If you still are Sad that Harley never brought the Bronx street bike to market, California’s Whiplash Speed Company has a custom Harley-Davidson Pan America that might scratch your itch. Next, we present a battle-ready Honda Dominator, a Yamaha Scorpio SX225 from Bali and a racing-spec 1972 Kawasaki H2-R.
Harley-Davidson Pan America by Whiplash Speed Company Whiplash founder Carlos Pena gets into the parts and accessories game by using a grinder and welder for his Dyna Street Bob. Now specializing in sleek custom parts for all types of Harley-Davidsons, the Southern California company just built something Harley itself couldn’t—a custom Pan America that resembles the HD Bronx concept from several years ago.
When the Bronx concept debuted in 2019, we (and many others) thought it was a step in the right direction for Bar and Shield. Its modern, compact street bike design is on track to attract younger buyers (something the HD desperately needs). But a new corporate strategy caused Harley to suddenly split from the Bronx, leaving everyone really disappointed.
We’re not sure if the Bronx was the inspiration behind Whiplash’s Pan America, but it certainly fills that void. Starting with the 2021 model Pan Am, the team threw away most of the remaining details.
A pair of 17-inch Dymag wheels with Dunlop Q5 tires create a bold street style. A carbon front mudguard is installed along with a pair of Brembo brakes (ABS removed). The stock suspension has been retuned to better suit street driving.
The front of the car is kept clean with a racing license plate also made from carbon fiber. The original electrical system remains integrated into the ECU, with the car’s OEM TFT dashboard housed in a new housing, above a new steering damper and ProTaper bar.
The custom tank cover and tail section are also made of carbon fiber, with a custom Whiplash saddle nestled neatly between the two. A wasp-colored rear end, slick tires and Akrapovič mufflers accentuate the length of the Pan America’s swingarm, but we’re seriously digging the proportions. The brake light in the Whiplash portfolio is cleverly integrated into the back of the left side panel.
With sharp lines that reflect racing style, Whiplash’s Pan America fits right in with our favorite Harley models. [Whiplash Speed Company]
Honda Dominator by Matteucci Garage The Honda Dominator is a go-anywhere, do-anything bike. While it may not set the world alight with its cutting-edge specs, it will certainly get you where you need to go. This is exactly why Marco from Matteucci Garage chose this 1989 Honda Dominator and then transformed it into what he nicknamed the Honda ‘Raptor’.
“The Honda Raptor was born as an idea for a fuel-efficient motorcycle for carefree enduro riding,” said Marco. “Obviously something went wrong and we got too excited. The idea is to get a good base, equip decent suspension and have fun.
The front of the Honda CRF is equipped with new 320 mm brake discs, new brake calipers and Brembo master cylinder. A mountain bike-style front mudguard was also added along with the CRF’s lower fork guard.
The KOSO LED headlight on a custom mount illuminates the night with the help of a pair of fork-mounted spotlights. New bars on the custom riser are adorned with Motogadget shifters, heated grips, and Circuit brush guards. A new windshield covers the Quadlock phone mount, and a Motogadget Motoscope mini speedometer is mounted to the handlebar clamp.
Marco replaced the stock fuel tank with an aftermarket 23-liter fuel tank [6.1-gallon] Acerbis unit, perfect for long days in the saddle. Custom side panels in the shape of a Velociraptor give this bike its name.
The stock saddle was trimmed down at the rear and covered in custom vinyl to match the new paint and Mosko Moto saddlebags. The Mosko is protected from the exhaust by a custom aluminum heat shield, integrated into the rear rack.
A Keihin FCR41 carb was installed to add a little pep to the Dominator’s step. The stock airbox was retained for maximum usability and reliability, but the car breathes a little easier thanks to a new exhaust system. The entire car has been rebuilt from the ground up and there’s nothing on the Raptor that hasn’t been given a fresh coat of paint.
We love adventure builds with a purpose, and the only thing we’d add to Marco’s Dominator is a few layers of mud. [Matteucci Garage]
Yamaha Scorpio SSX225 by Deus Bali The rival and street tracker built by Deus ex Machina’s Canggu, the Bali-based group overall sees their usage rates reasonable. But the Yamaha Scorpio SX225 pictured here has a more colorful history than most.
It was originally built seven years ago for a member of the Deus Bali group and is widely used for commuting to work, easily navigating the crowded streets of Southeast Asia. That is until it was stolen.
“In the last days of November 2022, a fast, swaggering Brit rode it out of the back yard at Deus (but that’s a whole other story), Deus’s blog writes. “Suffice it to say, the pommy thief was caught within 24 hours and behind bars, but the bike was locked up too.”
The police kept the bike as evidence for four months, so when the team got it back, it was in a sorry state. A spare construction position opened up at the store last year, so the tired Scorpio was pushed onto the workbench for a new lease of life.
The car was stripped down, with the (already tired) engine given new gaskets, the carb rebuilt, new gaskets and a fresh coat of paint. A new lowered subframe was fabricated and fastened to the new leather seats, and a three-in-one lighting system was integrated into the rear loop. The front and rear fenders are handcrafted from aluminum.
Hurricane rubber handlebars and swingarms are imported from Japan, and the exhaust is changed from a high exhaust to a low street exhaust. Mini LED turn signals hang at the front and rear of the vehicle, with the LED headlights mounted on custom brackets. The shiny rims and chunky Shinko tires are still in good condition, but the team decided to replace the brakes and brake lines with stainless steel.
A new surfboard stand (possibly a legal requirement in Bali) has been built along with a new tank badge. The inverted logos are the happy result of a manufacturing error—but we think they look perfect. Deus Bali’s in-house painters took care of the British Racing Green, expertly coating the fenders and fuel tank.
This Scorpio has definitely had its ups and downs, but the silver lining here is that it’s looking better than ever. [More]
For sale: Kawasaki H2-R 1972 In the early 1970s, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) set a 750cc limit for racing cars. This led to the rise of Formula 750—a thrilling series that eventually earned the title of world champion.
The bike you see here is a 1972 Kawasaki H2-R, built specifically for racing. The Formula 750 bike must use an engine taken from a production bike, so at its heart is an air-cooled three-cylinder, two-stroke engine from an H2 Mach road bike. IV. Combined with a custom frame taken from the Kawasaki H1-R Grand Prix, it seemed like a recipe for success.
Despite its power, Kawasaki struggled to win at Daytona with the H2-R—or its successor, the liquid-cooled KR750. However, the H2-R prototype, greatly improved in its high-speed handling thanks to a custom frame manufactured by Randy Hall, showed promise by winning the Talladega 200 and Ontario 200 (courtesy of Yvon Duhamel and Part Smart take turns driving).
This bike is said to be one of six H2-Rs produced in 1972 and had one of the last wide port engines used by Kawasaki. Its current owner purchased the bike in November 2004, the previous owner having purchased the bike from Randy Hall himself. The car has undergone a comprehensive restoration, including a complete engine rebuild.
The bike retains its original magnesium engine covers and axles, and even has the original paint on the tail and fuel tank. The tank also features a number of autographs from the car’s past celebrities, including Kenny Roberts and Giacomo Agostini. It is kept in a temperature-controlled environment as part of the current owner’s collection and comes with an extensive historical record.
H2-R is being offered for sale at Bonhams, with attractive prices from 148,000 USD to 198,000 USD. As an important part of Kawasaki’s racing history, we’re sure the new owner will be proud—no matter how much lighter their wallet is after the sale.
