The Suzuki GSX-R has been in production for almost 40 years, but the first-generation bike is still a banger. The round headlights, slabby bodywork and 80s color scheme look as good now as they did then. As far as we’re concerned, it’s ripe for customization.
Victor Wilkens of Seattle, Washington shares this sentiment, so he’s gone all-out with his 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750. This retro superbike wears a slew of mods—including an engine swap and an appropriately bonkers livery.
“I have this habit where I buy cheap bikes to commute with and then I tinker, buy new parts and keep tinkering,” explains Victor. “Rinse, repeat, and the bike quickly transcends into a precious artifact. A couple of years ago I fell into this trap again and built this.”…
Takashi Nihira has won awards and taken commissions from major OEMs. But the man behind Tokyo’s Wedge Motorcycle also knows how to tone it down, when the brief calls for it. And whether he’s building an all-out showpiece, or a humble commuter like this tidy Yamaha SR400, his work always shines.
With factory-level finishes and a stance adjustment, this SR400 feels more like a restomod than a full-on custom job. But the magic lies in its subtlety. There’s no one big centerpiece here—instead, Nihira-san has treated the Yamaha to a flurry of well-judged tweaks.
Its low-slung and compact nature is a direct answer to the client’s needs. “The owner of the bike is a woman, and it’s her first bike,” explains Takashi.…
Walt Siegl has built everything from 50s era Harley panheads to modern KTM enduros. But if there’s one thing his New Hampshire-based shop is known for over anything else, it’s custom Ducatis. Specifically, his vintage-inspired Ducati Leggero builds.
Ducati Leggeros are emblematic to the Walt Siegl Motorcycles brand. They are equal parts form and function, design and execution, modern performance and vintage sex appeal.
Every new Ducati Leggero that emerges from the WSM garage shares a common and unmistakable design thread, yet historically each new build has been distinct from any that came before it. This year, however, Walt is trying something new.
“I have been working by myself for the last few years, which I enjoy,” he tells us, “but it stretches the waiting list for my bikes to at least two years out.…
