Written by Martin Hodgson

Being a one-hit-wonder has plagued many an artist and turned others into a punchline or answer in a quiz show. But having come out swinging with plenty of popularity on his first major success, Spencer of Parr Motorcycles was determined his second single would be just as strong. So with his foundations set, he’s back with an all-new spin on the versatile Suzuki DR650. Taking a 2012 model and turning it into the ultimate urban scrambler, tame or terrifying, it’s just a matter of how far you turn the throttle.

Written by Martin Hodgson

The 80s is known for many fashion trends, plenty worth forgetting but according to new research it was the decade of bright primary colours; think Pac-Man, the MTV Logo and BMX Bandits. Suzuki’s design division was all over it with the blue and yellow expanding across the range and the brightness turned up to 10. It’s a look that Spencer of Parr Motorcycles has always loved and he’s gone full nostalgia with a build he calls ‘Retro-Moto’. From a 2003 Suzuki DR650 he’s crafted a stripped down, modern Supermoto, that wears the classic RM uniform.

It’s the unwritten rule of all sheds. For every few complete bikes you stash in them, you also should have one that’s been completely disassembled and stuffed into old cardboard boxes. Which is exactly how New Zealand mechanical engineer Mike Dodd first found this Suzuki DR650…

The name Atelier has been floating around the custom bike scene for the last few years, usually in reference to our brilliant German friends from Diamond Atelier. But the word is French for a workshop or studio where a master craftsman plies his trade in private, away from the gazing eyes of the public. Le French Atelier is just such a place and where else could they be located than in the city of the Louvre, Paris. Now the three young artists behind the name are ready to unveil their latest chef-d’oeuvre. A radical cafe racer that’s back to the future, it’s a 1992 Suzuki DR650 more than capable of 88mph.

Peanut butter and jelly. Moustaches and cops. Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash. When it comes to weird combinations that somehow manage to kick arse, it seems the world has a never-ending supply. Avocado and Vegemite on toast, anyone? No, seriously. It’s amazing. But it’s not often you see the same sort of unexpected genius happening in the world of custom motorcycles. Hell, we can’t think of a new bike genre since Go Takamine invented Brat style. That is until now. So here is Perth’s James Alkins and his revelatory cafe scrambler cross pollination. Genius? Madness? We’ve made up our minds, now you be the judge.

You can tell a lot about a country by what motorcycle marque the police ride. The German Polizei obviously hit the autobahn on BMW’s. The Italian Polizia stylishly chase down the mafia on their Guzzi’s. But when it comes to Colombia, the police ride the reliable dual sport Suzuki DR650 – it probably says a lot about Colombia’s mix of city and country roads. So when the guys at Garaje57 got their greasy hands on a DR650 police bike they wanted to do something completely different with it. The Pasquale brothers have been building bikes for a few years and their Dad has been working more and more with them. So because it’s a family affair, they have decided to change their name from Garaje57 to Pasquale Motors. So this DR650 is the first build under Pasquale Motors and they’ve given this thumper the name ‘Mamba’ because the pipe resembles the snake of the same name.

It’ll come as no surprise to regular readers that we sometimes feature bikes that incorporate elements from other subcultures. Be it surfing, camping, or in today’s case skating, some of the most inspiring and original builds we’ve seen happen when two unexpected yet cool pastimes collide. In the past, we’ve seen bikes with boards attached to them, seats built on decks and even chain tensioners made from their wheels. But we think it’s fair to say that today’s Suzuki takes it to a whole new level, or ramp, as the case may be. So please get righteously gnarly for Portugal’s Yellowood and their DR650 ‘Skate Goat’.