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This BMW R nineT is a homage to Rickman Métisse

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
In the world of vintage desert sleds, the Rickman Triumph Métisse reigns supreme. It was a pretty legit scrambler in its day, and also one of best-looking motorcycles from that era.

For VTR Customs boss Dani Weidmann, though, there’s an even deeper connection. Back in the 80s, 17-year-old Dani took an apprenticeship at a company called Meier & Lutziger—the Swiss importer of Rickman frames and parts. Dani fell in love with the classy design of these throwback sleds.

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
When the VTR Customs crew were recently shooting the breeze over coffee—and reminiscing about the past—the idea of building a Métisse replica popped up. And since VTR is the custom arm of the BMW dealer Stucki2Rad, it could be based on the BMW R nineT. Just like that, the ‘Bétisse’ was born.

“Since we knew very well how the ‘Bétisse’ should look,” Dani tells us, “the design was done very quickly. A gas tank, seat and tail combination in the classic Métisse style.”

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
The original Métisse body kits were fiberglass—but VTR prefer working with aluminum. So their head tech and ‘alloy godfather’ Cello Brauchli whipped up a full complement of hand-made body parts.

“I think Cello prayed to God that, one day, we’re gonna have simpler ideas,” quips Dani. “After producing the Spitfire, we still fear he might kill us one day.”

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
Cello nailed the lines; hints of the original Rickman design are unmistakable. But it took some under-the-hood work to get right too. The design called for a straight fly line front to back, but due to strict Swiss regulations, the main frame couldn’t be modded.

So VTR took inspiration from another R nineT custom they’d seen, and built a bolt-on subframe to run the length of the bike.

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
It’s beautifully crafted, and also accommodates a custom-built air intake that replaces the stock unit, on the right. Look on the other side, and you’ll spot a matching air box cover. The new arrangement also called for a serious wiring cleanups.

The original airbox is still in play, but the exhaust is completely bespoke. It features custom two-into-one headers, terminating in a modified Akrapovič connector and end can.

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
“This is a pure ‘racing only’ solution,” says Dani. (The bike comes with an additional, street legal system from Hattech.)

The team deviated from the source material on the livery a bit. An OG British Racing Green paint job was on the cards, but it felt too on-the-nose. So VTR opted for baby blue, polished alloy, and gold highlights, with replica ‘Bétisse’ logos. Paint shop Freuler over in Benken sorted it out for the guys.

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
The frame had to be period correct though, and that meant nickel-plating it. But Swiss laws got in the way again (something along the lines of influencing the frame’s structural integrity).

So VTR nervously switched to a nickel-esque powder coating instead—and breathed a sigh of relief when the results came back.

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
One glaringly modern touch still remained: the R nineT’s motor and drivetrain are all black. So the guys took the brand new BMW, and stripped it right down to refinish it.

“The most shitty job,” Dani tells us, “was the sandblasting and glass pearl finishing of the engine. Stefano did this, in order not to stress Cello out even more.”

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
From there on out, it was a case of dressing the Bétisse in the right finishing kit. VTR started with BMW’s own Option 719 billet accessories, including foot controls, valve covers and the motor’s front ‘breastplate.’ They picked the clear alloy finish, but painted the cylinder heads black themselves, with some contrasting lines and lettering.

The cockpit was treated to a set of Renthal MX bars, new grips, and Magura master cylinders. Inspiration for the headlight came straight out of the 60s, with a deliberately “ugly, frog eyes and big plate look.” Out back, a pair of Kellermann tail light LEDs were sunk into tunnels in the rear section.

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
Classic dirt bikes didn’t sit as high as their modern counterparts, so VTR debated at length whether they should jack up the R nineT Scrambler’s suspension. In the end, they fitted a new shock and forks from Wilbers, with a 7 cm lift at both ends.

Then they added an 80s hit, with a pair of gold wheels from Kineo. They’re wrapped in Continental TKC80 tires, measuring 120/70 19” in front, and 170/60 17” out back.

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
Final touches include a small, hand-made fender up front, and leather upholstery on the seat by VTR’s upholsterer, Yves Knobel.

It didn’t shock us to learn that the Bétisse was sold before it was even finished. “It’s found a home alongside some other VTR Customs, inside a regular client’s garage,” Dani tells us. We just hope it doesn’t stay in the garage too long.

A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR
If you’re hoping to order your own Bétisse, we have some bad news. None of the parts are available in kit or complete form—everything was made specifically for this build.

“One of our client promises,” says Dani, “is that we build single and unique bikes, and that no copies will ever be reproduced by us.”

Disappointed?

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A BMW R nineT Rickman Métisse Homage from VTR

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Shitanes 61: VTR Customs’ outrageous BMW R nineT

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
There’s a lot to be said for elegance and subtlety. And there’s also a time and place for going completely over the top.

Dani Weidmann and his crew at the Swiss shop VTR Customs can play it both ways. This time, they’ve turned the volume up to 11 and built a BMW R nineT that’s about as subtle as an AC/DC riff.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
It’s got 136 hp, a stonking 145 Nm of torque, and it’s called ‘Shitanes 61’—a reference to the famous Gitanes motor racing livery from the 1980s.

The story starts at the last Swiss Custom Moto Show, where VTR displayed their R nineT Pure ‘Street Tracker33’ bike. It was snapped up on the second day of the show, much to the chagrin of one of VTR’s regular clients.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
“Talking on our stand, our client came up with an idea,” says Dani. “He wanted a bike that was even more radical than ST33, and faster.”

The concept was agreed on the spot: an R nineT with USD forks, engine tuning, a quickshifter, top shelf high performance parts, and a dash of 80s style. “That’s doable for us, because we grew up around that decade, and have done 80s theme bikes in the past,” says Dani.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
While kicking ideas around during a coffee break, talk turned towards Formula 1 cars. “We came to the Gitanes design [used on the French Equipe Ligier cars] and voilà—Shitanes was born.” The #61 comes from the owner’s year of birth.

For the donor bike, VTR chose an R nineT with the Option 719 accessory pack—which includes goodies like milled cylinder heads, upgraded foot pegs and adjustable brake and clutch levers. But to get the 80s look, VTR decided to have the Spezial parts ‘shrink coated,’ as Ferrari cylinder head covers are.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
It’s the engine that’s really the centerpiece of this build, though. It’s been bored out to 1320 cc (80ci) using new high compression pistons, cylinder liners and connecting rods from Wössner.

VTR have also reworked the cylinder heads for better airflow, and installed a Power Commander to get the mapping right for the modified engine.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
The dyno sheet now shows 136 horsepower, a 23% increase over the standard 110. “It’s a beast,” says Dani, and we bet it sounds like one too: gases now exit via a straight-through Akrapovič titanium race exhaust system.

There’s a racing quickshifter from Translogic for banging through the gears even faster than usual, and Dani mentions that the traction control has to be turned off before full power can be used. “We stayed away from a NOS system though,” he says wryly, “because our client also wants to ride on the street.”

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
Grip will be plentiful thanks to Michelin’s race-bred Power RS slicks, which are wrapped around 17-inch Kineo spoked wheels—a hefty 6 inches wide at the back, and 3.5 at the front.

Bobbed fenders keep the crud away, and VTR also fabricated the alloy front and side alloy number plates. The tank is stock but the fuel cap assembly has been modified to accept a Monza-style cap.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
The cockpit has been given an upgrade too, with the standard bars swapped out for a lightweight Magura SX bend. Magura also supplied the high-end HC3 radial master cylinders and VTR have added tinted green glass to the stock twin instruments.

Sitting atop the shortened rear subframe is a new seat pad, stitched in classic 80s style and made with the help of Carrosseriesattler Yves Knobel. Tiny multi-function taillights from Kellermann are only just visible—if you know where to look.

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
The Gitanes-style paint was applied by VTR’s regular spray guys, Freuler of Benken. And there are a few logos from the 80s scattered around too—some of them discreetly subverted.

The owner of Shitanes 61 usually trades in his bikes after a while, and then commissions another one. But this time, he asked for all the wordmarks and logos to be placed under the final clear coat: “I will keep this beast for ever!”

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs
That’s bad news for anyone hoping to buy this BMW in the months to come—which includes some of VTR’s own staff, apparently. “None of the parts are available in our shop or as a kit either,” Dani adds. “One of the promises we make to our clients is that we build unique bikes, and no copies.”

So it looks like Shitanes 61 will forever be a one-off. But the good news is that VTR’s order book is open. If you want something a little different, and a guaranteed one-of-a-kind too, you know who to call.

VTR Customs | Facebook | Instagram | Images by PHOTOCAB / Andri Margadant

A 1980s-inspired BMW R nineT by VTR Customs

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Flame Thrower: The ‘Spitfire’ BMW from VTR and TW Steel

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
In this era of high tech, when every motorcycle spec sheet seems to contain a dizzying array of acronyms, it’s reassuring to see that old school skills are alive and well.

This extraordinary drag racer looks like it belongs on the pages of a 1930s Boy’s Own Annual. But it was completed just a few days ago by VTR Customs of Switzerland, and will race in the Sultans of Sprint series in Europe.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
VTR’s latest build is based on an R1200 R supplied by BMW. It’s also a collaboration with the Dutch watchmaker TW Steel, which has just released a rather beautiful new collection of automatic watches called ACE Spitfire.

The TW Steel ACE Spitfire collection
Anyone with even a cursory interest in aviation matters will know the Supermarine Spitfire. The famous fighter first took to the skies in 1936, and retired from RAF duties in 1954—by which time the Merlin engine had been superseded by a 2,050 hp supercharged Griffon.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
VTR’s production methods are decidedly old school. So old school, in fact, that they’d be familiar to the builders of the Spitfire itself. No computers are involved: it’s simply sketching and then metalworking, using hammers, sand sacks and an English wheel.

VTR boss Daniel Weidmann worked as a technician on vintage aircraft in his early career, so he’s comfortable with these methods. But even so, his skills—and those of head tech Cello Brauchli—were stretched to the limit.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
“This is the most challenging and complex bike we have ever made,” Dani admits. “We had to make the tail end three times to get the look we were after. I now have to wear my back protector at work, because I fear Cello is going to kill me with a knife from behind!”

The effort was worth it, because the bodywork is extraordinary. And not just from a distance, or in profile. The riveting is remarkable, and follows the same techniques used in the 1930s. (It helps that Dani has access to authentic materials and original tools.)

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
It was also clear that the bike would not be a museum piece. The word ‘spectacular’ was bandied around, and the name soon followed. “We wanted the bike to shoot real flames from the tailpipe, like old radial engines used to,” says Dani. The name “Spitfire” was born.

The design inspiration came from Dani’s own career in aviation and a sketch from the French studio Barbara Design. A torpedo-like monster, completely sheathed in aluminum, would be immediately reminiscent of old airplanes.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
With a straight upper bodywork line set at around 90 cm off the ground, the job was to avoid anything looking clumsy underneath.

According to Dani, the hardest work was shaping the air intakes, deciding where to split the sheets of aluminum, and figuring out the opening for the front wheel, to keep the ‘fully enclosed’ look.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
But those difficulties have been overcome, and the result is one of the most striking custom builds of recent years.

The bodywork should give VTR a head start in the Sultans of Sprint, because the race series is not only based on speed—it also rewards creativity and style. But that doesn’t mean you can neglect performance.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
The ‘Factory Class’ allows for a few mods, and builders inevitably stretch the rules to the limit. So this 2017 BMW R1200 R is not quite a showroom spec bike.

There are restrictions on the power-to-weight ratio, so VTR could not modify the internals of the boxer engine. Instead, they’ve simply freed up breathing with a free-flowing intake and custom exhaust system. It delivers a modest power boost from 125 to around 135 hp.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
This is no ordinary exhaust pipework, though: There is a discreet setting on the bike that allows the tailpipes to literally spit fire—a characteristic of the Supermarine Spitfire itself, which was occasionally fitted with ‘blinkers’ over the exhaust to shield the pilots’ eyes from bright flames.

“We found a control unit that can generate a signal for the flame system,” Dani reveals. “We got an ignition coil, and fitted a standard spark plug in the exhaust.” About 30cm upstream of the plug is a fuel injector nozzle, which takes fuel from the gas tank and its pump.


There are two switches in the cockpit: one to activate the ignition, and one to activate the fuel spray. “We only use this before and after races to scare our competitors,” Dani laughs. “While racing, the system is off.”

To help stabilize the BMW and keep it flat on the ground during sprint runs, VTR have stretched the wheelbase by the maximum 20% allowed. Most sprint bikes use a lengthened swingarm to do this, but the BMW’s shaft drive makes that difficult.

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So Dani and his crew have modified the front part of the frame instead. They’ve also lowered the bike by dropping the forks a whopping 30 centimeters (almost 12 inches). “That was a challenge,” says Dani wryly. “We had to make sure the fork does still work, and still has 3.5 cm of travel to meet the Factory Class rules.”

There’s a smattering of high-end parts throughout Spitfire, such as Magura HC1 radial brake and clutch master cylinders. They’ll help crack pilot Amelie Mooseder control the bike in the heat of the moment.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
But the most interesting additions are original cockpit instruments, identical to those fitted to Spitfires in WWII. “I got them in the UK from a company that specializes in spare parts for Spitfires,” says Dani. “They came in the original boxes from the 1940s—you could still smell that.”

VTR now have two incredible BMWs ready for combat at the Sultans of Sprint: as well as the TW Steel Spitfire, they will be running their blown R80 ‘Polizei’ bike in the more open ‘Freak’ class.

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower
And since the scoring factors in style as well as speed, we’re betting that VTR will be amongst the front-runners. If you’re within riding distance of Monza, Italy, you can catch the first round of races at The Reunion, the café-racer-and-classics show at the beautiful Autodromo Nazionale Monza track.

Just remember not to stand too close to Spitfire when Frau Mooseder fires up the engine and flips the flame thrower switch…

VTR Customs | Facebook | Instagram | TW Steel ACE Spitfire collection

Spitfire: The VTR Customs x TW Steel BMW R1200 R with built-in flame thrower

The TW Steel ACE Spitfire collection

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Endurance racer tribute: VTR Customs’ wild BMW K100

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
If there was ever a golden age of motorcycle racing, we’d pin it on the late 70s and early 80s. Those were the days of the endurance racers, when hairy-chested pilots wrangled big four-strokes around the track for hours on end.

Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki battled Italian exotica from Laverda, Ducati and Moto Guzzi, with the added danger of pit stops for extra fuel and fresh rubber. We’re unlikely to see a return to these exciting times—but there’s a resurgence of interest in the era, and it’s seeping through into the custom scene.


The Swiss workshop VTR is the latest to tap into the vibe, with this stunning BMW K100. We reckon it was only a matter of time, because they’ve been modifying ‘Flying Bricks’ since 2014. “Four years ago at the BMW Motorrad Days, we counted two K-series builds,” says shop boss Dani Weidmann. “Last year, we saw more than 30.”

VTR caused ripples a few months ago with a K100 built in collaboration with the shipwrights Boesch Boats, but they’ve outdone themselves was this endurance-style street legal racer.

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
The idea for the project came at Spa-Francorchamps, when the VTR crew raced in the Sultans of Sprint series. “Walking along the pits, I was impressed with the event and the bikes,” says Dani. “I counted ten Laverda SFC750 factory racers in one pit, and Phil Reed was there with a 2-stroke beast.”

“I knew right there that our next ‘K’ would be an homage to the endurance racers of the 80s.”

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
Then Dani watched the four-hour night race, which began under heavy rain and with a Le Mans starting procedure. The name of the bike was set: it would become the ‘24 Hours.’

The VTR crew are all 80s motorcycle kids, starting their on- and off-road racing careers in the neon decade. So they know how to tap into that vibe. In the VTR storeroom, they found an 80s fairing from a GSX-R750; then they located a tail unit in their cellar—along with a PVM three-spoke wheel set suitable for the K100.

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
“Beside these key elements, we already had a picture of the design in our heads,” says Dani. “We’d have double headlights—with an alloy race cover fitted over one of them, for the ‘one-eyed’ look.” The cover is removable, to meet Swiss transport regulations.

“We wanted a 4-into-1 exhaust set as high as possible, a central rev counter with a white fascia, a Monza gas cap, and a 1980s paint scheme.”

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
The looks of the ‘flying brick’ engine are an acquired taste. But they’re a key part of the 80s vibe, and Dani wanted to avoid people thinking, “Oh, another Japanese retro bike.” So VTR kept just the upper part of the Suzuki fairing, and added a pair of vented side panels to match the downward lines of the tank.

“The original 80s plastic tail was also a bit too heavy,” says Dani. “So we cut it, making it slimmer and more modern looking, and matching the overall lines of the bike. And to make it look ‘lighter’ when viewed from above, we added a handmade alloy grille on top.”

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
The tail unit houses the smallest street legal taillight on the market, made by Kellermann. “We wanted hide it in the tail section at first, but then decided to put it on top to follow the endurance racer style.” Upholster Yves Knobel added a perforated Alcantara seat pad in dark grey.

The windshield on the GSX-R750 fairing was a little too overbearing, so VTR trimmed it down to a lower profile, which was also seen on some bikes of the 80s.

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
VTR’s own repro Monza gas cap and a Motogadget Motoscope Classic tachometer add a touch of authentic race style—and keep everything street legal. The clipon bars are ABM Varios, the brake master cylinder and throttle are from Magura, and there’s an engine start switch in the cockpit.

With 90 stout German horses on tap, the longitudinal DOHC inline four has plenty of grunt. It now breathes through a steel exhaust from Italy’s Unit Garage, with a titanium muffler and removable dB killer.

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
It’s the paint that caught our attention first, though—something that the VTR crew labored over during the decision-making. “We spent a lot of time on the color,” says Dani. “After trying some orange combinations, we had a coffee break and looked at some older Formula 1 cars.”

“Then we saw the Jaguar Racing F1 cars from 2000 to 2004 … and kept clicking back to them.”

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
Together with their regular painter Freuler, VTR analyzed the Jaguar style. “To be as authentic as possible, we looked at the Jaguar sponsors from that time too,” says Dani.

“The only change we made was to turn the HSBC bank logo into ‘HSKC’—to reference Schmerikon, our hometown.” The ‘24h’ on the number plates is in the style of the original Le Mans Logo, and the green is the perfect match for the light gold powder coat on the wheels.

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs
VTR only build one-offs; they don’t reproduce their bikes, and they don’t sell parts or kits either. So ‘24 Hours’ is a one-of-a-kind.

The good news is that it’s for sale at 26,500 Swiss Francs (US$27,000), and it’s road legal too. If you fancy adding a dash of the resurgent 80s style to your garage collection, give Dani and co. a call.

VTR Customs | Facebook | Instagram | Images by PHOTOCAB / Andri Margadant

BMW K100 endurance racer tribute by VTR Customs

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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 26 March, 2017

The best cafe racers, scramblers and bobbers of the week
Not one but two killer new builds from VTR, the Swiss flavors of the month. Plus a frankly bizarre Moto Guzzi Audace by Vibrazioni Art Design, and a Public Service Announcement about a stolen custom Bonneville.

BMW K100 by VTR Customs
BMW K100 by VTR Customs In the past, inspiration from nautical design has dominated the automotive landscape—creating some of its most fondly remembered eras. But it’s never been a form that translates well to the world of two-wheels. At least not until now.

Working with Boesch Boats, the Swiss bespoke shipwrights, VTR Customs decided that BMW’sflying brick’ would be the best donor for something floaty. Of course, that meant the VTR team had quite a bit of work ahead of them. All of the K100’s factory plastics were cut loose, in favor of a slender look, and a new snub-nosed subframe was welded up with an integrated LED.

BMW K100 by VTR Customs
Sitting just atop that lighting is a hand-hammered seat and tail unit that appears to hover above the chromoly work. Both the starboard and port sides receive matching minimalist side panels, and the front fairing delivers an aggressive stance.

But it’s the head-on and top-down views that truly render the beauty of Boesch 100. Heavily lacquered wood panels run the length of the Beemer, with subtle brushed aluminum details popping up along the way. [More]

BMW R1200R sprint bike by VTR Customs
BMW R1200R by VTR Customs We know what you’re thinking. Another VTR Customs bike? Isn’t that the second in this collection? And the third on this site within a week? Well, yes, yes and yes. But honestly, can you blame us?

Working from BMW’s new water-boxer R1200R, ‘Eddie21’ is the bike that racer Amelie Mooseder will be piloting for the VTR team during this year’s Essenza races. Just as last year’s entry ‘Goodwood’ paid homage to the British racing circuit, this year’s Eddie21 celebrates the 80s Superbike legend Eddie Lawson.

To achieve that goal, VTR have plied their hands to every bit of the Beemer roadster. The tank and airbox are handmade, aluminum units, with integrated ram-air type intake plenums feeding the boxer twin below. There’s also a trick set of custom gauges that evoke builder Dani Weidmann’s wristwatch fetish.

Since this is a race bike, all of the components are top notch. Öhlins suspenders keep the Kineo wheels planted, while Magura binders slow things down. And since rider Amelie Mooseder is notorious for applying an extra layer of lipstick before the flags drop, Dani has also added a tiny mirror to make sure his pilot is always looking her best. [More]

Honda XL100S by Revolt Cycles
Honda XL100S by Revolt Cycles Revolt are based in Cebu City in the Philippines, and combine their love of surfing with a passion for custom enduro motorcycles. This very cool XL100S is their latest project and is called Lantu’Ag—which not only nails their design direction, but also epitomizes the translated name: to roam.

Lantu’Ag was built for a Manila-based surf shop owner, Bjorn Pabon, who has serious ties to the donor bike. As a youth, Bjorn and his mate used to sneak rides on a ‘borrowed’ 1984 XL. And decades later, when he was feeling nostalgic, he decided to search out that lost ride. It took tons of effort, but the old XL finally turned up—leaning on a porch post, dead and rotting.

The carcass quickly found its way into Revolt’s shop and the eight-month rebuild began. Everything from the motor, electrics, wheels and chassis needed a thorough going over, but after seeing the results, we figure the efforts were worth it. The little Honda has a whole new 12v CDI system installed, retrofitted forks, an all-new, hooped subframe unit and a lower profile fuel cell. Because of Bjorn’s ties to the world of waves, Revolt also added a removable rack to accommodate Bjorn’s quiver, for trips through the bush to his favorite, hidden point breaks. [More]

Moto Guzzi Audace by Vibrazioni Art Design
Moto Guzzi Audace by Vibrazioni Art Design Guzzi’s ‘Lord of the Bikes’ custom competition is back in full swing—and this time, each round of the competition features a different donor from Guzzi’s catalog. This Audace cruiser is the latest entry, supplied by the Lombarda’s Daft Punk lookalikes, Vibrazioni Art Design.

No strangers to controversial endeavors, Vibrazioni embraced the challenge with ‘Vertigo’ and won round four. Over 180 man-hours were dedicated to the construction and fabrication of the Kevlar and carbon fiber bits that make up this rolling tribute to Japanese design. All of the bodywork is either handmade, or the product of 3D printing. The tank is a hand-formed, sheet steel unit, while the belly pan and lowers are a mix of carbon and Kevlar. The front fairing appears to have collected all of MotoGP’s banned and discarded front wings.

Just about all the mechanicals have been covered in some form of woven aerodynamics, too. From the wheels to the forks to the driveshaft, little is left on display—giving the bike an Akira-inspired vibe. This style may not be for everyone, but every bike Vibrazioni touch is unmistakably their own. [More]

Stolen Triumph Bonneville owned by Heath Cofran
Stolen Bike—Triumph Bonneville ‘Evel June’ The motorcycling community is incredibly tight knit and supportive. Whatever your function within in it, even just as a rider, you know that we’ve all got your back. It’s why we wave at each other on the highway and why we celebrate the work of others on outlets like Bike EXIF.

Which is why we’re posting this 2004 Triumph Bonneville, named Evel June. We need your eyes to be peeled for her because Evel June was stolen from her owner’s home in Torrance, California, on Thursday.

Obviously Evel June stands out in a crowd, with Evel Knievel-inspired paint by Anaheim Rod and Custom. The Bonnie also sports a custom 2-into-2 Iron Cobras exhaust and rides on a matched set of flat-tracker hoops from Dubya wheels. Everything at the front end is completely custom including the triple tree, bars, number board, hidden starter button and removable headlight setup.

Evel June is no garage queen: She’s been ridden through 18 states and two different countries, and has battle scars from countless flat track and road racing events. There are major emotional ties between Heath Cofran and his bike, and on top of that it was being saved for his young son. The VIN# is SMT900HN44J205961. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Stolen Triumph Bonneville owned by Heath Cofran

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VTR shows how to build a skinny BMW flat tracker

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
Some builders search far and wide to find the perfect donor. But, sometimes, the right bike literally rolls through the door.

This BMW belonged to a 75-year-old Swiss gentleman who had just decided to hang up his helmet. So he took his R75/7 to his local dealer and asked them to sell it for him. That dealer just happened to be Stucki 2Rad—and the Beemer just happened to be perfekt for their VTR Customs division.

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
Shop boss Dani Weidmann had been itching to build a flat track-inspired airhead—and the BMW fit the bill perfectly. “I hope the gentleman doesn’t read the custom magazines, though,” he says devilishly, “because we promised him we’d treat his lady with respect!”

Dani quickly drew up a to-do list for his idea of a super-clean tracker: “A very small and ultra-slim gas tank, number plates and flat track handelbars. And everything which was not absolutely necessary stripped away.”

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
VTR Customs got the ball rolling with a beat-up old Kawasaki KH125 gas tank, found on eBay. They repaired it, reworked it to fit the BMW’s frame, and then built in a cute little fuel gauge at the back end. Then they added a flush, pop-up gas cap (originally intended for a Harley) to finish it off.

The subframe’s been drastically reworked and capped off with a hand-made alloy tail section, complete with a tidy LED tail light embedded out back. There’s a modest seat up top, upholstered by Yves Knobel in a stunning mix of leather and perforated suede.

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
Up front is a custom number plate, kitted with a pair of headlights to keep things street legal. Dani wanted the cockpit as uncluttered as possible, so the guys ditched all the stock bits. A Tommaselli throttle, Magura brake master cylinder and Motogadget switches are all hooked up to a set of flat track bars from BratStyle.

There’s also a tiny Motogadget Motoscope Mini speedo tucked behind the number board, and a couple of discreet warning lights mounted in the top triple clamp.

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
VTR rewired the whole bike too, mostly to simplify the wiring and hide it away as much as possible. It takes a fair bit of ogling to appreciate just how pared down everythig is, and how tastefully it’s been executed. (Note details like the colored spark plug wires, and how they’re bundled with the throttle cables and fuel lines).

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
On the engine side, VTR stripped, inspected and serviced everything, but resisted the urge to go overboard. “On the Willoughby 65 build we somehow ‘exploded’ the budget with engine modifications to the level that I had to sell my custom R nineT,” Dani tells us. “So we decided to play it cool, since we need to build this one for the selling market.”

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
The airbox is gone though, replaced by a blank-off cover and a pair of K&N filters. And—in true flat track style—there’s a custom two-into-two exhaust system running along the right side of the build. It’s not street legal in Switzerland, but Dani says they’ll sell the bike with an approved system from Hattech, just in case the new owner wants to play it safe.

Other upgrades include a pair of Öhlins rear shocks, and new dirt track rubber from Dunlop. And then there’s the paint: a handsome burgundy livery offset with ivory white and silver. “Obviously we are into classic British colors at the moment,” quips Dani. Freuler in Benken handled the paint, with Johanna Vogelsang applying the lettering and lines by hand.

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
All that was left to do was christen the BMW. The last time VTR built a flat tracker, it was a Yamaha XS650 that they dubbed ‘Flat Head.’ So they’ve given this one a literal translation to ‘Flachkopf 7’—a nod to its German heritage, and its ‘/7’ designation.

We’re not sure how the original elderly owner would feel about this. But we’re certainly digging it.

A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.
Flachkopf 7 is for sale, so it’ll find a new home soon. Hopefully a long, long way away from the previous owner’s residence…

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A super skinny BMW flat tracker by VTR Customs of Switzerland.