Build a decent Custom motorcycles on a tight budget are a tall order. But you know what’s even harder? Do it for free — unless your name is Edi Buffon.
Operating as Machine 1867 out of Sydney, Edi is known for its imaginative machines. This Suzuki GS650 bobber is a typical Machine 1867 build; Completely radical and filled with complex solutions to problems that don’t exist. And yes, he actually built it without spending a dime (almost).
“While considering my next build and getting increasingly busy as my business progresses,” Edi said, “I remember having a Suzuki GS650 in stock. It was a bike that I had tinkered with a few years earlier, but was no longer interested as other projects took precedence.”
“I removed the engine and put it on the crafting table with the wheels, and took a step back to think about my next move. I decided to aim to build a zero budget by just using what I had on the shelf and doing everything else.”
Edi’s first job was to choose between supercharged or supercharged Suzuki. He has settled on a turbochargerand then started to conceptualize his work in real time, his way.
“I started bending some pipes,” he explains. “This will be a stiff frame with the engine as a tension member. I set the steering wheel to 35 degrees and the wheelbase at 1,550 mm – numbers that I have used before. ”
“As I progressed, the bike showed up: my version of a tow bike. I opted for a double tank setup, as I did before, because it was an efficient way to hide the electrical components.”
“Now that I had a direction, I started building this thing.”
Edi completed the frame first, then turned his attention to the exhaust and turbo setup. On the right side of the bike is a replaced Webber trunk, which sits atop a manual manifold. Most turbochargers are custom-made — from the vents, exhaust valves and even knobs to the turbocharger gauges and pressure regulators.
“The real estate quickly disappeared, but I managed to get an external fuel pump under the saddle, as well as a small battery that only supplies 12V of power to the fuel pump,” says Edi. The bike requires a roller starter as it is a total loss system. “
The exhaust system was put together from pieces of the original front end and pieces of 3-inch pipes from a discount box. When Edi ran out of 3” pipe, he used some of the 2.5” segments he had—replacing a flange from a four-cylinder system to match different diameters together.
“I pointed the drain and exhaust up,” says Edi, because it looked menacing and impractical – and I had no choice. Now when I try to force myself into a riding position, I see the exhaust burning and jarring my ears on the left, induced noises on the right and stuff poking my ribcage.”
By this point, any actual images have disappeared from the window. So Edi decided to go all out with the user interface, building his own Druid beam fork by A. Drew and Co. produced in the early 1900s. The design is very elegant and uses a pair of mountain bike shock absorbers that Edi has put around.
However, its slim appearance proves how much work has been done. “There were quite a few technical parts and challenges to deal with,” explains Edi. “However, this is my favorite UI setup and I’m sure I’ll be using it again in the future.”
Next, Edi welded a set of handlebars to the fork, then built a knurled gripper, along with reverse levers for the clutch and throttle. You read that right: this bike uses a lever-controlled throttle. The rear sets are pieces put together from a number of scaled parts.
Edi’s last major construction job was the new GS650 displacement tank. “I didn’t mean the design,” he said, “just a simple shape to follow the top axis. I like that you can see the reflection of the motor in the bottom panel. ”
Edi polished the twin tanks, painted the custom tailgate and fork black, then tested the chemical spray process on the frame and various accessories. When it came to final assembly and plumbing, he opted to display all the fuel and vacuum wires, to add to the bike’s mechanical aesthetic.
However, he ended up having to open his wallet, to pay for the upholstery and some ceramic coating work. “The money is well spent,” he admitted.
Most of us wouldn’t be able to envision a construction feat like this — let alone create it with nothing but talent and a few leftover parts. Edi is nothing short of a real custom motorcycle wizard.
Machine 1867 | Instagram | Photo of Andrew Jones
