Skip to main content

5 custom motorcycles that will make you sweat: February 2014

Honda baby blue feature
Image used with permission by copyright holder
A half-foot of snow blankets the world outside my window, with another half-foot plummeting from the sky. Gentlemen, it is officially the dead of winter. What better time to launch The Manual’s new monthly celebration of fantasy-inducing custom motorcycles? Kicking off this month’s collection are some finely crafted street machines that can make a man weak in the knees, from a stripped-down vintage Honda CB750 to a blazing Ducati 999S captured from the wilds of the track. Just be warned: exposure to bikes this cool could make you drop everything and head for warmer ground.

scrambler-motorcycle-2

Yamaha SR500: “KRAD XX1”

Don’t let the relatively small, 500cc displacement of the Yamaha SR500 fool you – this thing is a beast. Packing a single-cylinder “thumper” motor, this 1980 scrambler-style looker is the first custom bike build from Germany-based Scramblers Motorcycles. Everything that could be removed has been, with some custom frame work, a K&N air filter and engine breaker, and hand-selected turn signals and custom seat added for good measure. If you want nothing but you, the bike, and the road, the KRAD XX1 could be the ideal machine.

See more at BikeEXIF.

Harley-Davidson-Indian-740x1110

Harley-Davidson XL 883: “Nadia”

American-made Harley-Davidsons have fallen out of favor with custom bike builders in the US, replaced instead with vintage Japanese and British bikes. But India-based custom bike studio TJ Moto proves we’ve been missing out by overlooking ol’ HD. TJ Moto’s first build, named “Nadia,” is built from a stock Harley-Davidson XL 883, and features a unique custom frame, mono-shock seat, hand-crafted brass tank caps, and a leather-strapped gas tank that gives a dose old-school ruggedness to this modern brute.

See more at Pipe Burn.

DSC_0064

Honda CB750: “Baby Blue”

Crafted by bike builder Brady Young and custom bike shop Seaweed & Gravel, this ’73 Honda CB750 cafe racer, dubbed “Baby Blue,” features inverted forks, modern disk brakes, custom heat-wrapped exhaust, and an airy, naked frame that gives it the clean lines these vintage bikes are meant to have. With a bike this pretty, you’ll have a hard time beating back the gawking crowds.

See more at Seaweed & Gravel.

Ducati 999VX

Ducati 999S Testastretta: “999VX”

Speed, pure and simple. That is the essence of the “999VX” custom from New York builder Stefano Venier. Based on the Ducati 999S Testastretta, this powerhouse was converted from a track racer to a street destroyer capable of pumping out 150 horsepower thanks to some key high-end upgrades, which include an STM clutch, Discacciati levers, and more. This stallion is so mean, you might be afraid to ride it.

See more at Venier Customs.

bc-dirt-bike-web-9212

Triumph Scrambler 900: “The Dirt Bike”

Like an apparition straight from the set of Steve McQueen’s The Great Escape, this 2012 Triumph Scrambler 900 build comes from British Customs, and just might be my favorite bike on the list. Fitted with flat track wheels and Continental TCXII 80 tires, a low-slung 2-into-1 exhaust, and some secret performance upgrades, this modern-turned-vintage build lives up to its name: “The Dirt Bike.”

See more at British Customs.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
You may be happier if you move to Europe, but you won’t make more money
A new report shows how some of the happiest countries in the world have maintained better work-life balance
a photo of a boat in finland

If a genie offered you only one wish rather than the usual three would you choose money or happiness?

Depending on your choice, it may be time to move out of the U.S. New research from William Russell, an insurance company, reveals that the United States tops the list of highest-paying countries. Americans take home an average salary of $74,738, thumping second-place Denmark, where people make an average of $62,054. The Netherlands ($61,734), Belgium ($59,601), and Austria ($58,139) rounded out the top five.

Read more
Study: We finally know why doing good things makes you feel good, too
Scientists cracked the code on why good deeds give us an emotional boost. Here's what to know.
a person cleaning a beach

If you’re looking for how to be happy, consider doing a good deed.

Think about it: Have you ever volunteered to walk dogs at an animal shelter or taken a pal to a doctor’s appointment? You may have felt good inside. Your good deed may have come at the expense of you binge-watching The Crown in one sitting. Helping others is a time commitment. However — even with all the bad news going around — it’s one many people embrace and feel is rewarding. 

Read more
Vrbo’s top 5 fan caves for college football fans are making us nostalgic
Get into the spirit with homes designed for superfans
University of Oregon Vrbo bedroom.

Nothing says post-pandemic college football season for college football fans more than hitting the road to catch favorite college football teams. Vrbo is on board, recently revealing the best fan caves — unique vacation rentals that immerse superfans in team spirit and lore.

Appetites for sports travel are booming, according to Vrbo. In a recent news release, the travel rental company revealed that its demand for vacation homes across the country has more than doubled in several major college towns since 2019. For fans who travel in packs, Vrbo collated this data to compile a list of popular private vacation homes that scream school spirit. Whether it’s the B1G or the SEC, the Big 12 or the Pac-12 or any other conference country, these Vrbos are ideal for families or groups of friends who root together and use them as a home base on game weekends.

Read more