Diversity is spice of life, so we assembled four custom motorcycles from four different countries, all built with very different sponsored bikes. We started with an elegant Triumph Bobber, then moved on to a luxurious BMW R80, before finishing with a cool Honda CM200T disturbance person and a sharp Ducati 1098 cafe racer.
Triumph Bobber of Vagabund Moto and Classicbike Raisch Triumph’s Bobber has become a popular platform for both riders and customizers. From gentle to wild, the low saddle height and powerful torque motor make it a good choice for riders of all shapes, sizes and levels of experience.
For this 2022 model year, Vagabund Moto teamed up with Classicbike Raisch to create a rather compelling interpretation of the Winning Bobber. Choosing to focus on plug-and-play components rather than full build, Vagabund and Classicbike Raisch are targeting riders who want to get the job done on their own in the comfort of their homes. Using most hand tools (with one exception), customers can turn their factory Bobber into this car.
We’ll start with the exception—the wheels. The team replaced the factory 16-inch wheels with a pair of 17-inch Excel wheels, wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires.
A Motogadget Tiny speedometer replaces the factory gauge assembly, and a set of black aluminum sleeves compliment the fork caps. This is where the small turn signals are mounted, provided by Classicbike Raisch.
The headlight housing is 3D printed, with the brackets made from laser-cut steel. Together with the upper fork caps, the headlight setup gives the entire front end a modern look we’ve got here, in a big way. The short front fender is also taken from the Classicbike Raisch catalog.
At the heart of the Bobber—and its most unique detail—is the cantilevered single saddle. Vagabund and Classicbike Raisch are well aware of this, so they decided to try their hand at it. They came up with a plug-and-play solution without cutting or soldering. It’s a subtle change, but it makes a big impact.
A bunch of little details around the bike turned it from good to great. Lowered handlebars, blackened engine, new front brakes and custom paintwork are just some of the examples of the genius Vagabund x Classicbike Raisch.
If any of these things interest you, you’re in luck—this particular bike is for sale now. At €35,000 [about $39,237] that’s actually a pretty penny. However, if you already own your own Triumph Bobber, don’t worry—the parts you see on this bike will also be on sale soon.
So everyone wins. [Vagabund Moto | Classicbike Raisch | Images by Stefan Leitner]
Ellaspede’s BMW R80 BMW’s boxer twins are the darlings of the customization world. They were built in large numbers over the decades, and even today, they are occasionally sold at bargain prices.
This 1985 owner BMW R80, Kevin, is a big fan of vintage and vintage things. So it’s no surprise that he feels the appeal of Bavarian engineering.
“I just love the way things are designed from the 70s and 80s,” he said. “I may be a bit old-fashioned, but I like something with heritage value. BMW air-cooled boxer bikes were born and still exist today — I love that.”
“The way the cylinder protrudes makes it seem unusual. The shape, the way it looked, was strange, but also beautiful. The way the bike wobbles from left to right as the pistons shoot sideways gives me a weird feeling that I really like.”
When Kevin got his hands on the R80, he drove it for about six months before starting to crave a custom motorcycle. He was about to go abroad on business—but he couldn’t help but scratch the right itch. So he entrusted his steed to the trusted team at Ellaspede in Brisbane, Australia.
There, the BMW was scrapped and a new subframe was rebuilt from the ground up to slim down the rear end. Kevin couldn’t make his own choice between the fuel tank of the single-shock R80 or the dual-shock R80, but Ellaspede had the answer. Cleverly, two different fuel tanks were attached and two seats were built, allowing Kevin to switch between the two setups.
Why two seats? Well, the rear end of each tank has a different configuration—and Ellaspede wanted a tank that would fit perfectly. Based on the concept of a bike with two personalities, the fuel tank and saddle are finished in contrasting paint.
An often overlooked aspect of custom BMWs is luggage space. Well, that’s not strictly necessary for a lithe, street-running cafe racer—but Kevin wanted the custom bike to be perfectly agile. Liked the look of the original R80 sturdy baskets, the Ellaspede team built removable basket racks so the bike can be converted for weekend getaways.
For the rest of the build, the steering wheel has been swapped out for wider units and the electronics package has been overhauled with the usual Motogadget features. The front bumper has been trimmed and reshaped, and the engine has some new anti-collision bars, with a single yellow fog light mounted on the left side. An R nineT donates headlights, while an Oberon provides mirrors.
A custom BMW isn’t always utilitarian and beautiful, but the Ellaspede hits both the mark in terms of style. [Ellaspede]
Honda CM200T Custommade CA There’s no way around it, small bikes are great. They are approachable, malleable, and fun, which makes them perfect around the city and suburbs. This is the angle Honda took when they introduced the CM200T TwinStar (seriously, look up the old ads—they’re awesome).
This is a recent build of Custommade CA of Greece. This bike was initially delivered to Christos and the Custommade team in Athens after their customer, Giannis, took the bike out of stock. It once belonged to Giannis’ father and has been abandoned for nearly 20 years. Not wanting to waste the old bike, Giannis approached Christos after seeing their previous work.
Inspired by the BMWs in Paris-Dakar, Giannis thought a scrambler-style build would suit the intrepid Honda, and oh my gosh, he was right. Christos fitted the front end upside down from a KTM 390 Duke and fitted a new set of rims to the axles. Now fitted with 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels, they’re an inch larger at both ends, once again matching the scrambler aesthetic.
The swingarm is extended by 5 inches, giving more room for adventure bike tires to be attached to the rim. The fuel tank is painted in a very Paris-Dakar style, making it impossible not to feel the feeling of Rothmans Honda. The Honda logos were hand-painted by Vasilios Flets, a friend of the workshop.
There’s no point in having an evil custom without being able to ride it. Not wanting Giannis to be hampered by constant mechanical problems, Christos put a lot of effort into the engine and transmission.
The engine was rebuilt from the ground up with new pistons and washers. The single carburetor gets the same level of treatment, and now breathes easily through a small housing filter, while adding a sleek two-in-one stainless steel exhaust.
The area under the saddle has been liberated from clutter (including the airbox), and now houses all the electronics, neatly hidden behind custom side panels. All wiring is new, replaced with parts from Motogadget, Axel Joost and Daytona. The rear shock and short rear fender are also new, and the subframe has been customized to accommodate the longer swingarm, with a custom saddle perched above.
It’s the bike any of us would love to see parked in our own garage. We are sure that Giannis is a happy man. [Via]
Ducati 1098 by Ronaldo Ferreti A 70s-inspired paint scheme, over 160 hp on taps and plenty of carbon fiber models? Sign us up. This is a Ducati 1098 based on Ronaldo Ferreti’s cafe racer and it not only has a dripping quality, it’s also very personal.
Raised in Cuba, but now living in New York, Ronaldo’s hobby of motorcycling brings back memories of his father, who used to ride around town in a red Jawa. A self-described ‘car mechanic’, Ronaldo became interested in motorcycles a few years ago when a friend of his needed help with an old Honda. Ronaldo rode it, and memories of his childhood in Cuba flooded back; It’s time to get a bike of your own.
After trying out some machines, Ronaldo started this build with a bright yellow Ducati 1098. Amazingly, this black and gold beauty is the fruit of two years and over 250 hours of labor. Even more amazingly, Ronaldo did all this without needing his own store or tools—just a solid vision, a rented space in a local community garage, and a lot of fun. lots of hard work.
It’s no surprise that every nut and bolt gets a certain amount of attention. After destroying the car, Ronaldo adjusted the fuel tank from a Ducati Sport Classic GT1000 to suit. The bodywork comes from Motoforza and is attached using custom brackets.
The subframe and saddle are also customizable and can be removed from the main frame with just four latches. There is also a small storage compartment under the saddle.
The paintwork is inspired by Ducati’s beautiful 900SS from 1979. The black bodywork has been broken up with gold stripes, made in 23k gold leaf. The frame and clutch are also treated with a beautiful gold finish. All letters are done by hand, with a cursive font designed by Ronaldo’s mother – a great personal touch.
We’ve covered the widespread use of carbon fiber before, and we mean it—there’s a lot. From the engine belt cover and front guard, to the brake lever and clutch, this 1098 has taken a serious diet. But the biggest carbon block is the new BST wheels. Finished in bronze carbon, they not only look good, but they also reduce weight with no springs, making for a more enjoyable ride.
“With weight reduction and increased horsepower, this bike is capable of reaching speeds of 190 mph,” Ronaldo said happily. “It’s a very powerful Ducati, no ABS or traction control, just raw power.”
From the bodywork to the high-quality parts and overall design, there’s nothing we don’t like about this bike. [Via]
