Paris-made Muscle: Air-cooled Big Block from the 15th Arrondissement The Yamaha XJR1300 was a throwback, an air-cooled “big block” machine that recalled the naked superbikes of yesteryear. The massive 1251cc engine offered substantial thrust — […]
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“Poseidon” Kawasaki GPz1100 Custom by RW Motorcycles
A Sea-inspired Kawasaki GPz from the Algarve Coast… For a riotous period in the 1980s, the Kawasaki GPz1100 was king of the air-cooled superbikes. A decade later, Kawasaki re-introduced the GPz brand with the liquid-cooled […]
“Reina Del Camino” Continental GT 535 Cafe Racer
A “Queen of the Road,” built by Iron Macchina Customs… The Royal Enfield Continental GT draws on the heritage of the original British-built 250cc version of the 1960s, a 21-hp “factory cafe racer” that came […]
Yamaha SR250 Custom by Officina Serrao D’Aquino
While the Yamaha SR250 may not seem like the most likely candidate for customization, the little air-cooled mono-cylinder commuter machine has become a favorite among custom bike builders. While the first-generation bike was only available […]
Yamaha XSR900 Custom by Purpose-Built Moto
In the 1970s, the Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) revolutionized the industry — a general-purpose, rider-friendly machine that made motorcycling more accessible to the public. These naked/standard designs had upright ergonomics and powerful, reliable engines. Within […]
Sick RD: Yamaha RD350 Cafe Racer
Yamaha RD350 Giant Killer from California… The Yamaha RD350 is one of our favorite two-stroke street machines of the 1970s. The 39-horsepower parallel twin could compete with larger bikes due to its excellent power-to-weight ratio, […]
Kawasaki KZ1000 Restomod by Nova Motorcycles
Few motorcycles have the long and varied history of the Kawasaki KZ1000. Known as the Z1000 outside North America, the big air-cooled inline four debuted in 1977, and the police model would remain in continuous […]
Ideal RD: Yamaha “RD380” YPVS Café Racer
The ideal RD, built by the man who wrote the book on Yamaha Two-Strokes… The Yamaha RD350 YPVS type 31 — sold in the US as the Yamaha RZ350 — was one of the most […]
Zero to Hero: Honda CB175 Cafe Racer
From Zero to Hero: Honda CB175 built from a junked chopper… The Honda CB175, introduced in 1969, was based around an air-cooled parallel twin engine with dual carburetors and a 5-speed transmission. The bike offered […]
For Sale: Moto Guzzi California Cafe Racer
The Moto Guzzi California 1100 EV was a heavyweight cruiser that offered an array of sport-oriented features, such as adjustable suspension and robust four-piston brakes. The 1100cc pushrod V-twin was fuel-injected, offering 72 horsepower and […]
