Solus

A dream night time ride on the cafe’d Yamaha SR500.  Video by Ricki Bedenbaugh.

Rusty

via convoy

KTM Motard Cafe Racer

From the clever guys at Roland Sands Design.  Beginning it’s life as a KTM 525EXC, here are the pics of their latest lovely creation… and the lovely owner.

Here is the build video, just to see how much work goes into their bikes.

Lost things

The thing I miss about film photography is forgetting what was on that film and rediscovering the images when you finally have the photos developed.  A few months ago I went on a ride with a coupe of guys I met in the city.  I approached them because I admired their retro bikes and we ended up going for a ride a few weeks later.  Of the two guys I rode with, one had the coolest name of Marlon Slacks, who rode a cafe’d Yamaha SR400 which he blogs about.  The other was a quiet, thoughtful guy named Matt, who pottered on his largely unmodified SR500.  These are a few photos from that trip that I unearthed.  I had asked Marlon to take a few for me but unfortunately NONE  of them were in focus.  I suppose I should have specified more strongly that my old camera required manual focusing.  He did let me ride his bike though, so I’m not too upset.

Matt writes beautifully on his own motorcycling blog called Contemplative Motorcycling.  Well worth checking out as a reminder of why we ride.

SV650 Cafe Racer

I’ve always admired the Suzuki SV650′s understated but sporty styling.  If I wanted something with clip-ons, this would be my bike.  Now seeing this picture of a beautifully modified version from owner Leo Burton, I think it might still be on my shopping list.

Picture via Airtech.

Broadford Bike Bonanza 2010

My first time at the Broadford Bike Bonanza and my last ride on my Honda VTR 250 before I trade up to my 09 Triumph Bonneville SE.  There was a fantastic display of cafe racers and classic bikes, and not just for show as the owners had the opportunity to race them on the track.  Here are some of the highlights for me.  Wish the pics could be better but I only had my mobile phone camera on me.  A great day and a fitting farewell for my little Honda.

Moto Guzzi Cafe Racer

Moto Guzzi SP 1000 Cafe Racer.  Guzzi do straight lines very well.  From Officine RossoPuro.  Via BikeExif.

RSD Harley Cafe Style

The Harley Sportster given the cafe racer treatment by Roland Sands Design.  This my current ongoing obsession with Harley Sportsters that don’t look like Harleys.  Check out their Facebook site for more pics, including a lovely model, purely for size and scale comparisons of course.

Deus Iron Harley

I’ve been checking out the Harley Iron 883 since it finally arrived on Australian shores a year after it was released everywhere else.  A stunning and surprisingly well priced (for a Harley) bike that resonates with the rebel in us all.  I believe Harley has succeeded in kindling interest from non-Harley riders with this tough bobbed out sportster.  It is a far cry from some of the mobile couches that you see around.  To further enhance the desirability of the sporty sportster Deus has created this mechanical vision, fully customised, including clip-on bars and a Yamaha SR400 tank!  Check out the full details from Pipeburn.

Update: Hellforleather has posted extra pics of the bike.  With the rider on it, the bike actually looks better, sporting a cafe racer type position.  Mixed responses from readers on the website but I like the way this Harley is being redefined.

Nogoya Party

Cool range of Jap Cafe racers.  Photos sourced from Church of Choppers.

Oh Yeah

Honda CBX250

As I was driving today I saw in my rear vision mirror, a single round headlight in a bikini fairing, and I thought it was some cafe racer.  To my surprise it was a Honda sports bike – more specifically, a Honda CBX250, nimbly weaving through the traffic.  A beautiful retro bike ridden by some young hipster.  Not much information on it out there as it was never released in the States.  Hope I get to see more of this bike around.

This picture above is just an image I found online to show you the curvy awesomeness.

Two Worlds Collide

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.

The Versatile W650

Action Shots

Yamaha MT-02… If only

Stunning dream bikes from Oberdan Bezzi.