Extended Harley-Davidson new Sportster line with Nightster 975cc. Additionally, we present a BMW R18 from Canada, a Ducati SportClassic from San Francisco and a KTM 300 EXC from Australia. But first, let’s see what Indonesia’s Krom Works has achieved.
Norton Commando Concept by Krom Works Andika Pratama at Krom Works has made a name for herself through her impressive metalworking skills. But today we’re looking at something entirely digital from the Indonesian custom builder — specifically, renderings for his next project.
He was an ambitious man, no doubt. Andi was sent a 1970 Norton Commando engine from the UK, with the task of building something “radical”. We’d say he’s on the right track.
These designs show that the Norton factory is nested into a frame entirely of scratched material, where the bodywork is indistinguishable from the chassis. The suspension is particularly appealing, with single-sided swingarms on duty at both ends and a complex braking system.
“It won’t be easy, but it will work, because for me this bike has to be very unique,” Andi said.
The level of detail packed into these builds also shows that Andi put a lot of thought into the construction, before hammering into the metal. Every box seems to be ticked off, right down to the interesting treatments for the lights and a host of bronze details.
Andi has already started packing the original frame together from stainless steel, but there are still ways to go. He’s hoping to finish it by October – and we’re counting the days. [Krom Works]
Ducati SportClassic by DNA Motor Labs SportClassic was, is and will always be one of Ducati’s most beautiful creations. But do you customize it? Rodrigo Cedeño of DNA Motor Labs in San Francisco says “yes”.
This is already the third custom SportClassic that Rodrigo has built, and it makes a strong case. The idea here is to evolve the original design instead of reinventing it and bringing a bunch of upgrades into the mix. “Keep a classic look but get modern R&D perks,” as Rodrigo says.
To enhance the performance of the 992cc V-twin, DNA Motor Labs started with high flow rate stacks and a custom two-to-two exhaust system from Zard. They also installed an upgraded fuel pump, a vented sliding clutch and a custom twin oil cooler setup. And they modified the bike, naturally.
The SportClassic was heavily invested in from the factory, but nonetheless the team upgraded the brakes and added a steering damper. Tires are Michelin Power 5s.
Aesthetically, DNA Motor Labs’ SportClassic really differs from the original formula only in one important way: its paint color. This car is dressed in Volvo blue with subtle gold leaf details. It’s a color Ducati never used, but SportClassic wears it beautifully.
Other details include custom front fenders, LED lighting and a bunch of Rizoma bits. Rodrigo also sprinkles on a range of anodized parts, along with color-matched hoses and wires. A dry-open clutch basket and personalized ‘window’ on the cambelt cover add a final touch.
We’d be happy with a classic SportClassic in the garage, but DNA Motor Labs’ demo was just a little more special. [More]
Black Cycles’ KTM 300 EXC Light, agile and focused, the KTM 300 EXC is the top choice for enduro riders. But Noel Muller of Black Cycles in Australia thinks it has more potential than that. When he was commissioned by Zach Hegde to customize a 2013 EXC at an Australian car dealership, Retromotivehe decided to turn it into a street ready place flat tracker.
Zach gave Noel full creative control on the project, so Noel pulled all the stops. And what’s more, he didn’t send his clients any sneak peeks during the process – saving it all for the big reveal.
Inspired by the distinctive angular design style of KTM, Noel decided to shape all aluminum body parts for the car. The fuel tank, rear end, headlight assembly, radiator cap, fork guard and license plate mount are all custom parts.
KTM currently rides on custom-built 19-inch KKE alloy wheels wrapped in Dunlop tyres. Suspension is lowered at both ends and the front fork is reinforced with a stainless steel brace.
Noel also installed a Lectron carb, along with an upgraded stainless steel expansion chamber. Pop Bang Classics rewound the bike, while Carman’s Auto Trimmers covered the saddle with MX-style cloth grips.
As for the paint, it’s all about Noel. The base is metallic gray, with a silver honeycomb pattern placed on it. Orange highlights and transparent coated alloy parts add contrast.
So does this gnarly street track car run as well as it looks? “It’s been a remarkable trip,” confirmed Zach. “As a modern KTM with Lectron carb, it doesn’t lose its bitter anger charm when it gets into the late rev range when squeezed – and she’s a simple and very easy start. – type of bicycle. “
Oh, it’s on sale too, if you’re tempted. [More]
Jay Donovan’s BMW R18 BMW Motorrad Canada recently aggregated three Canadian custom builders to each customize a BMW R18. No wonder Jay Donovan is one of them.
Jay is a master at transforming sheet metal into flowing, organic forms – and that skill is on full display here. His take on the R18 leaves much of the antique bike intact under the hood, mainly because the brief covers keeping the bike lanes legal. But the bodywork and exhaust have been completely reshaped.
Dubbed the ‘Future Café’, Jay’s R18 features a compact and heavy-duty fuel tank, and a tightly packed tail. Both parts are shaped in aluminum, and finished with contrasting black and polishing treatments. The BMW also fitted fenders at both ends.
But the big drawcard here is the exhaust. In a bold move, Jay redirected it upwards to run underneath the new bodywork. It will probably burn someone’s leg in the end, but it looks incredible, with the angle of the exhaust matching the angle of the tail.
Other builders that BMW Canada has selected are Konquer Motorcycles and Augment Motorworks. The trio was chosen because they all have very different build styles — and it’s a good combination, because each custom R18 looks different from the others. [BMW Motorrad Canada | Jay Donovan]
Harley-Davidson Nightster When Harley released Sportster WILLit signaled a big step forward for the brand — but it also made us want a more traditional ‘new one’ Sports athlete. Could the new Nightster be the answer?
Revealed this week, the Nightster is the second in Harley-Davidson’s next-generation Sportster line. It moves away from the ultra-modern styling of the Sportster S for a look that breaks out of classic Sportster playbooks. It’s also cheaper (with a base price of $13,499 versus the Sportster S’s $15,499), less powerful, and more custom-friendly.
The Nightster is powered by Harley’s new Revolution Max 975T engine – the smallest factory brother of the 1250T in the Sportster S. The 60-degree, liquid-cooled, 975cc V-twin makes 90hp at 7,500 rpm and 95 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. This is 31 hp and 32.5 Nm less than the Sportster S, but around 30 hp and just 4 Nm less than the upcoming Sportster 1200cc models.
The engine is a big step up from the older Sportster, with dual overhead camshafts, variable valve control and switchable driving modes. But that technology comes at a cost; The right side of the engine looks almost futuristic, and the left is packed with flaps and plumbing. It’s the kind of thing that’s nearly impossible to hide, but it can be frustrating for fans of the original Sportster.
Aesthetically, the Nightster casts a classic Sportster silhouette — but there are some tricks involved here as well. The fuel tank is actually just a steel cover for the air conditioning box, while the actual tank is hidden under the saddle. HD says the design allows for a larger airbox and helps lower the bike’s center of gravity for better handling.
We’re in the fence about the new layout, but fortunately, the fake tank isn’t plastic; that would be too much to bear. Plus the relatively traditional layout of the seats, rear fenders and struts has led us to believe there’s room for customization here. Decorative details include a round analog/digital combo speedometer and LED headlights that are designed in a classic Harley style.
Sure, the riding position looks as awkward as you’d expect from a stock Sportster, but with any luck it should be easy to adjust. Harley-Davidson has stocked up their catalog with extra bits for the new Sporty, and customizers like Charlie Stockwell, The Speed Merchant, and Hidemo have worked their magic on it.
The real question is whether the new Sportster will become as popular as its 65-year-old predecessor. Only time will tell. [Harley-Davidson Nightster]
