We kick everything debuted with an elegant Honda CB350 from 2LOUD Custom in Taiwan. Then, let’s take a look at Can-Am’s new electric motorcycle concepts, three classic Kawasaki kits from Japan, and a BASE jump bike powered by a Honda CBR1000RR engine. Yes really.
Honda CB350 by 2LOUD Custom I once had a boss who said that when a client has a low budget, we should save on quantity, never on quality. Here Honda CB350 are from 2LOUD reminds me of that philosophy. Made for customers with a limited budget, it’s more limited than we know the Taiwanese store can do—but it’s still a top-priced build.
The bike belonged to a young dad who wanted to take his kid with him, so the petite CB350 was the perfect donor. It’s also a pretty affordable, customizable bike, so 2LOUD took the opportunity to design a bolt-on kit for it.
2LOUD saved a buck by keeping Honda’s spare gas tank and side caps. On one side is the emblem of the 2LOUD tank and the name of the owner’s child, both hand-made by a traditional Japanese tattoo artist.
Above is the first 2LOUD plug-and-play section: the double-layer leather seats. The fenders are also new ‘catalog’ parts, as are the license plate brackets, taillights and adjustable chain guards. Front and rear turn signals, and stylish inverted cone silencers, round out the list.
2LOUD has combined their custom parts with a hot laundry list of upgrades. One Motogadget speedo is housed in a manual rack, with a new flat handlebar in stainless steel fitted with a Frando brake master cylinder, aftermarket micro-switches and Motogadget rod-shaped rearview mirrors.
The wheels are new original-sized units, wrapped in Duro’s classic serrated grooves. And the rear shock absorber comes from the big Taiwanese car, GJMS.
On the surface, it may not go on daring ground, but this Honda CB350 is as glamorous as they come.
If you like what you see, you can order these parts for your own CB350 project. 2LOUD is launching a new website, but until then, send them a message via their Instagram account to order the parser. [2LOUD Custom Instagram]
Can-Am .’s new electric motorcycle Today, Can-Am is mostly known for its UTVs and tricycles like the Spyder. But they also used to make old two-wheeled bicycles. Back in the 70s, the Canadian company produced a variety of off-road motorcycles, powered by Rotax engines.
Can-Am is 50 years old this year, so they’re going back to their roots… that sort of thing. They just launched two new motorcycle concepts: the Can-Am Origin dual sport [above right]and Can-Am Pulse . street bike [above left]. And both are powered by electricity powertrain system.
It should come as no surprise that the Can-Am is already running on electricity. Their parent company, Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc. (BRP), bought a bunch of assets from defunct e-bike company, Alta, in 2019. So it’s likely that some of that technology has been incorporated into these new models — or that they used it as a basis for research.
Even so, Can-Am’s new bikes are not equipped with Alta engines. BRP also owns engine supplier Rotax, so Origin and Pulse will run Rotax’s brand new ‘E-Power’ powertrain. BRP hasn’t said much about this yet, but they did reveal that they plan to implement the same engine for their UTV and the snowmobile and jet ski brands under their umbrella.
At a glance, both new designs look good, especially the Origin version, which Can-Am advertises as a tribute to their off-road heritage. We’re finding faint hints of Husqvarna’s Svart- and Vitpilen, but the overall package looks fresher than derivative.
What we’re really curious about is how much these will cost and what numbers they’ll generate — but we’ll have to wait another year to find out. [More]
Doremi Collection Kawasaki Z900RS body kit The Kawasaki Z900RS isn’t quite as popular as some of the other modern classics on the market, which is a shame, because it’s a beautiful motorcycle. Now, Japanese parts company Doremi Collection has made the Zed even more classic, with a range of bolted attachments that emulate some of the most iconic models in Kawasaki’s archive.
All Doremi kits use the same system. It starts with 14 l [3.7 gallon] the fuel cell uses Kawasaki OEM attachment points, the fuel pump, and the filler cap. The fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tank skin of each set then snaps into place on it.
The first kit pays homage to the Kawasaki GPZ900R, popularized by Tom Cruise in Top Gun. It’s a beautiful replica, from the FRP crank to the spacious saddle. The windscreen is complete with a tinted windshield and periodically adjusted mirrors, with H4 headlights at the front and taillights clearly brought out to the rear.
The kit includes all the stands and stands you need to customize your Z900RS. The car pictured is also equipped with a vintage-style engine cover, anti-collision bar and hexagonal titanium silencer from K Factory.
If that’s not your speed, Doremi also has an Eddie Lawson Z1000R killer kit. Again, it uses an FRP barrel cover and crank set, with the necessary brackets included. Behind is a spacious double seat, running on a classic ducktail oxtail.
Doremi went even further when adding a pair of Öhlins piggyback shocks. But take a closer look, and you’ll notice that they’re just there for show — the Z900RS mono-shock is still in use. The front fenders, turn signals and taillights all come from elsewhere in Doremi’s parts catalog.
The company will then take on the Kawasaki Z1-R — Kawasaki’s attempt at a cafe racer at the factory. The blocky bodywork is the death mark for the classic Z1-R, and is even finished in the same light blue paint job.
Other standout items include a pair of gold Morris replica wheels and a boxy lighting system that perfectly recalls the era. Like the Lawson kit, the Z1-R also wears a fake rear shock absorber.
If you’re after a modern bike with even more classic styling, a Z900RS with one of these kits won’t be a bad way to go. [Via]
Honda ‘CRF1000RR’ jump bike BASE BASE jump is the act of parachuting from fixed objects; Jumping MotoBASE is doing it with a motorcycle. Colorado’s Bradley O’Neal was a pioneer in this crazy sport, so he developed a special bike with over 170 horsepower to do just that.
This crazy machine was built by Nate Engle at IndeeSource, with support from Bradley’s sponsor, K-Chill. It’s designed to soar to impossibly high dunes to launch Bradley into the air, but it will also double as a competitive hill bike.
It is powered by a 2014 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade engine, although the engine is not intact. It runs with everything from a Dynojet regulator to a custom air intake designed to accommodate secondary injectors. The heatsink is from the KTM 450SX and has been modified with dual fans and custom lines.
The engine is kept in a CAD-designed space frame, built from chrome-plated tubes. It fits the modified and reinforced subframe from the Honda CRF450. The extension swing arm is custom and uses a shock mount without links.
Other custom parts include the TIG-welded stainless steel fuel tank and exhaust. Suspension includes a set of KYB-tuned forks, with a WP Suspension at the rear. The wheels are assembled from Dubya, Excel and Talon parts.
Up front is a set of XTRIG spokes, with Mika Metals handlebars with the original CBR controller. The plastic and saddle are CRF450 parts, with new seat covers from Thrill Seekers.
It’s a crazy bike for an even crazier sport. Bradley’s documented the entire process in a series of videos; We’ve embedded the first episode below for your viewing pleasure. [More]
