Honda CL360 Willow

  This is (or was, depending on your point of view) a 1974 Honda CL360.  Transformed into “Willow” by Troy Helmick, an Alpaca farmer (I shit you not!), it’s more of a rolling piece of art versus a functional motorcycle.  Yes, it does actually run and drive, but who’s seriously going to take this on any kind of extended daytrip?  I feature it because it’s beautiful, and as an example of the importance in color choice.  These are not the typical hues you find on a custom bike, but they work brilliantly!

Source: Cafe Racer 76

Micah Vince’s 1974 Honda CB360

  Fashion comes at a high price, so it is said, and that statement applies to custom motorcycles.  The chopper is a prime example, with practicality almost completely abandoned at the altar of high style.  The look is outrageous, but chopper perform far worse than a stock bike.  It’s a war between the mundane and the majestic, the heart and the mind, and you have to decide how far you’re willing to go to achieve the “perfect” build.

  This 1974 Honda CB360 from Micah Vince of Detroit, MI, is a great example of the compromises required to reach the look and style he was after.  I find the bike extremely attractive, with a wonderful, muted color scheme and aggressive stance.  She’s a joy to behold, and I would be willing to wager she receives admiring glances wherever she roams.

  It’s the going part that troubles me.  First off is a complete lack of turn signals and mirrors, with a brake light mounted so low as to be very ineffective.  This produces a sleek appearance, but increases the danger level beyond acceptable.  It’s hard enough to be seen while riding, why make that task even more difficult?  The riveted leather slab that comprises the seat surely evokes tha charm and simplicity of yesteryear, but it’s almost completely useless on any ride that involves more than a trip around the block.  She’s a great around-town and show bike, but the limitations built in allow her to only be that.

  In the battle between heart and mind, all show and no go may initially look perfect, but in the long run it’s a losing proposition.  The bike as art is an interesting concept, but ultimately defeats a motorcycles’ raison d'être- to ride.

  She sure does look nice, though!

Source: Moto-Mucci

TGS Motorcycles Kamikaze

  While there’s very little info available about this bike, she’s sure a looker!  Based on a 1974 Kawasaki H2, this bike just about defines “bad ass”!  I usually don’t like tail units like this one, but it’s perfect on Kamikaze!  Well done!

TGS Motorcycles

Source: Rocket Garage

Honda CB350F Cafe Racer

  I’ve never been a big fan of the Honda brand.  They take the ‘less is more’ philosophy too far sometimes, I’m also not a big fan of chrome, always finding it a little cheesy in my opinion.  So, here’s a sweet little cafe racer that’s both a Honda and dripping with chrome, and I love it!  This CB350F from 1974 is simply a stunning example of the breed.  All that chrome and aluminum contrasts wonderfully with the stretched, bright red tank, and the bike looks fast just sitting still.  Another great build, even though it’s a Honda and has lots of chrome!

Source: Pipeburn

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Garage Company 1974 Honda CB750 Cafe Racer

  To start off with, this build overall, in my opinion, is a mess.  There are so many disparate elements that don’t work together, but it’s that fact alone that makes this bike interesting to me.  The mini-fairing has weird “rivets” that don’t match anything else, yet the idea could work on another build.  The tail section is gorgeous, and notice how the tail/brake light is integrated into it- pure genius.  The mesh sidecovers almost work, and the pipe wrap is well done, it just clashes with the rest of the bike.  I may not like the total motorcycle, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the work done and admire some of the unique touches!

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Black Heart By KG Cycles

  We’ve all probably seen bikes that use carbon fiber before, but this build is something just a little bit different.  Created by Ken Glenn of KG Cycles, this 1974 Honda CB750 uses bodywork made from a Carbon Fiber Dyed-Red Kevlar Hybrid material.  That’s the long way to say red carbon fiber, but that’s still not enough.  The weave is red fiber one direction, and black fiber the other, giving a herringbone effect.  It’s really unique, and even Willie G. Davidson, who saw the bike at a Harley show of all things, thought it was quite striking and nice!  The engine is coated in black urethane, giving rise to the name Black Heart, and breathes through nicely done velocity stacks, while all electronics have been cleaned up and placed in out-of-view locations.  While I find the front fender too big, and the rear fender a little strange, the overall impression is still awesome!

KG Cycles

Nice Car 015

Benelli XR600 Tracker

  Take a tank from a 1974 Benelli and put it on a 1988 Honda XR600, add a dash of originality and creativity, and this is what you get.  What I really like is the fact that it’s pretty hard to tell this started out as a dual purpose bike.  The monoshock rear end really makes this bike look light and agile, almost wasp-like.  I bet it’s a blast to ride!




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Source: Rocket Garage