This beautiful creation was built by an Italian shop based in Rome called Emporio Elaborazioni (EE). It was started by a graphic designer, a mechanic and a silversmith who all shared a love of custom motorcycles. This brutal bike is nicknamed the 'Mastino' or Mastiff after the breed of large, powerful and rather stocky pedigree dogs. When you look at the stance of this short, mean and muscular café racer you realise the name couldn't be more fitting if it tried. We always thought the powerful and naked XJR 1200 would be a great contender for a modern café racer, but we had no idea it could look this good - trust the Italians to teach us a lesson in style. Here's how Andrea from EE describes their project:
If you've ever studied art (yes, yes - but I'm all better now) you'll know that history's best artists often hit a sweet spot in their career where they just can't seem to do any wrong. It's like the planets have aligned for them and they have some sort of sixth sense about what makes a masterpiece and what doesn't. Picasso had his blue period. Monet had his water lilies. Coop had that series of pictures with the hella sexy nudie devil girls. Oh, hang on; that's all his work. Anyhoos, we're beginning to think that Arizona's DP customs has reached their own particular acme of perfection. It seems that every bike they have completed of late is somehow from a collection of work yet each one is a superb example of the custom bike art form. We are not worthy.
]]>Video: Cafe Racer TV Season Three Previewhttp://www.pipeburn.com/home/2012/2/4/video-cafe-racer-tv-season-three-preview.htmlAndrew2012-02-04T09:41:32Z2012-02-04T09:41:32Z
When we first heard about Cafe Racer TV we were more than a little scared. After train wrecks like American Chopper where the producers seem to be more interested in creating a bitch-fest soap opera than a show for real bike fans, we were all but convinced that this would be following the same route. All cafe and no racer, to coin a phrase. But oh how wrong we were. As those of you that have caught an episode or two will know, it's a solid show with a decent balance of eye-candy, tech, and talk that will keep you more than interested over the length of an episode. So we were quite chuffed when Jason from Dime City Cycles (who have been featured previously in the series and are the guys who distribute the DVDs and official Cafe Racer TV merch) shot us over an exclusive sneak peak of the third season. We asked him why we should tune in.
"I think Cafe Racer TV is great because there's something for everyone in every episode. More importantly though it's focusing a great deal on DIY culture, which is largely becoming extinct in our over-communicated-latte-infused world of fancy packaging and bolt-on products that will supposedly make you faster, cooler and more popular with the ladies. Granted, there has to be a little glitz, otherwise the networks wouldn't air it, but in end the crew of Cafe Racer TV are honest to God motorcycle guys who understand the importance of the culture they're purveying.
And if you asking me, which you are, anything that promotes making something with your own two hands vs. running down to Wally Word to buy a cheap Chinese version of what you could produce of your own accord with a little time and effort is good in my book. Kick-ass motorcycles, history and an insight into the future of where garage builder culture is going, that's just a bonus in my mind."
]]>One Motorcyle Show - 21 Helmetshttp://www.pipeburn.com/home/2012/2/2/one-motorcyle-show-21-helmets.htmlScott2012-02-02T07:00:43Z2012-02-02T07:00:43Z
Here's something a little bit left of field. Thor Drake from See See motorcycles has organised a 'helmet art show' which is part of the upcoming One Motorcycle Show in Portland. The free event will be on February 10th - 11th and if it's anything like previous years then there'll be loads of outstanding rides to gawk at as well. On the helmet side of things, it's a concept named '21 Helmets' and is pretty simple, 21 artists paint 21 different Bell 500 helmets. Below is a selection of some of the lids that are part of the exhibition plus a sweet little video Thor put together to promote the event. So if you're in the Portland area around those times, you'd be off your head to miss this one.
Every time we post a bike, Scott and I sweat over a good "angle" to open the piece with. Something unique about the bike that will grab a reader's attention and help them get into the story. Sometimes it's to do with the owner's job or a neat little ditty about the bike itself; where it was found or maybe something to do with a tasteless mod a previous owner had done. Most of the time it's pretty slim pickings, whether it's lack of time on our behalf or stories that just aren't that wacky we often end up pulling stuff out of some pretty damn thin air. Then there's bikes like Tyler Mill's Honda VTR. This bike has more angles than a cubist painting; it killed its first owner when only a few days old. Then it was repaired and ridden by Honda salesmen. Then it was customised in what I can only describe as a "zombie killer" style. Then it was plumbed with nitrous. If you told us aliens had done a burnout on it while riding it across Roswell with a young JFK looking on in a giant octopus costume, we'd just about believe you. Hello Christine you strange, strange woman.
Harley-Davidson motorcycles. You either love them or hate them. They may have a reputation for poor build quality but let's leave that debate at the door for a moment. Why? Because when it comes down to it, when they are done right these bikes can make you want to trade in your Japanese metal for some good ol' American iron and to hell with the consequences. Like this clean Sportster, built by Cory from Maindrive Cycles in Texas, USA. Corey specializes in Harley's but the last bike he built for the same client Andy Hines was a Kawasaki KZ400. So when Andy approached him to turn his Sportster into something a bit more bespoke, Corey was much more at home this time around. Even though he had never worked on a Sportster before. Over to Cory for the whole build story.
Here's one bike we've been dreaming about what seems like ages now. After the sweet success of his first bike, we were kind of wondering just where he'd go after such a tasty treat. The answer? Open your eyes you crazy, inattentive blog viewer you, because it's right in front of you - for this magical monotone magnificence is the second bike from Mister D and his California-based Sportsman Flyer Company. Now if you liked the last bike, prepare to have your mind totally bent, just like some chocolate-loving freak who's just been locked in a Swiss sweet shop overnight after spending his life entire thinking that Hersheys was the top-shelf stuff. Just shout when you want to be let out; until then here's Flyer's own Pat "Wonker" Dolan.
This beautifully shot vid was sent to us the other day by the Zenga Bros, who are the director brothers behind this great little story. It's essentially about a motorcycle repair shop in Vancouver called Motomethod who are trying a different business model – which seems to be working. Motomethod call themselves a 'community motorcycle repair shop', which means you can rent a bay and work on your bike, use their tools and even get help and advice from the mechanics. They charge around $100 a year for a membership, which seems pretty reasonable when you think a mechanic can charge that per hour to fix your bike. If you don't want to do it yourself, they're also a full blown motorcycle repair shop, and will work on pretty much any kind of motorcycle. The idea came about when Paul Malowany and Simon Travers decided they wanted to fulfill their dream of owning a motorcycle repair shop. With limited startup funds, the duo pretty much begged, borrowed and stole the equipment needed to make it happen. Their idea seems to be paying off and has sparked a lot of interest in the local Vancouver community. The Motomethod clientele couldn't be more diverse, ranging from 16-year-olds to seniors, including some veterans and even some grandmothers. With space in big cities costing so much coin these days, we think this could work in many places. What do you think, would it work in your home town?
It's funny how some types of bikes just get under your skin. And I know I speak for both Scott and myself when I say that Honda Goldwings are definitely one of them. Along with the CX500s, Goldwings seem to be dripping with that inexplicable coolness that gives any custom build a killer cool factor even before the first spanner has even touched the WD-40 drenched rusty bolt. But what exactly is it? I'm not really sure - but Jah knows the flat four, solid silhouette and chunky build don't hurt. And the in-tank beer storage compartment? Japanese genius. I can see Honda-san sinking a few tininess with the designers after hours and giving them a well earnt slap on the back in between burn-outs and practical jokes involving no-pants-sushi-balancing races. Richard "Sunnbobb" Matrass is similarly down with this whole Goldwing thing. Despite a bad first date, it was still love at first sight. And the marriage? Well just look at these shots and take a read of what Richard has to say...
]]>Poll - Cafe Racers And Track Days. Yes or No?http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2012/1/17/poll-cafe-racers-and-track-days-yes-or-no.htmlAndrew2012-01-17T09:57:07Z2012-01-17T09:57:07Z
The image above shows the everbold Mark Hawwa, supreme ruler of our good mates at Sydney Cafe Racers, doing something that kinda blew my mind. Extraordinarily, he took his beautificient SR to Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway for a track day. A cafe racer. On a race track. Crazy. But it got my mind wheels a turnin'. Do cafes really belong on a track? Aren't they specifically a public road beastie? Sure, they were inspired by racing bikes but they were never intended to actually race on a track, were they? Or is it more a long-lost son returning to his true home? Oh, how my motorcycling mind spins! So what do you guys think? Do cafes belong on-track?
