Categories
BikeExif Custom Motorcycles Federal Moto Other Motorcycle Blogs scrambler Suzuki motorcycles

Feel the Illinoise: A DR-Z400 for the streets of Chicago

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
Federal Moto havethe Midas touch. The builds coming out of their Chicago workshop are sharp-edged, compact and big hits with our readers.

But sometimes, success can be a double-edged sword. After releasing ‘The Sunshine State of Mind’ SR500 in 2016, Federal were bombarded with requests for a replica build. “But there’s no fun in building the same bike twice,” says lead builder Mike Müller. “We love the support, but we also want our clients to have a one-of-a-kind bike.”

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
So Federal generally suggest to their clients that they build another one-of-a-kind bike. “Just as thumpy, just as wheelie-enabled, and just as awesome!”

That’s what happened with ‘Big Suzie,’ a DR-Z400 commissioned by a local Chicago-based client. “He’s a father of two, a businessman and city livin’,” says Mike. “He grew up on Honda CRs, Suzuki RMs and Yamaha YZs in the early 90s.”

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
Federal’s client wanted a dependable city thumper with the Federal touch: a bike that he could take for an occasional romp if the setting was right.

The Müllers knew right away what bike to use: the tried-and-tested DR-Z400 platform, launched at the turn of the century. As a major bonus, the street-legal DR-Z400S variant has electric start—a must-have upgrade from the SR500 platform used for ‘Sunshine.’

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
The slim Suzuki also has CDI ignition, a 21-inch front wheel, and good Showa suspension: 49mm adjustable forks, and a shock adjustable for high- and low-speed compression, as well as rebound damping.

With agreement on the 2005-spec donor bike, Federal whipped out the grinders. “We made a new subframe out of 7/8” square steel to match the OEM main frame,” says Mike. “Importantly, this uses the OEM bolt-on points for mounting—and may be a future Federal product. We integrated a LED taillight into the subframe as well.”

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
Then Federal ditched the clunky plastic OEM tank and mated an SR500 tank to the frame. “Like the DRZ, the SR500 also has oil in the upper neck of the frame,” Mike reveals. “So the tunnel was wide enough to fit, and the lines were perfect with the stance we were going for.”

The crisp tank design comes from art director Chris Paluch, with paint applied by Peter Gamen of KandyVan. It’s a colossal improvement on the garish yellow usually seen on DR-Z400s. As is the neat, minimalist seat pad—upholstered by Dane Utech.

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
But after fitting the SR500 tank, it turned out that there wasn’t enough clearance for the OEM radiator and the front wheel. So Federal sourced a Honda VFR400 radiator, and plumbed it in with HPS high temperature silicone hoses.

After a little modification and some custom brackets, they got enough safe clearance for the front tire to make it work.

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
The bars are Renthal’s 7/8 Road Ultra Low bend, fitted with Biltwell Kung Fu grips plus a compact gauge, switchgear and bar-end blinkers from Motogadget. Renthal also supplied the 49T Ultralight rear drive sprocket and matching gold R1 MX Works chain.

The quick-adjust clutch and brake lever are from MSR, and a Hella lamp now lights the way.

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
There’s quality everywhere you look on this DRZ400. The suspension front and rear has been completely rebuilt and the brake rotors are new, upgraded items. The fenders are custom-made from 3003 aluminum alloy, and hand-rolled with custom brackets. The entire frame is powder coated.

The wheels are powder coated too, and have been re-laced with stainless steel spokes. They’re now shod with Metzeler’s highly regarded Karoo 3 dual sport rubber.

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
Even the motor looks better than new, with a mix of polished and ceramic-coated surfaces protected by a Devol Engineering aluminum skid plate. There’s a high-flow Uni Filter at the intake end, and a custom exhaust routed to follow the subframe geometry. (It exits through a 12-inch stainless steel Cone Engineering muffler.)

Federal have hidden most of the electronics under the tank, including a Motogadget m.unit Blue control box. It’s fed by Antigravity’s smallest and most powerful lithium battery, the SC-1.

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto
“I have to say, this hooligan, thumper style of build is my favorite to do,” says Mike. “It’s a kinda Federal staple. Maybe one day I can keep one for myself.”

We wouldn’t mind one ourselves, either. Older DRZ400s are cheap and easily located, and if looked after, will keep going forever—on both city streets and fire trails. Maybe this is the perfect ‘real world’ custom build?

Federal Moto | Facebook | Instagram | images by Grant Schwingle

A custom Suzuki DRZ400 by Federal Moto

Categories
BikeExif Custom Bikes of the Week Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs scrambler Suzuki motorcycles

Custom Bikes Of The Week: 13 January, 2019

The best cafe racers, scramblers and classic motorcycles of the week
Ever heard of the Suzuki XF650 Freewind before? Neither had we, but we love this custom scrambler from the Netherlands. We’ve also got a Buell M2 Cyclone that actually looks attractive, and a Honda CR750 racer priced at a quarter of a million dollars—and worth every cent.

Buell M2 Cyclone by Officine Urgani
Buell M2 Cyclone by Officine Urgani Even the most ardent Buell fanboy would have to admit that the M2 Cyclone is an ugly bike, even by Buell’s admittedly variable standards. The M2 wasn’t a bad bike though, and with 91 hp on tap from its 1200cc Harley V-twin, it had a fair turn of speed.

That makes the Cyclone the ideal platform for a café racer job, and Raffaele Gallo of Officine Urgani has delivered, big time. In his workshop in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, he modified around 80% of the frame, and then installed completely new aluminum bodywork.

Buell M2 Cyclone by Officine Urgani
The tank design is especially inspired, with a glass insert for monitoring the fuel level. And that deliciously curved front fairing, fashioned from four separate pieces, also hides the oil tank. All the wiring and mounting points on this Buell are now hidden, and no bolts are visible to break up the smooth surfaces.

It’s not all about the looks, though— the front suspension has been upgraded to Marzocchi, the swingarm has been modified to accommodate a wide 240/40 rear wheel, and there’s a completely new Brembo brake system. [More]

Suzuki XF650 Freewind scrambler
Suzuki Scrambler by Martin Schuurmans Schuurmans is a product designer based in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, with a background in furniture design. He’s also just built a sharp-looking scrambler that doesn’t compromise practicality too much in the name of aesthetics.

It’s based on the 2001 Suzuki XF650 Freewind, an ‘all-rounder’ that probably had the BMW F650 in its sights.

Suzuki XF650 Freewind scrambler
After overhauling the engine, Martin fabricated a new subframe, seat, fenders and battery box, and modified a Honda CB350 tank to fit. He’s also added new stainless steel exhaust headers, a SuperTrapp muffler, and a custom oil cooling system. The paint job is inspired by classic Suzuki dirt bikes from the 80s—with the yellow matching the color of Dutch license plates.

Tight looks, great stance and very neat detailing—let’s hope Martin keeps building. [More]

Harley-Davidson electric concept bike
Harley-Davidson electric concept bike Milwaukee appears to be going all-out on the electric front at the moment, and not just with the LiveWire: at the huge CES tech show in Las Vegas last week, it showed a pair of electric concept bikes.

They’re hard to categorize, but the one shown here resembles a beefed-up mountain bike, while the other is closer in form to a motorized scooter.

Harley-Davidson electric concept bike
Information about the concepts is practically non-existent, but the bigger one looks especially interesting. According to our PR contact at Harley, Joe Gustafson, it’s designed to “make off-road experiences accessible” and it’s aimed at people who don’t yet have a motorcycle license. The battery is removable and can be carried back to an apartment or office space to charge using a 120V charging dock.

Joe’s at pains to point out that “the lightweight electric concept bikes are just that—concepts.” Still, it’s another sign that Harley is focusing on the future, and not just regurgitating its past. Which can only be a good thing, right?

Honda CR750 racing motorcycle
Honda CR750 Factory Racer Mecum’s upcoming auction in Las Vegas on Jan 22-26 includes some mouthwatering machinery. For us, this incredibly rare Honda is the pick of the crop.

The estimate is a jaw dropping $200,000-250,000, but that simply reflects the impeccable provenance of this racing motorcycle. It was delivered from the Honda race shop in Japan to its Swedish importer Autohansa in 1971, but due to a broken connecting rod, hardly ever raced.

Honda CR750 racing motorcycle
Every component on the well-documented bike is original, aside from the seat— which was stolen at a race meet and has since been replaced by an accurate replica.

The CR750 was not available for privateers to buy, which only increases the value of this model. If you have deep pockets and you’re fascinated by the story of the 1970 Daytona 200, won by Dick Mann on another CR750, prepare to place your bid … [Via]

Honda CB750 Four by Thracian Custom Bikes
Honda CB750 Four by Thracian Custom Bikes Our pockets aren’t deep enough to shell out for the CR750 but we love 1970s Hondas, so this classic café racer from the Bulgarian shop Thracian would suit us just fine.

We haven’t come across builders Miroslav Vulkov and Plamen Nikolov before, but we’re going to be keeping an eye on them. They spent 600 man-hours revamping this 1983 CB750 Four after importing it from Germany, and it shows.

Honda CB750 Four by Thracian Custom Bikes
The wheelbase is extended, the frame is shortened and the forks are slammed. Some 25 kilos have been trimmed from the weight, with every component stripped down and renewed, right down to every last nut and bolt.

There’s a new seat, exhaust system, wiring loom, and lighting all round—and new electronics courtesy of Motogadget. The tank, which usually looks like a poor cousin of the 1970s CB750s, has suddenly become a perfect fit. These guys obviously have the ‘eye.’ [More]

Categories
BikeExif Classic Motorcycles Custom Bikes of the Week Other Motorcycle Blogs Suzuki motorcycles

Custom Bikes Of The Week: 6 January, 2019

The best cafe racers, mini bikes and classic motorcycles of the week
Since this is our first weekly round up of the year, we’re taking liberties. A couple of the bikes below popped up last month already, and a couple more have just landed in our inbox.

The list includes everything from a Ducati 750SS dressed as a MH900e, to a BMW R nineT built up with kit parts. We’ve also got a retro-styled Yamaha XJR1300, a rare Moto Martin M16 and a little Honda Z50R filled with attitude.

Let’s get 2019 started then…

Ducati 750SS by Unik Edition
Ducati 750SS by Unik Edition The Ducati MH900e is one of the most iconic motorcycles Ducati ever built. But they only ever built 2 000 units—so if you want one, you better have the bank balance to back up your dream.

This MHe-looking Duc is actually a 1994 750SS, built for a customer by Portugal’s Unik Edition. The brief was to reimagine the MH900E as a contemporary motorcycle, but on a budget. Or, as the client put it: “If Mr. Pierre Terblanche designed the Ducati 900 MHe today, what would it look like?”

Ducati 750SS by Unik Edition
Unik started with a 750SS, then added the wheels and swing arm from a newer Monster S4R. Then they matched up a MHe fairing and tail kit to the stock 750SS tank (which was reportedly quite a mission).

We love the combo of red paint and a gold frame and wheels, but this replica-slash-café racer is also sporting a number of neat details. The back end of the tail’s been louvered with the tail light embedded, and the dash in particular is really neatly arranged. It might not be an actual MH900e, but it’s still damn charming. [More]

Moto Martin M16 1135 EFE Suzuki
Martin M16 1135 EFE Suzuki If you’re looking for vintage machinery that’s truly collectable, Legend Motors is a good place to start. They’re based in a beautiful shop in Lille, France, and they’re the place to go for rare and special classics.

Don’t take our word for it; this gorgeous specimen has just popped up in their inventory. It’s an early 80s Moto Martin M16, and it could be yours for a cool €16,800 (about $19,150).

Moto Martin M16 1135 EFE Suzuki
Moto Martin is a boutique French frame manufacturer, founded by Georges Martin way back in 1970. Martin’s work was originally based on the frame designs of Fritz Egli, with a focus on rigidity and weight saving. This particular model—the M16—uses a perimeter frame design, and is equipped with a Suzuki GSX 1135 EFE motor.

Details are sparse, but we’re smitten with what looks like either a nickel-plated or polished frame, and that retro-fabulous paint scheme. There’s no doubt: this Moto Martin is going to make some collector extremely happy. [More]

BMW R nineT kit by JvB Moto and Kedo
BMW R nineT Parts from JvB-Moto Jens vom Brauck built a BMW R nineT a while back that knocked our socks off. I was lucky enough to not only see, but also ride it—and it eventually landed on our Top 10 for 2017.

Even though Jens swore that the bike was a one-off, he did hint that some of the parts would make it into production. And now they have, via JvB-Moto’s parts partner, Kedo.

BMW R nineT kit by JvB Moto and Kedo
This red R nineT’s carrying a selection of the new parts. Up front is a headlight in the usual JvB style (it’s available in three versions), with an optional bracket that holds a Motogadget dash. Out back, you’ll find a sharp new race-inspired tail piece, with a slim LED light embedded in the back.

Jens has also installed the JvB air intake, license plate holder, LED turn signals, front fender, sump guard, and a few other bits and pieces. It’s a minor rework of the R nineT but it’s majorly cool—and since everything bolts on, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to build. [More]

Yamaha XJR1300 by Venezia Moto
Yamaha XJR1300 by Venezia Moto This XJR belongs to Federico Agnoletto—the man behind the incredibly well attended Verona Motor Bike Expo. The Expo includes scores of custom bikes, so Federico decided it was time to build a custom of his own, that would be worthy of display.

Enlisting the help of Italian Yamaha dealer and workshop, Venezia Moto, he created this beautiful throwback iteration of the Yamaha XJR1300. Venezia Moto was a logical choice; they took top honors a few years ago at the show, in a build-off organized by Yamaha themselves.

Yamaha XJR1300 by Venezia Moto
Federico picked the burly XJR as a donor, and then settled on a design direction. Inspiration came from Giacomo Agostini’s World Championship-winning Yamaha OW23 YZR500. That meant a full array of race-style bodywork, built from scratch to resemble Ago’s YZR, but fit the much bigger XJR.

Bolt-ons include some Rizoma bits, and a titanium exhaust from SC Project. But it’s that period-correct livery—and those gold Marvic wheels—that push it over the edge for us. [More]

1982 Honda Z50R mini bike by Droog Moto
Honda Z50R by Droog Moto Little bikes are big fun, right? A lot of people think so, and that philosophy’s been creeping steadily into the custom scene over the last year. Here’s a contender from Droog Moto in Arizona.

It’s a Honda Z50R, and it was built up to resemble the shop’s twelfth build: a Kawasaki Ninja 650R with a post-apocalyptic vibe. A customer had bought the Ninja, and wanted something for his son to match it, so that they could “terrorize the neighborhood” together. (Parent of the year perhaps?)

1982 Honda Z50R mini bike by Droog Moto
Droog set about fabricating similar mods to the Ninja’s for the little Honda. On went a front number board with a stubby fender, and a set of MX bars. The rear end was reworked with a new seat, but the stock fuel tank was left alone.

Droog also refurbished the motor, upgraded the shocks, and fitted chunky rubber and solid wheel covers, bringing the style in line with Dad’s bike. Needless to say, the little ripper was beyond stoked when the ‘Mini Brawler’ was delivered. [More]

1982 Honda Z50R mini bike by Droog Moto

Categories
BikeExif Other Motorcycle Blogs Racing Motorcycles Suzuki motorcycles

Blast from the past: A Suzuki Vallelunga roars again

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
There’s something magical about big racing two-strokes. And somewhere near the top of that smokin’ hot tree is the Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga.

The story of the Italian-built Suzuki is a curious tale, and it’s rare to see one of these attractive racers pop up on the internet radar. But the Piedmontese workshop Soiatti Moto Classiche has just found and restored one, and pushed the big zook back into the limelight.

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
Soiatti Moto Classiche opened its doors in 1978, when SWM factory motocross racer Daniele Soiatti retired from official duties. Today Daniele and his son Alberto (below) restore motorcycles from the 1970s, which often arrive in their Novara workshop in very bad condition.

The Soiattis usually work on Japanese superbikes, but they occasionally open their arms to encompass lesser-known European marques—such as Hercules, Zündapp and SWM.

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
It’s quality work too, and often showcased at top European concours events—such as the Concorso d’Eleganza at the Villa d’Este.

Not every bike is worthy of the lavish care that the Soiattis habitually deliver, but the Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga is a very special machine. It’s one of around a hundred built by the Turin-based Suzuki dealer SAIAD in the mid 70s, and sold to privateer racers.

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
Compared to a stock GT750 two-stroke, light engine work freed up an extra ten horses. The weight drop was much more drastic: down from 245 kilos (540 pounds) to 190 (418 pounds).

The exhaust specialist Figaroli created a lightweight, more efficient exhaust system, and Angelo Menani supplied the featherweight fiberglass bodywork, rear sets and clip-ons. (The 1.9-liter oil tank is actually hidden in the bulky tail unit.)

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
Top speed was reportedly 225 kph (140 mph) and Suzuki was so impressed by the Vallelunga, it adopted the bike as an ‘official’ model. The Vallelunga appeared in Italian advertising material, presumably to create a halo effect for the stock GT750.

The machine restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche dates from 1974, is #35 in the production run, and was a mess when Daniele and Alberto first got their hands on it. They’ve seen much worse, such as bikes recovered from the sea, but the Suzuki had been sitting in a garage for twenty years.

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
The first thing Daniele noticed was that the wrong type of water-cooled triple was sitting in the frame; it had been taken from a later version of the GT750. But luckily the owner also had the original Vallelunga engine to hand, so the Soiattis stripped that one down and started the rebuild.

The crankshaft was rebalanced, and all the seals and bearings replaced. The engine cases were then sandblasted, and then coated with a petrol- and heat-resistant clear coat.

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
The Figaroli mufflers were in very bad shape, with multiple scars and crushed in places. So they’ve been dismantled, pushed back into shape, welded, polished and repainted.

Fortunately the frame was in reasonable condition, aside from surface rust. So it was sanded back to bare metal and repainted in black.

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
The fiberglass bodywork was extremely tired, as you’d expect on a bike almost half a century old. But rather than ditch and recreate Menani’s work, the Soiattis have meticulously restored it, and given it a fresh coat of authentic Suzuki blue race paint. They’ve also recreated the decals to exactly replicate the peeling originals.

The saddle was beyond repair though, so there’s a new seat pad upholstered in black leather in the same style as the original.

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
The rest of the machine has simply been fettled, refinished and returned to factory tolerances and specs. It’s all showroom fresh, from the Koni shocks to the aluminum Borrani wheels to the sandblasted, repainted brake calipers.

“The Vallelunga is restored exactly back to the original,” Alberto tells us. “We didn’t think about making changes.”

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche
“Some motorcycles must remain faithful to their origins.”

Amen to that.

Soiatti Moto Classiche Facebook | Daniele Soiatti Instagram | Alberto Soiatti Instagram | Images by Valen Zhou

A Suzuki-SAIAD GT750 S Vallelunga restored by Soiatti Moto Classiche

Categories
BikeExif motorcycle show Other Motorcycle Blogs Suzuki Katana Suzuki motorcycles

The best of INTERMOT (and the Paris Motor Show)

The best motorcycles from the 2018 INTERMOT and Paris shows
The Intermot show is over for another two years. It’s been an action-packed five days, with Indian making perhaps the biggest bang with its FTR 1200 street tracker (see report). But ‘America’s First Motorcycle Company’ didn’t have a monopoly on the news.

We’ve picked out four more important launches—plus a couple of leftfield machines that have just debuted at the Paris Motor Show. Let’s kick off with the one that created the biggest buzz: the new Suzuki Katana.

The new Suzuki Katana: specs and images
The new Suzuki Katana The rumors have been floating around for years, and Suzuki has finally confirmed that the Katana is back. The new bike will go on sale in just over a year’s time, and it’s based on the GSX-S1000.

We reckon Suzuki has got its strategy right. This won’t be a class-leading hyperbike costing the earth, but a large-ish roadster sold at a mid-range price.

Suzuki has wisely taken a leaf out of BMW Motorrad’s playbook. Just as the Germans repurposed an older Boxer engine for the hugely successful R nineT, the Katana engine can trace its roots back to the 2005-2008 GSX-R1000.

The new Suzuki Katana: specs and images
Like Husqvarna’s street bikes, the styling has just the right amount of ‘retro’ and ‘future,’ without looking derivative. Only one color will be available at launch—‘Mystic Silver.’

Key specs are 110kW (150PS), around 80 pound-feet of torque, a curb weight of 474 pounds (215 kilos), brakes by Fujico and Brembo, 17-inch wheels, LED lighting, an 825 mm (32.5 in) seat height and 3-mode traction control.

There’s no word on pricing yet, but UK magazines are estimating it will be around £11,500—about a grand cheaper than the BMW R nineT. [More]

Moto Guzzi V85 TT: Specs and images
Moto Guzzi V85 TT Mandello del Lario has already teased us with shots of its new ‘classic enduro’ bike, but it was shown in the metal for the first time at INTERMOT.

The ‘TT’ stands for Tutto Terreno—meaning ‘all terrain’—and the bike is a bridge between basic dual sports like the Kawasaki KLR650 and the techno juggernauts produced by BMW and KTM.

The engine is new: an 850cc, air-cooled, transverse v-twin pumping out around 80 hp. But the styling takes cues from the old V65 and V75 Baja models, which ran in the Paris-Dakar.

Moto Guzzi V85 TT: Specs and images
There’s traction control and ABS, three riding modes, a full-colour TFT dash and a Bluetooth multimedia system built in. So it’s fairly modern under the hood.

We loved the multi-colored model shown in the original PR, and the steel blue/grey bike shown in this latest update looks good too. There’s no word on weight yet—a bit of a worry—but the steel tube frame (using the engine as a stressed member) is slender.

Personally, I’ve always been immune to the charms of most ADV bikes, but this is one that could sway me. [More]

2019 Triumph Street Twin: specs and images
2019 Triumph Street Twin update The Street Twin is the biggest-selling bike in Triumph’s modern classics range, but that hasn’t stopped Hinckley from improving the recipe. Cosmetic changes are virtually invisible, but the 900 cc engine gets a very useful power boost from 54 to 64 hp and the redline is bumped up 500 to 7,500 rpm.

The two ride modes available on 1200 Triumphs—Road and Rain—have finally filtered down to the Street Twin, and there’s an updated dash. You also get new aluminum multi-spoke wheels and higher-spec cartridge forks, plus four-piston Brembo calipers for the front brakes.

2019 Triumph Street Twin: specs and images
The bike can be optioned with a Café kit, which includes Fox shocks, Vance & Hines slip-ons, a rear fender removal kit, and a blacked-out intake cover and oil cap. (The tank in the PR image is unfortunately a one-off, by the artist D*Face.)

This should keep the baby Bonneville at the top of the sales charts, with the Street Scrambler not too far behind—it’s getting a similar raft of changes too. [More]

The new Peugeot P2x cafe racer motorcycle
Peugeot relaunches in Europe In Europe, everyone knows Peugeot as a brand of scooters and mopeds as well as cars. But since 2015, 51% of the operation has been owned by the Mahindra Group, one of India’s largest vehicle manufacturers.

Mahindra already owns the BSA and Jawa brands, and has just signalled Peugeot’s return to the motorcycle market after an absence of 70 years.

The new Peugeot P2x Roadster motorcycle
Two urban-oriented 300cc machines were unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this week: the P2x Cafe Racer and the P2x Roadster (with the blue tank).

The two Peugeots are potential competitors to the smaller KTM Dukes, the BMW G310R, and the Honda CB300R. They’re aimed at the booming sub-400 cc European market, are slated to go on sale in 2020, and we reckon they’ll sell like gâteaux chauds.

The new Horex VR6 Raw
Horex VR6 Raw You could say that Horex is the European equivalent of Motus: an independent supplier of old-school grunt and style, prone to financial difficulties. But unlike Motus, Horex is still a going concern, although the company filed for bankruptcy in 2014.

With a new owner on board, production of the VR6 has restarted, and a new ‘Raw’ variant debuted at INTERMOT. Every component is finished in a shade of black, apart from the new (and super-bright) 7-inch LED instrument display.

The new Horex VR6 Raw
The unusual six-cylinder 1218 cc hand built engine remains, putting out 163 HP despite being only 43 centimeters (16.9 inches) wide. The rest of the componentry is top-notch, with top of the line gear from Öhlins, Brembo and Bosch—plus carbon everywhere, from the subframe to the fenders.

That helps keep the weight of the self-styled ‘power cruiser’ down to 220 kg (485 pounds), but pushes the price up to a heady 35,500 EUR ($40,900). [More]

The CAKE electric offroad motorcycle
CAKE electric off-road motorcycle CAKE is a Swedish company that’s been bubbling under for a little while now, and it well and truly came to the boil in Paris. The full production version of the bike was on show—after a run of limited edition machines—and it walked off with the ‘Best of Best’ award in the Automotive Brand Contest.

There are several good electric bikes on sale these days, so why is CAKE so significant? The striking design is a big part of it, because the Scandinavians have ditched the standard visual cues that most other electric makers adhere to.

The specs are pretty impressive too: weight is a mere 69 kg (152 pounds) but power is 15 kW—equal to 20 hp. Couple that to gearing which maxes out at 75 kph (46 mph) and you are guaranteed rapid acceleration.

The CAKE electric offroad motorcycle
Range is up to 80km, or two to three hours of riding, and a 1.5 hour charge will return the battery to 80% of capacity. There are three riding modes, mostly to moderate battery usage, and the riding experience is reportedly amazing—thanks to custom suspension developed by Öhlins.

The CAKE goes on sale in February for 13,000 EUR or $13,000, and there’s free shipping worldwide. Is this the tipping point for light electric offroaders? We’d like to think so. [More]

Categories
Anvil Motociclette BikeExif Flat Track Racing Honda motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Racing Motorcycles Suzuki motorcycles

Body Doubles: Anvil’s twin Suzuki and Honda flat trackers

Anvil Motociclette's matching Suzuki and Honda flat trackers
Two of the custom scene’s most enigmatic personalities are Alessandro Fontanesi and Marco Filios. Known as ‘Phonz’ and ‘San Marco,’ they’re the creative force behind the Italian custom outfit Anvil Motociclette and the annual Wildays festival.

You’d be forgiven for thinking these two longhaired, heavily tattooed custom builders are brothers. Considering they’re the same age, went to high school together, and have been friends for twenty years, they may as well be.

Anvil Motociclette's matching Suzuki and Honda flat trackers
To celebrate the two decades of their friendship, they’ve started racing flat track together. So when Indian Motorcycle commissioned the Scout ‘Shrimp’ tracker from Anvil, the boys built a set of matching race bikes for themselves too.

Phonz’s bike is Little Boy (#11) and San Marco’s is Fat Man (#52). At a glance they look the same—but they’re actually very different. Little Boy has a Suzuki DR600 motor in a DR500 frame, and Fat Man is based on a Honda XR600.

Anvil Motociclette's matching Suzuki and Honda flat trackers
As the Anvil boys put it: “They’re apparently similar, but very different—exactly like the personality of the founders. They look the same but they aren’t. They work for the same objective, but in different ways.”

Fat Man (below) lives up to his name: Anvil started with a 1995 XR600 rolling chassis, and a 1991 XR600 motor. Then they bored the already stonking thumper out to 650 cc, and added a Keihin FCR 41 flatslide carb, with a BMC filter.

Anvil Motociclette's Honda XR600 flat tracker
The XR600 is sporting a new front end too, with a set of modified forks and triples from a Yamaha R6. For the wheels, the guys laced a set of 19” Excel rims to the original XR hubs. As is the norm in flat track racing, there’s no front brake—but the rear brake’s been refreshed with a new disc and pads from Newfren.

Little Boy’s donor bike is a bit of a mash-up too (below). Phonz wanted the compactness of the older Suzuki DR500’s chassis, but with a bigger motor. So the guys wedged a 1990 DR600 mill into a 1981 DR500 frame—which meant fabricating new engine mounts.

Anvil Motociclette's Suzuki flat tracker
Just like the Honda, Little Boy was treated to a Keihin FCR 41 carb and BMC filter. A set of Ducati Scrambler 400 forks and triples were modified to work up front, and a pair of 19” Excel rims matched up to Honda Dominator hubs. (The rear brake’s from the Dommie too, with Newfren once again supplying a new disc and pads.)

With matching number boards and fork guards up front, and all-black paint on the engines, it’s hard to tell the two apart. But it’s the remaining mods that really make them indistinguishable.

Anvil Motociclette's Honda XR600 flat tracker
To achieve uniformity, Anvil built almost identical subframes for both bikes. On the XR600, that meant converting the rear end from Honda’s trusty Pro-Link monoshock to a dual-shock system. Both rears were then fitted with new Bitubo shocks, and capped off with matching number boards, and aluminum rear fenders.

For the seats, Anvil wanted to move away from the more common flat track tail sections, towards a style more reminiscent of the 60s. So they built a pair of matching saddles, upholstered in their signature black and white pattern.

Anvil Motociclette's Suzuki flat tracker
The Honda and Suzuki share the same fuel tank design too. Anvil fabricated matching aluminum shells, then designed each tunnel specific to each bike’s frame.

The rest of the running gear is the same across both trackers: Ariete foot pegs and grips, and Tommaselli flat track bars with minimal controls. Both bikes have also had their wiring stripped right down to the bare essentials.

Anvil Motociclette's matching Suzuki and Honda flat trackers
Then there’s those stunning exhaust systems. Anvil partnered up with Zard to design headers specific to each chassis, with both systems terminating in matching reverse cone mufflers.

And if you’re wondering why Fat Man and Little Boy are wearing modified Indian logos, it’s because they’ve joined the Indian Shrimp on the newly formed Anvil Racing team. (You should see their race van.)

Anvil Motociclette's matching Suzuki and Honda flat trackers
The team’s taking on the European flat track circuit, and Phonz and San Marco are pretty realistic about their chances. “We are not professional racers,” they tell us, “and this is the first year we’ve seriously dedicated ourselves to flat track.”

That said, San Marco’s already bagged two third-place finishes in his class, and Phonz has finished fourth overall for the season in his.

Not bad going for a couple of rookies.

Anvil Motociclette | Facebook | Instagram

Anvil Motociclette's matching Suzuki and Honda flat trackers

Anvil would like to thank their partners: Ariete, Baume & Mercier, Bitubo, BMC Filter, Newfren, Pakelo, Zard and Rizoma.

Categories
BikeExif Custom Bikes of the Week Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Suzuki motorcycles

Custom Bikes Of The Week: 16 September, 2018

The best cafe racers, scramblers and bobbers of the week
A Suzuki VanVan with a surfer vibe, a track-ready Ducati Monster from the Emirates, and a sneaky peek at Moto Guzzi’s cool new V85 TT—an ADV bike with a ‘classic enduro’ vibe.

Ducati Monster 1100 EVO cafe racer by Marc Roissetter
Ducati Monster 1100 EVO cafe racer Moto racing coach and precision driver Marc Roissetter was on the hunt for a Virago as the base bike for his third build. But when a wrecked 2012 Ducati Monster 1100 popped up, his plans quickly changed. And man, are we glad they did. ‘Monstrosity’ is a stunning example of what hard work and dedication can deliver, and she goes even better than she shows.

Bringing the Monster back up to running spec was no easy task. It wasn’t just wrecked: it was wrecked and left to rot. Marc figures it sat for at least a year, being blasted by sand and baking in the heat of the UAE.

Ducati Monster 1100 EVO cafe racer by Marc Roissetter
Thanks to an earlier botched repair, the engine required a complete rebuild. The Monster’s original subframe had to go too, so Marc used the tail from an earlier build to help with a mock up before donning a welding mask.

Up front a new top clamp was fabricated and a set of clip-ons were tightened up. A smaller LED headlight sits between the forks and the signals were moved to those clip-ons, courtesy of Motogadget.

Ducati Monster 1100 EVO cafe racer by Marc Roissetter
If the tank looks familiar, that’s because it once belonged to a Ducati 996. Marc needed to make some modifications to get the Monster’s fuel pump to fit, but the finished product was definitely worth it: it provides just the right amount of SuperSport style to this track-bound Ducati cafe racer.

After its initial shakedown, Marc has suspension upgrades in mind for the rear and the pipe-wrapped exhaust will disappear for good. [Marc Roissetter Instagram]

Custom Suzuki VanVan by Officine GP Design
Suzuki VanVan by Officine GP Design Wood is easily the most polarizing of materials a builder can use on their custom creation. We’ve seen it done incredibly well in the past, but it still raises ire in some quarters. This time, it’s Torino’s Officine GP Design who have had a go—and I’m absolutely smitten with ‘Wave.’

Maybe it’s because Luca Pozatto and Luca Santilli based their project on the lovable Suzuki. With its fat tires and squat proportions, Suzuki’s diminutive enduro is the perfect donor for a custom bike with a surf vibe.

Custom Suzuki VanVan by Officine GP Design
To accentuate that style, the duo treated the VanVan’s tip and tail to one of the tastiest wood treatments I’ve seen. Shaped and styled to resemble a classic wooden longboard, the fenders look as playful as they are functional. And when viewed in profile, they deliver a visual for the entire bike that mimics that of a surfboard.

Getting it all to work properly meant revisions to the Suzi’s subframe, so a hooped tail was welded in place. Sitting atop that new tubing is a gorgeous, distressed leather seat that looks as though sun, sand and saltwater are its best friends. The Rizoma catalog was consulted at length for the LED lighting options as well as levers and a set of ‘Wave’ reservoirs. [More]

Greeves 24MX2 Challenger scrambler
Greeves 24MX2 Challenger scrambler When we think about the origins of off-road riding, Triumph’s desert sled TR6 Trophy is usually the machine that comes to mind. But although it was the weapon of choice for Ekins and McQueen, Bert Greeves was building a lighter, better prepared machine.

The Greeves Challenger was easily 20 years ahead of its time. Powered by a Villiers-sourced 200cc two-stroke, the original Challenger offered the power of the bigger four-strokes without the weight penalty.

Greeves 24MX2 Challenger scrambler
Greeves also sussed out a far better way to deal with suspension. His ‘banana leading link’ fork design was more robust than the standard setup (at the time), and delivered exceptional travel and increased ground clearance. Riders on Greeves machines took wins in competitions such as the International Six Days Trials, the Manx Grand Prix and the Scottish Six Days Trials—to name just a few.

Bonhams will be dropping the hammer on a 1965 24MX2 version of the Greeves Challenger in their upcoming auction. It’s been exquisitely restored and looks to be an incredible bargain. If you’ve got US$6,500 kicking around and want something that will raise eyebrows everywhere you go, the auction runs on September 23rd. [More]

Ural land speed motorcycle by Fine Custom Mechanics
Ural land speed motorcycle Ever since my first time in the saddle, I’ve had an affinity for Urals. Their antiquated, quirky approach to motorcycling can’t help but win over even the most hardened enthusiast. But almost all of the charm resides within the sidecar rig. So, do we care about one running sans sled? Well, if it’s a salt flat bomber from Russia’s Fine Custom Mechanics, we most definitely should.

Based on a 1978 M67-36, ‘Puncher CR’ has been modified to compete for speed record fame and the rigors of running flat out for 3-mile stints. Due to class regulations, FCM wasn’t able to modify the Ural’s frame—but almost everything else has been tweaked.

The 650 cc boxer twin has been treated to an upgraded crank and high performance connecting rods. A bespoke injection system was also devised, because the Ural is equipped with a supercharger that doubles its power output to 70 hp—and near 70 lb. ft of torque.

Ural land speed motorcycle by Fine Custom Mechanics
Because they were competing in both the naked and aero-assisted classes, Sergey Maltsev and his team also had to fabricate a wonderful removable fairing assembly. Bolted onto a custom tank, the bodywork creates a slippery silhouette that continues to a beautifully sculpted tail.

The hard work paid off. ‘Puncher CR’ claimed three records at Bonneville this year and the quickest run, at 122.25 mph, also launched pilot Natalya Lyubimova into the Bonneville book of records as the first (and fastest) Russian women in its pages. [More]

2019 Moto Guzzi V85 ADV bike
Revealed: the Moto Guzzi V85 TT When Moto Guzzi dropped their V85 concept at EICMA last year, word was that the production model wouldn’t stray far from the killer ‘classic enduro’ vibe. Thankfully, those hints were confirmed earlier this week when the V85 TT debuted.

Due to Euro 4 emissions standards, Guzzi’s aged Stelvio ADV tourer has gone the way of the dodo—and the V85 TT will fill its spot. It’s an interesting move by the Mandello del Lario factory, since the middleweight ADV market is really starting to heat up, with new options rolling our way from KTM and Yamaha as well.

2019 Moto Guzzi V85 ADV bike
Regardless, the V85 TT is arguably the best looking bike of the bunch, combining just the right amounts of old school enduro style with characteristic Guzzi quirks, plus modern performance.

The V85 TT is powered by an air-cooled, 850 cc, transverse V-Twin that’s good for 80 hp. It’s hung as a stressed member by that gorgeous red trellis frame, and transmits power to the rear via a shaft drive.

There’s no word on weight but the V85’s website touts ‘lightness and ease of use.’ If the top brass really want this Goose to fly—both literally and out of showrooms—we figure/hope it should tip scales around the 470-pound mark. Hopefully we’ll have more to report when the invites go out for the official launch, so watch this space. [More]

2019 Moto Guzzi V85 ADV bike

Categories
BikeExif Custom Motorcycles ICON Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Suzuki Bandit Suzuki motorcycles

Colonel Butterscotch: Icon 1000’s sweet Suzuki Bandit

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
A new bike from the crew at ICON 1000 is a bit like a Mike Tyson uppercut: it arrives without warning, and it’s a knockout.

‘Colonel Butterscotch’ is the latest machine to roar out of the Portland, Oregon garage. And despite the twee name, it’s a real bruiser. Based on a 1999 Suzuki Bandit 1200, it shows the potential of a bike often unfairly relegated to the ‘econo-cruiser’ pile.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
Like most customs that have been massaged by ICON’s design director Kurt Walter, the Bandit was a tired and unloved workhorse.

Almost two decades old and showing it, this GSF1200 was carrying weathered saddlebags and festooned with faded decals.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
But, as many bikers of a certain age know, the early Bandit 1200 has hidden charms—and was regarded as a bit of a hooligan machine in its youth.

The inline four is derived from the GSX-R1100, and pumps out almost 100 hp. You can boost that by another 15 hp or so, simply by replacing the stock muffler with a performance can.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
There’s no way you can get that kind of easy performance boost from a Euro 4 compliant bike these days. But during the AMA Superbike glory days, Suzuki knew how to build performance into an engine.

Icon have given the motor a fillip with custom jetting on the four Mikuni carbs and free-flowing K&N filtration. The hefty stock can is gone too, replaced by a pair of simple reverse cone mufflers.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
The new pipework is 2-into-2, with the left-hand cylinder gases exiting into a muffler concealed in the tail unit.

You can guarantee that this Bandit can smoke its Avon Roadrunners at will, but even back in the day, its handling was geared towards touring rather than canyons or the track.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
So Icon have firmly redressed the balance by installing sporty 45mm forks from a Triumph Daytona, complete with adjustable preload, rebound and compression. They’re slotted into Honda CBR900RR FireBlade triples.

Nitron supplied new adjustable rear shocks, built to spec, and they’re hooked up to a rigid Kawasaki ZRX1200 aluminum-alloy swingarm.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
The wheels are classic Comstar-style rims, 16 inches at the front and 17 at the back—which suit the vibe of the Colonel perfectly.

To keep the show on the road, EBC supplied new brake discs front and back. Four-piston Triumph/Nissin calipers now clamp down on the dual front discs, juiced up by a Magura master cylinder. Braided Goodridge lines keep the levers firm.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
Unfortunately, this particular show got derailed. After a hard winter of prep, the Bandit headed for a shakedown at the track—and crashed.

“She smeared her lacquered bronze foundation across forty feet of Northwest asphalt,” the Icon guys report, in their inimitable style. “Like a drunken party girl flitting topless across golden Panama City beaches, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
It was time to rebuild. The bent suspension was replaced. Old plastics were binned, and new plastics sourced.

The stock tank was given two dished indents, and the shortened subframe received a 70s-style endurance racer tail unit with a bare-bones but beautifully finished seat pad by Range Needlework.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
A stubby half-fairing with twin headlamps was mounted up. And not just any old lamps: they’re vintage Per-Lux 36s, with new, brighter innards. Just the thing for lighting up the long, lonely straights of an endurance race track.

Six months after the crash, Colonel Butterscotch rolled forth once again—older, wiser and just as sexy, reborn in a delicious pale caramel.

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000
As Kurt Walter says, “Life isn’t about the wins. It’s about the crashes.”

“Anybody can win, but real winners are defined by their ability to lose and recover enough to race again.”

ICON 1000 | Facebook | Instagram

Colonel Butterscotch: A custom Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ICON 1000

Categories
BikeExif Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Suzuki motorcycles

Gothamist: A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
Riding a motorcycle in New York means dealing with tight streets, big potholes and uncompromising taxi drivers. To maximize your chances of survival, you need a bike that’s compact, punchy and nimble—like a supermotard.

Add stylish to that shopping list, and you’ve just described this new custom from Brooklyn’s Jane Motorcycles. It’s based on a 2015 Suzuki DR-Z400SM, and it’s just perfect for the urban jungle of New York City.

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
Out the box, the DR-Z400SM doesn’t make a ton of power. But 40-or-so horses are plenty for a bike that weighs just 320 pounds fully-fueled. The Suzuki handles like a dirt bike and offers maximum smiles-for-dollars.

This one was basically new when Jane’s customer handed it over for a makeover. The brief was simple: make it leaner and lighter, and tailor it to the owner’s 6’3” frame.

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
The Jane Motorcycles shop is a haven for NYC riders who appreciate smart gear, strong coffee and custom motos. So the founders have an eye for what looks good.

Alex from Jane collaborated with Mark from Brooklyn Moto on this build, sharing all the fabrication, mechanical and assembly work.

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
Most of the redesign of the DR-Z400SM happened up top. With 17” Excel supermoto rims and adjustable suspension out of the crate, there was little need to tweak the running gear. (Even so, Alex tells us there are already plans for suspension and brake upgrades in place.)

The concept began as a good old-fashioned hand drawing, then progressed to a Photoshop render. With the design settled, it was time to create new bodywork for the DR-Z400SM—starting with the fuel tank.

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
The guys hand-shaped a foam buck for the new tank, then built the final form out of aluminum on top of it. It holds about two gallons—no-one’s planning to tour with it—and has deep knee indents designed to accommodate the long legs of the 6’3” owner.

Behind it is a new seat, custom-made by Jane to sit further back than stock; another consideration for their client. The waxed cowhide upholstery was also done in-house, and everything sits on top of a custom-built subframe.

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
Lower down, the team rewired the DR-Z400SM to clean it up visually, installing a smaller Lithium-ion battery in the process.

Look closely, and you’ll spot a neat little electronics tray tucked up under the seat. (You’ll also spot the original seat latch cable poking out on the left, giving quick access to the electrical bits.)

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
The air box was ditched in favor of a beefy K&N filter, and the tail end of the exhaust was tweaked with a custom-built, stainless steel muffler. The whole system was then ceramic coated black, and is apparently as loud as it looks.

There’s some pretty slick work going on in the cockpit too. Jane started with an 8” race headlight from TrailTech, then CNC-cut an aluminum plate to sit above it. The plate acts as a dashboard, housing the ignition, a tiny Motogadget Motoscope Mini speedo and a set of LED ‘idiot’ lights.

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
A slew of Rizoma goodies rounds out the package, including risers, handlebars, bar-end turn signals and brake fluid reservoirs. The rear lights are from Rizoma too; they’re tucked away under the seat along with the license plate bracket, and double up as turn signals and a tail light.

Since the DR-Z400SM is destined for frequent urban use, practical OEM bits like the fork protectors, sump guard and exhaust heat shield are still in play. The MX-style front fender is gone though, replaced by a more svelte aluminum part.

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles
The final livery is minimal but high impact. Jane matched the black frame and standard gold wheels to a glossy desaturated green, executed by Peach Pit. The result is a bike that won’t just look killer parked outside your office—it’ll get you there quicker than a cabbie with ADHD.

Who else wishes we’d see more custom supermotards in this style?

Jane Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Mathew Andreini

A Suzuki DR-Z400SM built for NYC streets by Jane Motorcycles

Categories
BikeExif Custom Motorcycles Other Motorcycle Blogs Suzuki motorcycles Trackers

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
You could argue that the modern custom scene owes its success to Universal Japanese Motorcycles. They’re affordable, reliable and easy to pull apart—making them the perfect blank canvas for builders.

Not all UJMs get equal time in the limelight, though. And according to Ventus Garage of Kraków, Poland, there’s one that deserves a lot more love: the Suzuki GN400. So they’ve turned a GN400 into a cool street tracker coated in BMW’s famous matte ‘Frozen’ paint.

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
“The Suzuki GN400 is a very overlooked bike on the custom scene,” they tell us. “It has everything you want from a base bike. It has a big single engine that sounds beautiful, it’s simple in its construction, and it has nice lines off its frame.”

“We could go on all night, but long story short, the Ventus Garage team loves using the GN400. We’ve already built two bikes based on the GN, and we decided to put all our knowledge and experience into this third one.”

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
For this build, the guys aimed for that elusive balance between form and function. “With flat track bikes there is nothing more important than performance, but at Ventus Garage the ‘look’ is at the top of the list as well.”

“Who said that those two can’t go together?”

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
The biggest upgrade happened to the chassis. Ventus pillaged the remains of a wrecked custom Aprilia RS 250 to upgrade their little GN400: On went the Aprilia’s upside-down forks, along with its triple clamps.

They’re matched up to a pair of aftermarket rear shocks, fitted with custom bushings.

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
Bizarrely, the Aprilia also came with a pair of 18” spoked wheels—perfect for what Ventus had in mind. So they repainted the rims, chromed the spokes and fitted the wheels. The front brake was converted to a single 280 mm disc, before the guys got to work on the back.

With an upgrade from the Suzuki’s stock drum to a disc setup, the guys had to install a Nissin master cylinder, and modify the rear brake lever setup. A full set of braided stainless steel brake lines from Hel round out the package. Other pleasingly OCD details are the turned foot pegs, and there’s a stylish braid wrap on the kick-start lever.

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
Equal consideration went into the motor, which was stripped down for glass blasting, to get the metal to its natural color.

Ventus inspected the engine at the same time, and had to hone the cylinder and recondition the head. Everything was buttoned up with new rings and gaskets, and a new cam chain.

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
When it was time to work on the fuel system, the team fell back on a tried and tested method: they installed a new Mikuni carb with a pod filter with the help of an exceptionally mechanically-minded buddy, Bartek.

Getting an exhaust to complement the intake was vital. So Ventus turned to Devil’s Garage, who fabricated a complete stainless steel system from scratch, following the GN400’s revised lines flawlessly.

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
As for the frame, Ventus revised the rear end with a new, kicked up loop to match a new tail unit. They also designed it to hold a discreet LED taillight. Then they detabbed the rest of the frame, painstakingly sanding down imperfect factory welds to get everything neater than stock.

The actual tail unit was supposed to be an off-the-shelf flat track piece, but the guys couldn’t find anything that would sit right. So they built their own from fiberglass. The final upholstery is a mix of Alcantara and the same leather that Bentley use.

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
Right at the start of the project, Ventus knew the OEM fuel tank wasn’t going to cut it, visually. After heaps of misfires (including buying a Bultaco tank), they found the solution: a Yamaha XS400 tank that had been hiding in their own workshop for years.

Up top are a set of MX bars from Accel, with Renthal grips and an upgraded brake master cylinder: it’s a decidedly upmarket cockpit.

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
The speedo’s a Motogadget Motoscope Tiny and the switches are aftermarket, with all their wiring routed to inside the bars. Ventus upgraded the electrical system from 6V to 12V to work with the new speedo, and revised the wiring loom to hide everything away.

As for that stunning paint color, it’s one of the most unusual BMW car colors ever made: Frozen Gray. It’s a ‘metallic matte’ paint designed for the M3, with an eggshell texture that must never be waxed, and it looks stellar. Especially for this shoot inside HEVRE, a club in Kraków that started life as a house of prayer.

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint
This is Ventus’ thirteenth build, so they’ve nicknamed it ’13.’ “For some this number is bad luck,” they say, “but for us it was always lucky.”

Yip, these guys are definitely on a roll.

Ventus Garage | Facebook | Instagram | Photos by Marcin Malicki

Frozen: An ice-cool Suzuki GN400 street tracker finished in BMW's famous matte paint