Latest news with #custombikes
Top Gear
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Check out these seven incredible custom Royal Enfield bikes
Check out these seven incredible custom Royal Enfield bikes Royal Enfield's Custom World series returns with some seriously wacky creations Skip 7 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 7 Royal Enfield reckons it makes 'the most custom friendly motorcycles in the world', and TG certainly wouldn't disagree having already built a bespoke Continental GT650 with a paint job inspired by Alexander Calder's BMW 3.0 CSL Le Mans art car. Safe to say our interest was piqued when Royal Enfield picked seven more custom bikes to display at the Bike Shed Moto Show London recently, then. And yes, they are all excellent. Advertisement - Page continues below No doubt you're drawn to The Kingsman first. The super streamlined Royal Enfield Shotgun is now nearly four metres long and was built by Dirk Oehlerking of Kingston Custom. Phoenix, built by Putu Ajus Mulyawarman of AMS Garage in Bali, is similarly dramatic. Underneath it's a Super Meteor 650, but it's been transformed into a lowrider with 'tribal style' bodywork made from exposed aluminium. Next up in the gallery above is Fury 650 by Fuel Motorcycles, who turned a Bear 650 into a proper off-road adventurer. Then you've got the supremely mean looking Samurai with its drag racing rear tyre and handmade frame by Takuya Aikawa. The SM450 Urban Guerrilla by Ryan Roadkill and Sticky's Speed Shop is inspired by the 1990s and BMX, Crusty Demons and skate videos, while The Great Frog is a Brit chopper built by Royal Enfield in collaboration with a jewellery and lifestyle company of the same name. Last but not least is Modern Primitive – built by Sideburn Magazine it's apparently one of the first custom builds that uses the new Guerrilla 450 as its base. Advertisement - Page continues below Which one's your favourite from this bunch? Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
New Harley Davidson is ‘elegant & brutal' with woven seats and stylish wheels – the back setup got a total makeover
A HARLEY-Davidson model, described as both elegant and brutal, has been revealed - complete with huge, stylish wheels. The V-twin racing street custom range was discontinued eight years ago, but since then, many riders have turned to custom builders to create their own unique machines that reflect the line in similar ways. 4 4 4 A particularly striking custom design from Spanish builder Lord Drake Kustoms - a Night Rod Special, which is a high-performance drag bike - stands out as one of the most impressive, featuring numerous cool modifications. The most noticeable change is the upgraded rear wheel, which was already large in stock form at 240mm but has now been expanded to the maximum legal size of 330mm. Indeed, the entire rear setup has been reworked, including a new swingarm and a transmission offset. The shock absorber spacers have also been updated, along with the Legend air suspension that allows the bike to be raised or lowered on demand. Lord Drake Kustoms fabricated many of the aftermarket elements in-house. These include the fenders over the wheels, the seat, and various body parts, while the rear fender also integrates an LED taillight. One of the few untouched components is the engine, which remains the stock Revolution motor that Harley-Davidson originally developed with Porsche. The engine delivers 120 horsepower but features a custom exhaust system. Aesthetically, the V-Rod is finished in matte black, gloss black, and gold. Its large seat features diamond-shaped stitching with gold thread and engraved escutcheons. The rear fender displays Roman numerals, the meaning of which is known only to the bike's owner, a customer from Mexico. Described as both 'elegant and brutal,' the bike's price remains a mystery. However, a used stock version can sell for anywhere between $6,000 and $16,000. It's been a big week for Harley-Davidson, who announced a major update after recent calls for the brand's CEO to lose his role. The US bike giant's second-largest investor was keen to see three directors, including boss Jochen Zeitz, ousted as part of a major reshuffle. However, in a closely contested board decision, Zeitz has kept his position in what was described as a 'razor-thin outcome" by Reuters. Zeitz, who has run the iconic firm since 2020, has been criticized in recent times for the company's declining sales and falling stock price. To that end, H Partners had been pushing for an external candidate to come in, but proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services said they failed to make "a compelling case for change". It's been hinted that Zeitz is to retire this year - but the German-born businessman has said he would stay until a replacement was found. Harley-Davidson closures in 2024 There are over 650 Harley-Davidson dealerships across America. However, multiple stores have closed for various reasons throughout 2024 - if they give any explanation at all. Below is a list of some Harley-Davidson locations that have shuttered this year and why they closed their doors: A San Francisco location closed in June 2024 after 110 years due to 'chaos' brought by new management. Miracle City Harley-Davidson in Titusville, Florida, closed in September 2024 with no reason given. Harley-Davidson's legacy location in New York City closed shop on September 28, 2024, with the owner citing problems with the economy. Reiman's Harley-Davidson dealership in Kewanee, Illinois, closed its doors in October 2024 after the owners sold the business to the Walter Brothers Harley Davidson dealership in Peoria, Illinois. Another Illinois dealership closed in November 2024. Plus, the dealership in West Bend, Wisconsin, is temporarily closing for the season from November 2 until April 1, 2024. In 2025, Hideout Harley-Davidson in Missouri announced it would shutter at the end of March.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
What's a night out during Myrtle Beach's bike rally like? Here's who we met
Friday night was the first humid hot summer night in the South Strand. It was also the start to weekend motorcycle parties as part of the annual spring Myrtle Beach Bike Rally. The rally draws thousands of visitors and locals to the Murrells Inlet area, where outdoor bars host vendors, musicians and motorcyclists. By 5 p.m. Friday, Spokes and Bones had dozens of people hanging out and enjoying music from one of two stages. There were more than 50 motorcycles parked In the front of the venue. One of them was custom, built by Shawn Harper from Wilmington, North Carolina. Harper said he's been riding motorcycles for 30 years. He works as an auto mechanic, and decided it was finally time to build his own custom ride to take to bike weeks across the country. Outfitted with shiny navy paint and a Marvel-themed back, Harper said this is the second bike week he's taken his custom bike to. 'I told my wife, 'I can do that,' and she was like, 'All right,' and let me do it,' he said of how the custom bike came to be. 'For years I've been seeing everybody and been like, 'Man, I want to build one of those.'' As of Friday, he said the bike has over 21,000 miles on it. On the other side of Spokes and Bones, Heather Golon and her husband were enjoying the shade. She said she's been coming to bike week for years. Originally from the Midwest, Golon now calls the Myrtle Beach area home. Before retiring, she taught middle school health and physical education for 17 years. Golon's husband is a motorcycle rider. She said her favorite part of the bike rally each year is 'just riding and seeing all the different bikes.' Similar to Golon, Taylor Adams' favorite part of bike week is 'being on the back of a bike.' Originally from the Myrtle Beach area, Adams said she now lives in Colorado and works as a professional body piercer. She currently owns two shops, one in North Carolina and the other in Colorado. Adams said she's back for the weekend for bike week festivities, and that she hasn't missed a year since she was 18. Over the years she said she's 'definitely seen more people.' Closer to the Georgetown County line, The Beaver Bar and Suck Bang Blow had thousands of people in the area Friday night. In addition to food, drinks and merchandise sold from tents and trucks parked between the two popular bike week bars, some vendors specialized in motorcycle repairs, oil changes and one tent had a baby kangaroo and two sloths that were available to hold for $20 each, or $25 to hold two. The rally is scheduled to continue through Sunday, May 18.
