Written by Mark Turner of BlackTopMedia. Old Empire Motorcycles (www.oldempiremotorcycles.com) is one of the UK’s coolest and most respected custom motorcycle builders, founded in 2010 through an absolute and enduring passion for everything two-wheeled. They […]
Custom Motorcycles
Golden Ratios: BMW R100 by La Motocicletta
A BMW Airhead built according to the golden ratio… For many custom builders, one of the challenges is balancing their own style, vision, and design direction with the wishes and ambitions of the customer. After […]
Industrial Brutalist: Honda CB750F by Burnup Company
“A stance akin to a snarling dog…” Brutalism is an architectural style popular in the 1950s and ’60s, characterized by rugged forms, hard edges, and raw/exposed materials — often combined with patinated finishes and metallic […]
“La Caleña”: KTM 400 EXC by Lolana Motos
The KTM 400 EXC was one of the original 400-class dirt bikes, a liquid-cooled four-stroke trail weapon that helped the Austrian company become a major player in off-road sales and competition. Some racers, such as […]
Retro-Scrambler: Suzuki DR650 by Parr Motorcycles
A TS250-Inspired Urban Scrambler… Last year, we had the honor of featuring the first professional build from a young builder in Indiana, Spencer Parr of Parr Motorcycles, whose Suzuki DR650 “Retro-Moto” was one of our […]
“La Negra”: AKT NKD 125 by Rockers Garage
“A work of art on two wheels to enjoy…without any boyfriend nearby.” Founded in 2004, AKT is a Colombian motorcycle company, primarily importing and assembling bikes with Chinese engines, chassis, and more. The brand has […]
Vajra 612: Royal Enfield Custom Cafe Racer
A Faster Bullet… The Royal Enfield Classic 500 — aka CL500 — has been in production for a decade. From the outside, it looks like an old-school Enfield, directly linked to the company’s storied heritage […]
Whoa, Black Betty: Kawasaki KZ400 by Classic Moto Works
The Kawasaki KZ400 was an air-cooled twin built from 1974-1980 out of plants in Akashi, Japan and Lincoln, Nebraska — the first foreign motorcycle factory on U.S. soil. In 1974, it was marketed alongside the […]
“Kulte” Classic: Honda “750 RKB” by Le Motographe
RCB-Inspired Custom… The Honda RCB1000 dominated the FIM Endurance Cup (Coupe d’Endurance) scene of the late ’70s and early ’80s, composed of races like the Bol d’Or, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Suzuka 8 […]
Red Ripper: Yamaha XS650 by Paul Hartman
“This thing just wants to have fun…” The Yamaha XS650 is one of our favorite motorcycles, a British-style parallel twin whose engine was highly advanced for the time, featuring unit construction, horizontally split crankcases, and […]




