season, Dan decided to build a simple-yet-flat tracker out of MT-07.
Yamaha didn’t really design the MT-07 as an off-roader, but that’s where Dan’s incredible engineering skills come in. All that’s left of the original bike is the engine, frame, and suspension, and Dan built everything else from scratch.
The subframe, seat, and gas cap are all custom, with a set of off-road wheels and tires added for good measure. And the custom exhaust system is almost as loud as the paint.
BMW R18 by Kingston Custom Dirk Oehlerking and his shop, Kingston Customare no strangers to these sites. And if you’ve been reading Bike EXIF for a while, you’ll definitely recognize this shocking trash-rimmed bike BMWR18.
If not, we’ll keep you posted. The R18 was originally commissioned by BMW Motorrad to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Dirk started with a brand new BMW R18 First Edition, building a split-grille dust cover inspired by classic BMW automotive design.
The entire front end is bespoke, swooping down from the tank and encompassing the front wheel. Finished in black with white stripes, the overall design has an interesting art deco feel. The seat draws the eye down to the cleverly designed factory frame (which retains its suspension) and exposed shaft drive.
It’s no surprise that Kingston’s R18 walked away from the Malle Mile with the ‘Best in Show’ award, meaning Dirk will soon be getting a new Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 for his next build.
Dick Shepherd’s Triumph John Giles ISDT Race Bike John Giles is a legend in the off-road world. Born in Kent, England, he started his off-road career on a modified BSA. A few years later, he became a Triumph rider in 1952 (on a Triumph TR5 Trophy) and remained with Triumph until the end of his professional career in 1970.
He won 11 gold medals in 18 years at the International Six Days. Considered an all-rounder, John was as good at hare scrambles as he was at trials. Incredibly for someone who competed in trials and required incredible depth perception, he amassed so many awards despite only having sight in one eye.
Sadly, John passed away in 2023 at the age of 93, but his legacy (and bikes) live on. The gorgeous blue Triumph you see here was one of his actual race bikes. The 21-inch front wheel, skinny trials rubber and short fenders hint at its original use, as do the large rear derailleur and small fuel tank.
As an old race car that sat abandoned for most of its life, it has been restored to a very high standard. It was also part of Dick Shepherd’s collection of Triumphs—which explains why it looks so pristine.
London Shopping Center | Image by, and with thanks, Shane Benson
