Swiss conductors at VTR Customs delivered the first custom BMW R1300GS we’ve ever seen, while Radical Speedshop built a bespoke Moto Guzzi racer cafe like no one else. We also look at a neatly restored Yamaha XT500 and a beautiful 1949 Triumph Speed Twin bobber.
BMW R1300GS of VTR Customs When BMW announced its new flagship Adventure motorcycle, the BMW R1300GS, we knew it was only a matter of time before it was customized. Thank you Switzerland VTR CustomsWe didn’t have to wait too long.
Large, fast adventure-style bikes are a popular trend today. Machines like the Ducati Multistrada V4 RS and BMS M1000XR are designed for riders who want adventure bike ergonomics in a performance-oriented road package. This is probably what inspired the mad scientists at VTR Navy.
Their design is still similar to the BMW R1300GS but much neater. To slim down the front end, they replaced the windshield with the shortest available, removed the handguards, and installed short brake and clutch levers. A short front mudguard is fitted under the typical BMW section, giving the engine more protection from whatever comes loose from the sticky Metzeler Supersport tires.
Kellermann Atto turn signals are installed at the front and a matching three-in-one light unit is added at the rear. The rear section has been significantly slimmed down thanks to a custom cover that replaces the OEM handle and license plate holder. Along with Yves Knobel’s custom saddle, VTR’s changes make the R1300GS’s already dated rear end even more impressive.
The M-inspired gray undercoat was designed by Freuler AG and went a long way to cutting down on visual volume even further. The rocker covers are coated in wrinkled black, the exhaust tips are covered with black heat tape and the mufflers are painted black (although we’ve never heard of ‘Attrapovič’).
In its original form, the BMW R1300GS lacks visual cohesion. But the VTR’s version trims the fat to reveal the muscular, road-focused machine underneath. Their R1300GS wouldn’t be our choice for off-road touring—but we sure would love to carve canyons on it. [VTR Customs]
Moto Guzzi cafe racer by Radical Speedshop We’ve been huge fans of Stefan Bronold’s work since he first launched Radical Guzzi. His workshop may have changed its name to Radical Speedshop, but he’s still producing some of the most modern custom Moto Guzzis in the world.
The Bavarian rider started tinkering with Moto Guzzis as a teenager and has never looked back. His specialty is tuning Moto Guzzi 8-valve engines for their longevity—which is exactly what he did on this bike, the ‘Fugitive MK2’.
At the heart of the bike is the 1,200 cc 4-valve Moto Guzzi engine—one of the more powerful engines produced by the Mandello del Lario factory. However, Stefan doesn’t do things by halves.
First, he increased capacity to 1,400 cc by grafting cylinders and pistons from a California 1400. Then he modified the intake and exhaust channels, and installed a new performance cam. sharper. There’s also a pair of giant Keihin carburetors that throw fuel down the Guzzi’s throat.
This Italian stallion was entered into the Moto Guzzi Bellagio chassis. The Bellagio started life as a 940cc two-valve cruiser, but the frame had much in common with Lino Tonti’s masterpiece—the Le Mans 850. With massive power and torque, the Bellagio frame now had worthy motive.
The bike also gets Marzocchi front forks from the MV Agusta F3 (with Wilbers internals), a fully adjustable rear shock from YSS, and a custom swingarm. Beringer brakes provide stopping power for the beast, which now weighs under 440 lbs.
The carbon front fender and exhaust pipe are custom products of Mass Moto. The long aluminum pot has been polished to a perfect shine, matching the overall feel perfectly. The modern cafe racer style continues at the rear, with custom seats sitting on a trimmed subframe. Several Motogadget components help keep the cockpit looking simple and sleek.
By this point, we didn’t just want to ride a Radical Speedshop-built Moto Guzzi… we needed to. [Radical Speedshop | Images by, and with thanks to, Sacha Nagel]
Yamaha XT500 by Motogadgets The Yamaha XT500 There really wasn’t any competition when it came out. Yamaha set out to create a big-bore dirt bike that wouldn’t be uncomfortable on the road, making the XT500 a dual-sport motorcycle before dual-sport motorcycles existed. It is also a very nice motorcycle and the design remains the same to this day.
This 1981 Yamaha XT500 is the work of Jeffrey Wardenaar—a Dutchman with a penchant for big singles.
Jeffrey started his workshop, Motogadgets (not to be confused with German electronics brand Motogadget), in 2003. He has made a name for himself specializing in Yamaha singles, Yamaha XS650 and the Honda XR and XL series—so he set up his workshop. knows a thing or two about Japanese mountain bike innovation.
The XT’s 499cc single-cylinder engine has never been easy to start with a pedal starter, so Jeffrey fitted it with an electric starter. The engine was also treated to a complete rebuild with upgrades made along the way. This work increased power to 40 horsepower—a 25 percent increase over stock.
Up front, Jeffrey has fitted inverted forks and disc brakes from a Honda off-road bike. The high-mounted front mudguard is taken from the original car, sitting below a new headlight and a full set of controls for the new driver.
The subframe was trimmed a few inches and the stock seat was also shortened. The XT500’s seats are well padded and Jeffrey maintains this old-school race car aesthetic, which we love. Making the ride even more plush is a new, longer YSS shock absorber.
The rear fender has also been shrunk and incorporates LED taillights, and the turn signals have been moved to the sides of the seat. A racing muffler, knobby tires and a new TZ Yamaha-inspired paint job complete the bike.
What’s not to love? [Source]
Bobber Triumph Speed Twin 1949 by Paul Berger Even as an Australian, Paul Berger has always loved British bikes. This trait was inherited from his father—so when his mother passed away 11 years ago, Paul bought a 1949 Triumph Speed Twin that he and the old man could rebuild together to keep them busy. busy.
Starting with just the frame, engine and transmission, Paul knew they were up to the job. Two guys settled on a hotrod bobber style, emphasis on simplicity. Paul’s father was kept busy rebuilding the engine and transmission, while Paul himself focused on the rest of the car.
“Getting something to look simple and just right is extremely difficult,” says Paul. “I think the biggest challenge is not what to do but what not to do.”
California-based Spitfire Motorcycles appealed to the guys with a resized Harley beam front fork, along with a Fox mountain bike shock that helps soak up the bumps. New Borrani 21F/19R rims and classic Avon tires allow Paul to fine-tune his stance, while dual leading shoe brakes are fitted at the front for added stopping power.
The Roland Sands Design riser holds the 32-inch-wide handlebars equipped with Kustom Tech controls in place. Being a classic bike, the lack of switches makes for a clean look but a small GPS speedometer is included. The car retains its original 6-volt electronics.
The split fuel tanks are another Harley-Davidson part, but they’ve been extensively modified to fit the Triumph frame and blend beautifully with the bike’s lines. Because it is a hardtail, the only suspension is the springs under the Biltwell Slimline seat. Cooper Smithing Co are the legends behind the neat rear fender.
The engine is equipped with a pair of 26 mm Amal carburetors and a Mooneyes oil tank located under the seat. The beautiful exhaust was built by Bob at Classic All Parts while the experts at Blu-Chrome performed the extensive plating and polishing work.
Finished in the silver paint from a modern Triumph Thruxton, this classic bobber has a low, neat and extremely clean profile. [Source]
