Ortolani Customs builds a race-inspired TR1… Introduced in 1981, the Yamaha XV1000 TR1 was the biggest V-twin to roll out of Japan at the time, sporting a 980cc / 69-hp 75° V-twin. With the motor […]
Tag: Cafe Racers
French Design, American Muscle: Avinton “Black Swan”
Ortolani Customs transforms an S&S-powered Avinton… Avinton is a French motorcycle maker inspired by American muscle cars, particularly the 427 Cobra of Carroll Shelby: “The Avinton Collector GT is handmade in France based off of […]
Project Lethe: BMW R100 Cafe Racer
For many of us, building and riding motorcycles is crucial to our mental and emotional health. Whether it’s the ability to swing a leg over the saddle and crack open the throttle, letting the wind […]
Indigo Racer: Suzuki GS750 by Crows Performance
“Don’t Postpone Joy…Ride an Iron Horse!” This is the motto of Crows Performance, a workshop in Nasukarasuyama City, Japan, run by our new friend Yoshiki Sawamura. Though they offer a wide range of services — […]
Rare Alchemy: 1974 Honda CB750K Café Racer
“Chalk” — a minimalist CB750 from Alchemy Motorcycles… Back in 2018, we featured the ’77 CB550K “Grey Ghost” from Michel Valle of San Diego’s Alchemy Motorcycles — one of the most elegant, most memorable CB […]
Silver Wing: Honda GL650 Café Racer
Hand-built in Texas by Alpha Moto Co… For one year only, Honda offered the 1983 GL650I Silver Wing Interstate — a midsize touring bike powered by the transverse “twisted” 80-degree pushrod V-twin introduced in the […]
Czech Yourself: Honda CB550 “Respect”
A Prague-built 550 Four from Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles… While the CB750 may have grabbed the world’s attention as the “Original Superbike,” many Honda SOHC enthusiasts will tell you they actually prefer the CB550 […]
Two-Stroke Gold: Yamaha RD350 Café Racer
For Sale: “Goldhead” RD350 by Twin Line Motorcycles… The Yamaha RD350 remains one of the sweetest, most well-balanced two-strokes of the 1970s — and one of motorcycling’s great giant-killers, both on the track and the […]
Uncommon X: Honda CBX1000 Custom
Mike Common’s six-cylinder rocket ship… For many lifelong motorcycle lovers, true love was sparked on a humble Honda Z50 — a minibike with an outsized impact on the hearts of entire generations of motorcyclists. Such […]
Moto Mogg: Honda XR650L Café Racer
Veteran racer/mechanic builds a 280-lb, 80-hp super single… Veteran motorcycle racers tend to be some of our favorite custom builders. They have a deep understanding of the relationship between geometry and handling, and their builds […]
