Speed Read, August 14, 2022
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We kick things off with a tasteful Honda CB350 from 2LOUD Custom in Taiwan. Then we take a look at Can-Am’s new electric motorcycle concepts, three retro Kawasaki kits from Japan, and a Honda CBR1000RR-powered BASE jumping bike. Yes, really.
Honda CB350 by 2LOUD Custom I used to have a boss that said that when clients were low on budget, we should skimp on quantity, but never quality. This Honda CB350 from 2LOUD reminds me of that philosophy. Made for a client on a limited budget, it’s more restrained than what we know the Taiwanese shop is capable of—but it’s still a top-shelf build.
The bike belongs to a young dad that wants to take his kid along on rides, so the petite CB350 was the perfect donor.…
A few years ago, a café racer was usually a classic bike, modified with sleeker bodywork, a tuned engine, and a stubby solo seat. If you had a mental picture, it was most likely a 1970s Honda CB or a 1980s BMW airhead.
But as the mainstream factories dress up their bikes with fairings and clip-ons, many builders are moving on and ditching the classic vibe. They’re turning towards more modern machines—and blurring the lines of what a cafe racer should be.
This slick Ducati Monster 600 from England typifies the change. The café racer ethos is still there, but the retro aspect is dialed down.
Called ‘Ghost,’ this machine comes from Manchester-based builder Antony Ruggiero, a man who’s comfortable with a grinder in one hand and an iPad in the other.…
Commissioned builds are the lifeblood of any successful custom motorcycle businesses, but so is a strong portfolio. So it’s not unusual for a workshop to occasionally close their order book for a minute, and pour all their energy into building a showpiece. It’s a chance to show off the full spectrum of their talent and skill—without a brief or budget to rein them in.
This Moto Guzzi 1000 SP is one such build. On the surface, it’s a glossy café racer with a flawless stance. But the more you stare at it, the more you realize just how heavily this late-70s tourer has been customized.
It’s the work of Massimo Rinchiuso, who runs Fuchs Workshop in the colorful city of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy.…
