Paolo “Tex” Tesio is an Italian car designer who got started with his career in 1995 and has always shown a taste for high performance motorbikes. Today we are going to talk about his Ms4R concept, a project that rose from the ashes of a previous 2004 concept code-named S2-Braida that entered a Ducati design competition a few years back. When Mr. Tesio replaced hid old Ducati Monster (still with carburettors) with a ‘03 S4R, he felt that something has to be done in order to update the old model, that became irreparably ‘old’ as soon as the new one came out.

First off, it had to lose weight and become more ‘compact’, more streamlined and more aggressive too, as it also had to live up to its menacing name. So enter the QD ex-Box exhaust system, a small underbelly end-can which freed the tail of the model from its standard and bulky mufflers and gave it a decidedly more modern outlook. The obsolete head lamp of the original model had to go as well in favour of one lifted from the Ducati MH 900, smaller and more modern, which got embedded closer to the body in between the forks. The instrumentation cluster moves closer to the yoke, while the handlebars got replaced as well.

However, the real icing on the cake here is that pair of fork covers: designed to not interfere with the actual work of the front suspension, these original covers (sporting the glorious Ducati logo of the 80s) provide the model with an extra oomph that surely set the MS4R apart from most Monster’s renditions out there. We think that this model is actually quite fascinating, and Tex says that if the response will be good enough, he might actually put this kit into production. To find out more about this designer and his work, check his facebook page out.

View the full Ducati Monster MS4R by Paolo Tesio photo gallery

Ritmo Sereno is a pretty well known name in the Japanese custom scene, and its latest output is this fantastic rendition of the Moto Guzzi Ambassador. This bike is actually a follow-up to another special Guzzi racer they had put out a couple of years ago, but this new one is definitely more racer-looking than its predecessor, having lost basically all of its frills. And it does look the part.

The most dramatic change affected the rear section, which has been completely re-designed in order to make it as light as possible. The original sub-frame and mudguard are gone, replaced by an AMP Design frame with a saddle courtesy of Razzle-Dazzle. The tank was lifted from a Guzzi bike and then cut to make it sleeker.

The front fairing and lights have been replaced by a number plate which also makes for the protection of the digital instrumentation, while two cone-shaped black mufflers have appeared at the sides of the rear wheel. Its captivating paint-job has been applied by specialist Crown Stupid (yeah, you read that right). All the companies that contributed to this outstanding machine have also ’signed’ its tail, adding up to the exclusivity of this bike. Excellent job.

via | BikeExif

Unlike its bigger sisters - with larger displacement - the Honda CB 400 Four has never been a proper racer: always considered as the heir of 1972′ CB 350 F, this bike was introduced in 1975 to complete a line-up that included the more performing and captivating CB 750 Four (introduced in 1969) and CB 500 Four (introduced in 1971). Then there was the successor of the CB 350 (with no ‘F’), the CB400T, introduced in 1978, and that was by far the less performing bike of the lot. However, its 43 hp engine was also quite reliable, to the point it got used for many other models in the following years: it is not hard to find a perfectly working one around even these days.

A while ago the nice guys from Tampa-based Steel Bent Customs has found a CB400T, and surely they just knew what to do with it: they added the rear section of a CB650 as well as the front section of the CB550, two 4-cylider bikes. Then they did what was required to turn it into a proper cafe racer: they added ‘racing’ handlebars, an in-house built saddle and a typical 70s tail which conceals the electric system and wiring. Last but not least, they gave it a nice 2-into1 exhaust system courtesy of SBC.

The resulting motorcycle is the Honda CB400 cafe racer by Steel Bent Customs that we can admire in these pics, a really nice and sexy bike that boosts a very clean and simple design. This model is just the latest output from Steel Bent Customs, a company that clearly seems to have a taste for Honda’s mid-size bikes of the past. If you want to know more about their creations, check out their official website by clicking here.

View the full Honda CB400 cafe racer by Steel Bent Customs photo gallery

Today’s special bike has been created by German specialist Lars Justinger of Brauchi’s Bikes, and is based on a Kawasaki W650. According to its maker, this bike is neither a ‘cafe racer’ nor a ‘brat’, it is a “JagdBobber”, meaning a bike that uses the style and structure of a cafe racer but with clip-ons and fat, bobber-like wheels. What Mr.Justinger had in mind was to create a bike that looked like a crossbred between a Harley WL and a classic Norton/Triumph model, and to make his vision come true he opted for a Kawasaki W650, which he transformed in the motorcycle we can admire in these pictures.

The rear section has been made out of a Yamaha XS650SE fuel tank, while the actual tank of the ‘JagdBobber’ comes from a XS750. Mr.Justinger wanted its creature to look vintage, to have that sort of ‘used look’ that he thought was the most fitting for his baby, so he went for a rattlecan paint job and a pretty original Red Baron color scheme, which also includes a pair of Maltese crosses on the tail.

Talking about the rear section again, we really liked the LED strip that makes for the bike’s tail light. Nice touch indeed. Red handles, low wing mirrors and the number plate holder placed on the side complete the outstanding look of this masterpiece. To find out more about Mr.Justinger’s work, check out the pretty interesting Brauchi’s Bikes blog.

via | Pipeburn

The motorcycle featured in these pictures is a special bike based on a 2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight 1200, and is the brainchild of Mr.Winston Yeh, the creative mastermind behind Tapei-based studio Rough Crafts. The sophisticated Taiwanese design house is specialized in custom motorcycles, but its work can be appreciated in other fields as well, like furniture, graphics and street art.

However, when it comes to custom bikes, these guys just know how to create proper ‘motorcycle art’, and this awesome Sportster Bomb Runner is yet another shining example of their craftsmanship. The model is supposed to be a ’sequel’ to Rough Crafts’s own ‘Iron Guerrilla’, a successful ‘all-black’ special bike they made in 2010 out of a 2009 H-D Sportster Iron 883. As in its predecessor’s case, the ‘Bomb Runner’ is not a disruption of the design of the bike it is based upon, it is more like a menacing and dark fine-tuning of an already brilliant bike.

The tail has been lifted up a little bit thanks to a couple of longer shock-absorbers, that also make room for its original 2-into-1 exhaust system on the right side. The standard tank, front mudguard, yoke and engine casing have been replaced with beautiful new parts made by Rough Crafts itself, all of which coated in a contrasting, classy matt/shiny black paint job. The rims have been supplied by Roland Sands Design (with the mandatory Black Ops finishing) while brakes come from Performance Machine. More details about this model can be found at the official Rough Crafts website.

View the full The Bomb Runner by Rough Crafts photo gallery

The BMW R100 RS is a nice tourer that the Bavarian manufacturer produced between 1976 and 1984. It was powered by the 70 hp variant of the reliable 980 cc air-cooled boxer engine that was equipping many models of the German maker of that period, and it almost goes without saying that any good customizer could easily turn this tourer in any sort of bike he could think of. Mr. Karles Vives from Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles knows that only too well: the Barcelona-based specialist wanted to make a proper ‘tracker’ out of it, and we think he got that just right as the bike he has come up with is a proper stunner.

This is actually the second time that Mr.Vives put his hands on a BMW R100 RS: the first time he did that he created the Fuel R100 ‘Scram’, a nice scrambler that surely looked the part, but this time around the man really outdid himself with the amazing Fuel R100 “Tracker”: he got rid of all the useless bits to make it as light as possible and added a few elements that are typical of the ‘tracker’ style, and the result is simply astounding. The rear section have been completely re-designed as the frame got shortened and fitted with new parts specifically made for this model by English specialist VonZeti Cafe Racers Seats. The tank was lifted from a BMW R90/6 and modified to make it even slimmer, while large handlebars from Tommaselli and a round-shaped head-light complete the look of the model, which also boasts fretworked plates on the sides.

As for the engine, the original unit did not undergo any revolutionaty change: two K&N filters were added before the 40mm Bing carburettors, while the original exhaust system has been been modified to make it shorter and fitted with two cone-shaped mufflers that look pretty loose, in a good way. The suspension has been refined while the original rims now wear Dunlop K70 Vintage tyres. The electric system is placed in the battery compartment, where a more compact gel accumulator leaves enough room for the whole wiring. A masterpiece in its own right.

via | Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles

Roland Sands, former racer from California, is another one of those well-known names in the custom bikes business. Son of Performance Machine’s founders Perry & Nancy Sands (a well known supplier of custom parts such as wheels, brakes and other accessories) Roland has been a professional racer for 10 years, clinching the AMA 250 GP title in 1998. After a crash left him with no less than 32 broken bones, Mr.Sands left racing to start a new life as a designer of custom parts for Performance Machine as well as building up his own custom motorcycles. His past in the racing world surely had a big influence on Mr.Sands style, and his original creations went on earning him quite a few prestigious awards in the business. The outstanding success led to the birth of his own design company, the notorious RSD (Roland Sands Design), based in Los Alamitos, a small city in Orange County, California.

Just like his buddy Marcus Walz, lately Mr.Sands has been involved in a couple of projects that we were more than happy to warn you about, namely the Yamaha VMAX Hyper Modified series and the unbelievable Desmo Tracker (a dirt track bike powered by the terrifying Desmosedici RR’s 197 hp engine), and, in the same fashion as his German mate, he’s just come out with a new masterpiece based on the forms of his first love: Harley-Davidson. However, this is no ordinary customization as you can never take anything for granted when Mr.Sands is involved. The challenge was to take a 300 kg Softail Blackline and turn it into some sort of dirt-bike that would be totally at ease off-road, and the result is the awesome Blackline Dirt Tracker.

In order to keep the weight as low as possible, Roland got rid of all the frills and unnecessary parts, replacing many original bits with special PM and RSD components. The original fuel tank managed to survive the slashing, but it now has a classy and exclusive RSD Tracker cap and got painted according to a new matt black/shiny white color scheme (with green inserts) created by its maker and turned into reality by renowned specialist Chris Wood from AirTrix. The model uses a Nightster head-light at the front and new tail-light and plate holder from RSD. Find out more about the Blackline Dirt Tracker after the jump.

View the full Softail Blackline Dirt Tracker by Roland Sands photo gallery

The original instrument cluster is mounted on a RSD Cafè XL support, while handelbars are fixed on 1,5” risers and uses Avenger levers and Tracker handles provided again by RSD. The Azteca leather saddle is somewhat reminiscent of the the old H-D WR 750 racer, which used to battle against the Indian Scout in the good old days of dirt racing. Footpegs are from Performance Machine while at the back we have a light RSD Narrowed Vintage mudgard linked to the swing arm.

Most components are Black Ops, which seems to be be quite fashionable these days. The engine uses RSD Clarity and Nostalgia casings and comes with a Clarity air filter, Tracker exhaust system and Fuelpack FI ECU (both of which courtesy of Vance & Hines) and, given its off-road attitude, a skid plate. Obviously, Mr.Sands had to add some spring at the rear that was up for the task, picking up the Progressive 422.

Other highlights of the model include 19″ Judge rims fitted with Goodyear race flat track tires D3616 CD5 front at the front and D1637 CD8 at the rear, RSD brakes with 6-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston calpers at the back by PM. In a nutshell, this bike is yet another masterpiece from Ronald, which surely was the right guy to test it too: the guy you see jumping around on the Balckline Dirt Tracker in this photo gallery is in fact its maker himself. Great job.

Most people tend to believe that special bikes have a pretty ‘quiet life’: rarely out for a spin in the weekend, they just show up at some motorcycle event every now and then and spend most of the time collecting dust while on display in some fancy garage somewhere. Well, that’s surely not the case of the one we are going to talk about today: the Wrenchmonkees have designed and created this awesome machine to take on the not-so-comfy roads of the Maghreb region, in Morocco, and we are told it is totally up for the task. Apparently it all got started when one Mr.Thierry, from Mauritania, wrote a letter asking for a simple and yet reliable bike, that would be easy to maintain too (since they haven’t got that many workshops over there..).

It didn’t take long to the WM guys to figure out what to do, they went for the most obvious solution: an old two-valves BMW twin. Why? Because it is sturdy, reliable and suitable for the occasional off road trip. Hence they got themselves a R100RT and turned it into the awesome machine you can see in these pictures. They shortened the rear part of the frame and replaced the original rims with old-fashioned 18″ spoked wheels. Then, in order to make the bike capable of making it through the sandy hills of the desert, they added a new special fork and rear shocks courtesy of Bitubo. Engine and carburettors got completely revised and served with K&N air filters and a bigger oil cooler.

This revamped R100RT also received brand new wiring, a heavy duty Odyssey battery as well as new head- and tail-light, while the tank has been replaced with an old BMW6 one, that gives the bike a sleeker and more ‘old-school’ figure. Gaskets and bearings got replaced too, while the footpegs are from Tarozzi. What was once an heavy and majestic colossus has turned into an light, agile and functional motorcycle that is not scared of climbing the dunes of the Sahara desert. Surely this special babe ain’t your typical show-bike.

via | BikeExif

Right before coming out with the excellent “Mastino“, the guys from Emporio Elaborazioni had turned their attention to one of the most iconic bikes of the 80s, the Yamaha XJ600. The team led by Mr.Andrea “Dopz“ managed to put their hands on a 1984 model and transformed it into this wonderful cafe racer, re-dubbed “Striscianera” (Black Stripe in Italian).

The heartbeat of this beautiful machine comes from the original Yamaha Dohc engine: a 599 cc, 4-stroke, water-cooled in-line four unit with 2 valves per cylinder and a 6-speed gearbox. The guys from Emporio Elaborazione got rid of all the useless plastic bits (so typical of that decade) and put the bike on a serious diet, which led to a weight loss of 35 kg.

Stripped of its mudguards and fairings and with the rear part of the frame gone out of the window, the bike must have looked like a white canvas for the EE boys: they welded different new parts to the frame, placed an elegant fibreglass tank on the top with a classy ERGAL (Extra Refined Grain ALuminum) gas cap on the side, simplified the electric wiring, removed the air box, added a new saddle and painted the whole thing red and black, with the ignition lock now placed on the side as well. It took them just 3 months to get the job done, and we have to say that the resulting bike really is an eye candy.

Today we would like to introduce a special bike that has been created by tyre maker Continental in cooperation with two ‘big names’ of the scene: BMW’s aftermarket specialist Wunderlich (which is also responsable for the Piranha kit) and renowned French designer Nicolas Petit. The model is called Wunderlich S1000 RR “Mad Max” and - as the name unmistakably suggests - is a special rendition of the awesome BMW S1000RR inspired by the classic Mad Max sci-fi movie trilogy of the late 70s-early 80s, starring a very young Mel Gibson.

The German Superbike got stripped of its original front fairing and handlebars and turned into a super aggressive off-roader, as those manacing Continental TKC 80 enduro tyres (120/70 B17 at the front and 180/55 B17 at the rear) clearly emphasize. The model also uses Ohlins suspension, Magura handlebars, Moto-Master discs and an aluminum exhaust system courtesy of Ramus, which got it tested during the last IDM superbike Championship.

The Wunderlich S1000 RR “Mad Max” uses an interesting matt black with golden inserts color scheme that surely adds up to the futuristic look of the model, and is also a perfect match to its undeniably aggressive attitude. Besides, there seems to be quite a few stickers around providing humourous safety warnings as well as usefull indications about its secret weapons. Maybe the time is right for a fourth Mad Max movie.

View the full Wunderlich S1000RR Mad Max photo gallery

via | Petit-Creation e Wunderlich

Rome-based company Emporio Elaborazioni introduces the “Mastino” (”Mastiff” in Italian), its new cafe racer based on a Yamaha XJR 1200. In order to obtain the sort of special cafe racer they had in mind out of the big XJR, the first thing they had to do was to reduce the overall weight of the bike, and so they got rid of everything that wasn’t really necessary, fine-tuning the remaining parts (namely engine and carburettors).

Then they added a few bits that were functional to their idea of a light, athletic and extreme cafe racer: enter the new fork, the Ohlins double rear shock, a 4-into-1 exhaust system courtesy of Vance & Hanes with Megaton end can. Yoke and lights are hand-made, the saddle comes from a Norton Manx, but the real masterpiece here is the fuel tank: it has been lifted from a Ducati Imola and boasts a see-through stripe on the side that allows the rider to check how much petrol is left into it. The unusual choice of colors adds up to the exclusivity of this bike, which also features a space in the saddle to accommodate a little whiskey bottle. Aesthetically speaking, it really is an eye candy.

Emporio Elaborazioni, or EE, is basically made of three friends that share the same passion for customized bikes, hence Cafe Racer, Scrambler, Dirties, Special and everything in between. Their production so far has been really interesting and we expect to see more specials like the Mastino to come out of their workshop. If you want to know more about this company, check out their official website.

View the full Mastino by Emporio Elaborazioni photo gallery

We have never seen a customized Moto Guzzi Stelvio before, but Mr. Filippo Barbacane and the other people at Officine Rossopuro went a little further than that, transfroming the massive adventure tourer from the Italian manufacturer into this aggressive supermoto bike, renamed ‘Motard One‘. If we didn’t know, we surely wouldn’t have guessed it.

The Motard One is powered by the famous ‘Big Bore’, a 90° V-twin engine with two valves per cylinder whose displacement was brought up to 1420cc by Italian factory Millepercento. The engine now weights only 62kg, produces 140 hp and uses a new radiator and a new exhaust system hand-made by Officine Rossopuro’s main man Filippo Barbacane himself.

The bike braking system was upgraded using selected Brembo’s components, the fork is a brilliant 50mm Marzocchi, rims comes from Marchesini and on the rear it boasts Extreme Tech racing suspension. The whole rear end has been heavily modified and now featrues a small tail with beautiful hand-made finishing. Although it is hard to detect Stelvio’s somatic traits in the Motard One, we are sure that if such a model would be featured in Moto Guzzi’s official catalogue, many people would seriously consider buying one.

via | BikeExif.com

View the full Officine Rossopuro’s Motard One photo gallery