I am constantly surprised at how many directions you can take these bikes from Triumph. German bike builder JVB (Jens com Brauck) has crafted this tantilising cruiser from a Triumph Thruxton and has actually made mini ape bars look appealing to those outside the Harley clubs. The bike looks ‘complete’ to me, in that nothing seems out of place, from the chopped rear fender with integrated lights to the new headlight housing. There are so many tasty details that I should just let your eyes wander over them and maybe pay their website a visit as they offer some of these parts directly.
Below is a terrific clip of the bike being ridden by the folks of MCN. They also cover some more of the build details.
Imitation should definitely be seen as a form of flattery with this latest creation from Rajputana Customs. Clearly a tribute to the Bullet Falcon, this bike began as a Royal Enfield Bullet 500. They call it the Lightfoot; built for an Indian celebrity. The tank and seat combination to me is perfect, while the subtle detailing on the handle bar grips, levers and frame makes this a work of art. I can’t stop looking at it.
I’m finding it difficult to decide which version I like more, the Falcon (Triumph) or the Enfield. Here’s the Falcon for you to make up your own mind.
It’s important to remember that a bike is more than an engine on two wheels. These photos from Brass Balls Flickr site really highlights the slick bobber frame and groovy tank design. The bike is called the Rocketeer. Looks like a fun ride just rolling it down a hill!
I’ve seen some pretty horrendous “bobbing” done to a Triumph Bonneville but I think this is an elegant and beautiful design. Now, if they only produced this for real.
You may or may not be a Brad Pitt fan but you got to hand it to the guy that he has good taste in bikes. Made by Shinya Kimura of Zero Engineering, their custom bikes are just as much artworks as they are vehicles. Their gallery is truly a viewing pleasure, not to mention their new 2010 calendar.
My short holiday period seems to be themed with robots and classic motorcycles. I have been energetically researching “modern” retro bikes like the Kawasaki W650s and Triumph Bonnevilles and the various customised incarnations. I adore their beautiful simplicity and charm.
I have also recently watched the latest Transformers and Terminator sequels. Despite my mixed feelings about the movies, something about futuristic robots fighting will always be entertaining to me. Featured in this clip above is one of those strange moments when worlds collide. It begins a little odd and low tech (like watching a Red Dwarf episode for the first time) but stay for the quite impressive ending.
I have fallen in love with these retro wonders; robot transformations not required. These bikes are solidly built and a blank canvas for someone to tinker with to express their individual tastes. I don’t think I’ll ever be mechanically minded enough to customise or restore a classic bike myself. That’s why companies like Deus Ex Machina exists; to inspire and remind people about the passion of classic motorcycle design and to charge ridiculous amounts of money for the pleasure of owning one. Being in the presence of these restored mechanical beauties would cause many motorcyclists to question – what more do we need?
Our pace of advancement leaves many feeling alienated, and even for someone like myself who embraces new technology, I yearn for simpler things that connect me to the physical world; not the one of smoke and mirrors. These old bikes link us to an age where disposable was a strange and new word. Resurrecting a classic bike breathes new life into our past and values lost. However, if I were to remain true to this ethos, I would simply continue to ride my current bike and get on with my life. I must admit that I like the smoke and mirrors (even in the guise of something old), but instead of labeling this contradiction as hypocrisy, I’ll settle for calling it a hobby… for now. There will be no shortage of bikes, robots and robot-bikes.
