Intro

It was a first for the BikeBrewers team. As a concerted effort four members tested a great variety of Rusty Stitches gear.

The manufacturer was keen to have riders test their apparel in all kinds of circumstances and asked us to give our honest and unadulterated opinion.  They shipped us a broad selection of their gear and we had some fun with it all over Europe and the Middle East. 

Pictures paint 1000 words and video does the rest. We decided to go Full Monty on this one with ‘both unboxing (Ron&Yvanka, Casper) and review videos (Ron: Jari V2 & Neill, Adnane: Cooper & Carl Thomas, Yvanka & Ron: Cliff, Joyce V2 & Claudia, Casper: Jari V2, Zack, Paolo). Don’t forget to check them out. We hope you will enjoy watching them as much as we had fun producing them.

International!

Yvanka took the Joyce jacket, Gloria V2 trousers, and Kathy gloves all the way to a Kawasaki press event in Italy. After some rides in his home country the Netherlands, Adnane shipped the Dorian and Cooper jackets, and the Johnny gloves to Dubai where he is currently residing. 

Casper had scheduled a roadtrip from his home in Berlin all the way via Italy to Wheels and Waves in Biarritz, donning the Jari V2 jacket, the Zack gloves, and the Paolo shoes. Ron decided to take the Cliff suit to go storm chasing, ending up in torrential rains in Belgium and France. Fortunately he managed to find some sunny weather to enjoy the Jari V2 caferacer jacket later. 

The Joyce V2 Women’s Jacket Review (Yvanka)

The jacket has a very flattering, lightly tailored fit. It has some very feminine yet tough looking stitching on the back. I received the black version with the pink patches on the shoulders and the yellow and blue stripes on the upper arm. In all honesty, I would never have picked that colour myself. 

So it was quite a surprise when I opened the box (check our unboxing video). But it grew on me, the more I wore it. It has a girly ring to it. But that does not have to be a bad thing, of course. And it actually matched quite nicely with the titanium coloured Indian Chief Bobber I rode at that time. I also took the jacket with me on a trip to Italy, where I got invited by Kawasaki Italia to ride their complete motorcycle line-up. We rode for hours. And while you would think of sunshine and warmth, when you think of Italy, well… we were not that lucky. It rained, almost the entire time. Mostly drizzling rain, mixed with some heavier downpours every now and then.

And that might have been the biggest surprise about this whole Rusty Stitches outfit: it actually kept me dry! This is something I really did not expect. I guess the wind while riding was enough to keep it sufficiently dry to not leak through. And I did not get cold either. So, that was a huge plus for the Joyce V2 jacket.

Pros: Styling, fit, surprisingly weather proof
Cons:

(Photo by Patricia Sevilla Ciordia,  http://pscfoto.net)

Jari V2 Men’s Jacket Review (Casper & Ron)

I (Casper) got ‘lucky’ enough to test the Jari V2 in all types of weather, heat, cold, sun and show. By now I have worn the jacket for over 5000 km, between 2C and 35C, and from sunshine to torrential downpours. The leather is soft and supple, and the fit is excellent (185cm, 70kg, size Medium). The jacket offers sufficient mobility on the bike and simultaneously creates a feeling of safety in case you inadvertently find yourself coming off the bike. It comes with elbow and shoulder protection and of course there is the internal pocket for a back protector. 

It is big enough to fit even the thicker Forcefield armour. The ventilation on the chest and back are functional without compromising the styling. Similar to any unperforated leather jacket, avoid traffic jams in the peak of summer. 

(Photo by Cäthe Pfläging)

When you find yourself in fresher weather or out late, pull the liner out of your bag! It packs small for easy stowage and zips in easily. And if you catch an unexpected rain shower, this jacket will hold up for a bit. In all, it is a true three season jacket! 

(Photo by Vincent Burger)

What can I (Ron) add to my fellow BikeBrewer? Having led a motorcycle life for many decades I have been able to try out many different jackets in all sorts of styles, materials, fits etc. Rusty Stitches would not have been my first ‘go to’ brand for a street cred cafe racer jacket, until I received it and put it to the test.

Yes, it has everything Casper has claimed above, but also, the reactions I got from fellow riders while wearing it, gave me the confidence to state that Rusty Stitches have done a pretty good job.

Pros: Styling, fit, CE level 2 protection, three seasons.

Cons: Limited ventilation in the peak of summer.

Rusty Stitches Dorian Men’s Jacket Review (Adnane)

The Dorian jacket from Rusty Stitches is a blend of vintage style and modern functionality. The matte finish exudes a high-end feel, appealing to classic bikers with a contemporary fit. The 100% soft cow leather construction provides a luxurious touch, while the satin lining makes it exceptionally comfortable. 

The CE-approved elbow and shoulder protectors, coupled with the universal back protector pocket, prioritize safety without compromising comfort. The adjustable features at the hips and wrists, along with the modern fit, enhance the overall riding experience. The jacket’s four pockets, both inside and outside, offer practical storage. The Snap Claws add a nice touch to the design.

Pros: Stylish matte finish, high-quality leather, comfortable satin lining, CE level 2 protection, adjustable fit.
Cons: Limited ventilation for warmer days.

(Photo by Vincent Burger)

Singing in the Rain in the Cliff suit (Ron)

It was an early summer morning. Very early actually.
I had to be way down in Belgium at 8AM that morning. A three-hour ride for which I had to be on the road way before commuters were having their breakfast cereals. 

With over 40K+ motorcycle kilometres annually I am used to all kinds of weather and the forecasted rain looked perfect to test the Cliff pants and jacket. After all it is advertised as “The ultimate adventure jacket for a fair price.”

Humming the Cliff Richard song ‘Summer Rain’ I set out for my trip. After an hour the rain set in and it ended in a nightmare of torrential rain for the remainder of the trip. Water splashing down from the black clouds and washed left and right from spray coming from trucks ahead and while passing them.

The suit was brave and the membranes managed to keep me quite dry for an hour and a half. After that it just gave up and let it go. Honestly, there was no other way. Even suits twice the price will give you a similar experience. 

So kudos to Rusty Stitches for being able to give more expensive brands a run for their money. It is a very good package for the price you pay.

(Photo by Vincent Burger)

Pros: Definitely water proof for ‘normal’ rainy circumstances. Very good membrane and both the jacket and pants have easily removable layers for warm weather. Good ventilation options

Cons: The waterproof membrane did not have elasticity at the wrists. Taking the jacket off resulted in tearing off the little loops with clips on the inside of the jacket sleeves to keep them in place. Those loops could also be a bit sturdier by the way.

(Photo by Vincent Burger)

Rusty Stitches Cooper Men’s Jacket Review (Adnane)

The Cooper jacket seamlessly combines retro aesthetics with contemporary safety features. Crafted from 100% Buffalo leather, it exudes a nostalgic charm. The removable thermal-padded polyester lining ensures versatility in varying weather conditions. CE Level 2 protectors for elbows and shoulders provide robust safety, and the option to upgrade with a D30 back protector enhances the jacket’s protective capabilities. The adjustable features at the waist and wrists contribute to a customized fit, while the seven pockets offer ample storage space, including a dedicated phone pocket.

Pros: Retro look, CE level 2 protection, versatile thermal liner, upgradeable back protector, adjustable fit.

Cons: Limited breathability in warmer weather.

Rusty Stitches Ruben Review (Casper)

This mesh jacket is an absolute dream and comes highly recommended when the quicksilver passes 25C! The ventilation is excellent, as expected, and the fit is adjustable at the hips and wrists due to the velcro straps. The upperarm width is adjustable with two press studs, the underarm width unfortunately is not. This results in a shift of the position of the elbow protectors.

Rusty Stitches Claudia Trousers Review (Yvanka)

The fit of the Claudia V2 pants is a bit difficult for me. I have a small waist, but slightly stronger legs. So they are a bit tight around my thighs, but fit really well around my waist. They look good and accentuate your female curves. Which is always nice. 

We female riders may actually look like women on the bike, every now and then. Oh, and these pants are quite warm. A bit too warm maybe, for 30+ degrees ride outs in summertime. But very pleasant during normal European temperatures. 

The only ‘bad’ thing I have to say about the whole outfit, is that the stitches of the Claudia V2 pants are a bit, well… ‘Rusty’? Maybe it is because the pants are a bit tight around my thighs. But the seams opened up, and the stitches broke. It is not that I have to squeeze myself in them, they are not that tight. Just slightly, which should not have been enough to wreck the stitches. This is really the only thing I can think of, in terms of future improvements. 

Rusty Stitches Kathy Gloves Review (Yvanka)

My first impression: the material feels really, really good. The leather is of very high quality and even the gloves feel luxurious when you put them on (we think they are VERY sexy – other team members-). 

The design of the Kathy gloves has a ‘less is more’ look to it, and it definitely is more. They literally fit like a glove, which can be really hard with a pair of motorcycle gloves. They also look tough and feminine while wearing them. I am extremely picky when it comes to gloves. They play such a big role in the connection with the handlebars and therefore your motorcycle. Luckily, Kathy gloves and I were a match straight away.

Rusty Stitches Johnny Gloves Review (Adnane)

The Johnny motorcycle gloves exemplify Rusty Stitches’ commitment to style and comfort. Made from soft leather, they are ideal for riders seeking a retro or classic look. The Velcro closure ensures a snug fit, and the leather double-layered palm adds durability. The stretch at the wrist enhances comfort during rides, making them suitable for summer. The outer seams provide extra comfort, and the unique colours add a touch of individuality to the overall outfit.

Pros: Stylish retro design, comfortable fit, adjustable wrist closure, durable double-layered palm.

Cons: Limited insulation for colder weather. Not water-proof

(Photo by Cäthe Pfläging)

Rusty Stitches Zack Gloves Review (Casper)

Comfortable straight out of the packaging! They look cool, tough, and classic, and the leather is supple. Plus, the fit is excellent. There is minimal room for improvement, from great to perfect, perhaps? 

In terms of ventilation, I think that the perforations could be relocated to the sides of the fingers, rather than on the top and bottom. When you are gripping the handlebars, the air does flow in, but it cannot flow out, whereas perforations in between the fingers could improve airflow. In addition, the seams at the thumbs are exactly at the point of contact with the handlebars, which was a bit uncomfortable on the longer riding days. In short, excellent price quality ratio!

Pros: Design, fit, comfort
Cons: Stitching and limited ventilation

(Photo by Cäthe Pfläging)

Rusty Stitches Paolo Shoes Review (Casper)

Capable riding shoes that look good! Nice suede that does not require a break in period. I got the lighter coloured variant, which was rather quickly marked with the characteristic gear lever grease stain on the left shoe. They are rather thick, which makes them pretty warm in summer, great in spring and autumn, and hopefully rather safe in the event of a slide. Lastly, they are comfortable on and off the bike! 

Overall conclusion

Rusty Stitches impresses with their jackets and gloves. The blend of style and safety, along with the thoughtful features like adjustable fits and quality materials, sets these items apart. Despite the daily 130km commute, the extended tours, and the abuse of rainy weather, the gear exhibits durability and reliability. 

What is truly commendable is the affordable price point, making Rusty Stitches a standout choice for riders who prioritise both quality and budget. Whether you are partial to the vintage-inspired jackets or the classic gloves, Rusty Stitches delivers on style, safety, and value for money.

They are still a young brand, and we have been testing their gear since the beginning. We believe they are headed in the right direction. Keep an eye out for them if you want to look stylish for a comfortable price. 

The post Gear Review: Rusty Stitches appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

The big one

This is the Kawasaki Z900RS SE and I want to start off by saying: I like the Z900RS. If you’re looking for a bike that has it all, this might just be a candidate. And although that might be a matter of opinion. As a matter of fact, I am writing this piece entirely based on my personal opinion. Nothing to do with facts or statistics, just the experience. You may have read my previous articles by now (if you haven’t: they are on this site somewhere) so by now you may know that I like to write different stuff than the usual.

Let’s have a look at the Kawasaki then. I had the pleasure to know this bike from the beginning, having been present at the press presentation back in 2018. At the time, it impressed me just as much as it has this time and I’ll tell you why. In this day and age, we have gotten used to some pretty edgy design, frontrunning electronics, power beyond measure and handling beyond our wildest dreams. So far so good, you might think. But that’s not the case for everyone. Sometimes, you don’t want more. Sometimes, you want a little less.

Retro
Kawasaki jumped on the retro band wagon with the Z900RS, and for good reason; who remembers the legendary Z1? Kawasaki did decide to things slightly different from their competitors, by not building a full retro machine, but a retro inspired modern motorcycle. Just take a look at those flashy wheels and design, or the USD front fork with radial mounted brakes. That’s not just for looks, it’s an honest upgrade. Then, the engineers went a little step further and tweaked the engine. Just a little less power (only a few hp) from the top, but with a trade off for some more torque and a bulkier midrange. That’s where my interest was caught, because even though power is nice, it’s only good when you can use it. On a desolate Spanish backroads where we usually ride at a presentation, that’s okay. But in real life, when or where would you be able to use its full potential?

To really top things off, they even went so far as to tweak the fuel injection so it doesn’t run as perfect as it could at idle, just like it’s an actual old carburettor bike. Now that’s eye (or ear) for detail. Another big difference is the seating position. Gone is the high rising fuel tank or passenger seat, instead you get a much flatter seat unit and tank. And if you ask me, it’s a godsend. The seating position on this bike is just perfect. I have to admit, this is a trick other brands also use, but in those cases it also works. Because of this, ‘retrofied’ middle class machines are just plain awesome.

Special Edition
This is not your average Z900RS. This is the SE model which has a new color. And also some parts. It’s not the first time Kawasaki adds a little bit tricked out model to the lineup. Usually it’s a little sprinkle of performance parts that are pre mounted and as a package costs just a little less than you’d pay for the individual parts. So that’s a win-win. However, it would be a little bit weird to present a Performance model of the retro bike, so they went a different way.

In earlier years Kawasaki had also enticed the public with a special ‘R’ version, like back in 2011 with the Z750. That included an upside down fork, radial mounted brake callipers and I think a little beefier rear shock. And now here’s the 900RS SE edition. This bike now has Brembo callipers instead of the standard Tokico and an Öhlins rear shock instead of the standard one. And although that’s really all they did, it does make a difference.

Picturesque
It’s a great looking motorcycle too. When I was taking the pictures, I had to regularly answer questions and almost always people were surprised when I told them it’s actually a brand new bike. So if you were still wondering if this is retro enough for you, there’s your answer. But there is an extra. The retro community is thriving, and it has been for years. In that respect, you can also see the RS as an homage to that scene.

Now as for ride quality, I can be brief; I like this bike. It feels nice, it runs great, especially with the ECU tweak down under, to make it respond like a carbed motorcycle, it handles and performs like a modern bike and that is, I believe, a big part of the appeal of this bike. Buy something cool, get something without any technical issues. It does have fuel injection, so it runs just fine. ABS is standard, so no issues with that. It has modern wheels and tires, so you can ride it like any other modern bike. And as an extra it also has 3-way adjustable traction control, just like most modern motorcycles. I could have been fine without it, but I can only speak for myself. It’s a safety feature, so it’s fine. And also it’s easy to switch off if you like. Just for the pictures, of course, officer.

Kawasaki haven’t just picked any bike. They went for the one that would fit the plans as good as possible. So with the 900, we get a four cylinder engine that performs but also fits the space under the tank beautifully. And it’s even finished with some faux air-cooled ribs on the side. As for the rest of the bike, well, you can see the pictures. The seating position is just like you’d expect, upright and commanding. It does feel a bit bulky when manoeuvring at stand still, but that’s exactly how bikes used to feel ‘back in the day’. And there are so many details I haven’t mentioned yet… the tank logo, the side logos, the cockpit (did you know the angle the dials make when it’s off is an exact match to the original Z900?), the list just goes on. Don’t take my words, just take a look.

So well, that’s my summer holidays well spent. I’m going back to work, but you just never know when I present you with a new adventure. And maybe I can think of an excuse to do some more riding on this bike.

Make sure you head over to your nearest Kawasaki dealer to check out what they have in store for you.

Special thanks to Kawasaki Motors Europe NV for making this Z900RS available for review.

The post Review: 2022 Kawasaki Z900 RS SE appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Gentlemen, may we have your votes please?
In 2021 the BikeBrewers team got invited by the Café Racer Club Bulgaria to act as judges for the 2nd edition of the Caféracerfest in Kyustendil – Bulgaria. We didn’t know what to expect, since this was the first time we were asked to perform this serious duty, and all we had seen so far were (lovely) pictures of the first edition. Now, we may not know much about the Eurovision Song contest, however, we do know a thing or two about caféracers, so we grabbed our motorcycle gear and headed East.

Throwback 2021
As you may recall, we were blown away by the quality of the event, which we clearly communicated in our September 24th report. A major factor in the success of the first two editions is the undaunted organizer of the event, Ivan Mushev. That name may ring a bell, and it should; we’ve featured some of Ivan’s masterpieces under the name of his outfit Bull Moto custom. But that’s not what we are here for now.

We must have done something right as we have been invited to judge again at the 2022 edition of the Caféracerfest which is coming up on June 11th, and we couldn’t be more excited! Looking back at last year’s event did raise the question if this year’s contenders have any idea of the high level of last year’s participants? If we go by what we saw last year, we have some pretty high expectations.

…and the winner is..!
This story is about Borislav Aleksov and his dream to build the ultimate café racer. Before the Bulgarian builder got his hands on this 1992 Yamaha XV1100, he had already built a Honda CX500 café racer. Borislav was fascinated by the air-cooled Yamaha v-twin, so when one of his friends was selling his, Borislav knew that it was now or never. We’re glad he took that chance.

It’s safe to say that we have yet to see a boring Yamaha XV caféracer here at BikeBrewers. This one seems to be the latest addition to that list, keeping the standard yet again, very high. It’s hard to imagine that Borislav had a budget of a mere 7500 euro; that kind of money you’d expect a shed-built bike to cost, definitely not a show-winning unit like this.

Torches out
Borislav started with chopping the rear sub-frame, and building a new one from scratch. At the front a set of Suzuki GSX-R1000 forks were adopted, held firmly in place by a set of Aprilia RSV4 triple clamps. The forks allow for radial brake callipers to be mounted, which is exactly what the master craftsman did, courtesy of Tokico. At the rear, a Yamaha FZ6 mono-shock keeps the bike on track. The new forks brought a new dilemma; the ground clearance was now compromised. The solution: raising the engine up in the frame. That’s not an easy task, so countless hours were spent trying to get it right.

The engine didn’t go back in the frame before being completely overhauled and got covered with a fresh coat of paint. The carbs were cleaned and rebuild, so that took care of the intake side of things. On the exhaust side, a new custom-made exhaust system was build from the ground up. We really liked the lines and angles of the exhaust system, and it’s one of the key features that attracted us to this bike on the day of the event. When we asked Borislav what his intentions were when he built this bike, he said that, at first he wanted to build a classic looking café racer, but that he changed his mind half-way through the project after being inspired by some builds he saw on Facebook.

Wheels
A friend of Borislav took care of lacing the hubs to a new set of aluminium rims, which were also in black. Yes, black is the theme with this build, and we like it! Do you know what’s also black? The modified Benelli fuel tank, the epitome of café racer fuel tanks. Everything was painted in-house by Borislav himself. A custom leather seat keeps the rider firmly in place, and a Daytona Velona 80 gives all the necessary rider info whilst maintaining a contemporary look.

It is clear to see why this particular café racer took the 1st prize during the 2021 Caferacerfest.
This is what Borislav had to say about his build:
“I like the paint scheme and the general profile of the motorcycle that is the exact opposite of a chopper. The riding experience is unexplainable after 3 years of working on this project to be able to finally ride it is a dream come true. Thanks also for the Felix helmet that I received as a prize. It really enhances the look of the ride” he smiles.

Previous life
Below are some shots of the bike before Borislave opened his toolbox and the build in progress.

The post Winner 2021 Café Racer Fest Bulgaria – Yamaha XV by Borislav Aleksov appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Another XV!
So when our friend Jeremy Duchamp of JeremMotorcycles shared his modified Yamaha XV1000 TR-1 with us last year, we were over the moon! The Frenchman can’t seem to get enough of the Yamaha XV, so he spent over 240 hours in his shed brewing on another Yamaha XV project, this time is a XV750. We have to say that we were blown away by how this café racer turned out!

It goes without saying that the XV didn’t start of its life like this. Jeremie bought the 1983 XV750 about 1 year ago and it was not in a good shape, according to the craftsman. Each and every bolt was removed and replaced where necessary. The subframe and swingarm had sever corrosion and were removed and decluttered, after which they got sandblasted and powder coated in a gloss black finish.

Serious components
The front end of the XV received a serious upgrade. The front fork has been adopted from a Ducati Monster and was mated to a  Ducati Diavel front wheel. To make it all work , a custom triple clamp was made by USV Racing. Integrated into the top yoke is a KOSO speedo. The radial brakes are courtesy of Brembo and offer tremendous stopping power. The brake lines are of aviation grade quality too. On the clip-ons we find CNC’ed micro switches. All the switches and electrics have been connected to an M-Unit by MotoGadget. Talking about electrics, the café racer received an LED headlight, mini front indicators, and a tail light that appears to be floating, pretty neat! All of this is powered by a Solise lightweight Lithium battery which has been placed underneath the tank.

Moving towards the back of the Yamaha, we can see some serious eye-candy. The rear wheel is an absolute stunner, with the closed rim giving it an old-school racer look. A custom rear-set ensures the rider maintains full control. The rear shock comes off an MV Agusta 800 and has a custom mounting system. The single seat has been built to spec by “Point Sellier 34”, in a beautiful black leather finish with a colour matching piping.

Engine Refreshment
The engine wasn’t up to snuff to begin with, so Jeremie decided to replace it completely by a unit with a lower mileage. With less than 10.000 km on the clock it definitely was a lot fresher. From there it was simple. Replace the original carburettors with a pair of Dellorto PHF32’s, open air-filters, and get the lot tuned by “Les Belled d’Oc” in Béziers, France. To let all the gases out in an efficient way, a custom exhaust was made in the JeremMotorcycles workshop.

Green by AUDI
To finish this custom project off, the engine received a fresh coat of paint, and the fuel tank got painted in a lush AUDI green paint. The fuel tank also received a protective KEVLAR layer underneath to protect against any unwanted influences. There are little easter eggs hidden all over this build; JM logo’s are engraved or painted in countless places, most notably on those Metzeler tires.

Putting all things together, we can’t imagine how Jeremie completed this build in only 240 hours. It is truly impressive, and we hope that someday we can see and hear this beautiful café racer rip the streets of France, in real-life.

Photo Credits: Jonathan Silene

Builder details:
Jerem Motorcycles
Instagram
Facebook

The post Yamaha XV750 Café Racer by JeremMotorcycles appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Back in 2020, BikeBrewers were invited to join the first edition of the Café Racer Fest in Kyustendil, Bulgaria. Unfortunately COVID had paralyzed the world and travel restrictions caused us to miss out on that event.

We followed the happening on social media while the enthusiasm of participants, visitors and bike builders vibrated through our screens. We knew we missed out on something special! We made a promise there and then, that we would do everything to make it to the 2021 edition. As we are always true to our word, there was no reason not to make the trip this time.

To team members Ron and Adnane it felt nearly as good as going on a road trip even though two flights, three cars but no bikes were involved in getting from Amsterdam to Kyustendil.

Arriving close to midnight, the organizer of the Café Racer Fest and spiritual father of the event, Ivan Mushev of Bull Moto Custom, had kindly arranged transportation from Sofia airport to the ski resort up in the mountains about half an hour up from town up a dark and twisty country road with al sort of wildlife crossing our headlights.

Early start
In order to make the most of the day breakfast was served early and we took off to the centre of town. The empty square would soon be the stage of an extraordinary event, attracting an sizable crowd of both participants and spectators. On the plaza of this nearly 40.000 inhabitant’s rich city, volunteers were busy setting the stage for things to come.

The Café Racer Fest harbours not only custom bikes but also offers a stage for vintage motorcycles and cars from all makes and years. There was quite a collection of incredibly beautiful Pre-Perestroika MZ’s, Jawa’s and Ural sidecars. Truly as if time stood still.

Talking about time, it is funny what the years do with your sense of beauty. Bikes that were considered hideous in the 60’s and 70’s Western Europeans are now considered attractive by the same crowd. Thanks to younger demographics, discovering the fun in riding, Eastern Bloc classic icons such as the 60’s MZ have now grown from being more hideous than the word itself to ultra-cool! We bet there will be quite some young urban riders who would not mind to be spotted on one of those former ‘monstrosities’, were it not that in most large European cities, those two-strokes will never be seen spewing their distinguishable blue exhaust plumes again.

Ride out
Prior to the start of the event, a number of bikers and bike builders met at the local gas station for a ride out to the venue. Little over 150 bikers, nearly of which were modified in one way or another, joined in this brotherly gathering. The atmosphere was incredible; there is something quite special about seeing cafe racers being used for they were built.

Choices, choices
There were three contemporary categories; Modern Classics, Scrambler & Brat, and Café Racers. BikeBrewers were given the task of selecting the Top 3 in the “Café Racer” category. We were given about twenty projects to choose from and had about an hour to finalize our task.

As we always do when judging bikes, we put together a matrix awarding points on a scale of 1-10 for elements such as the ‘Wow!’ factor, originality, quality of work & amp; paint, and craftsmanship and set out separately to do our first independent judging.

You’d expect this to be easy and give clear comparable results. No such thing! We had quite a hefty discussion and with the clock ticking away it required a final walk around to re-evaluate our choices. At the ‘strike of twelve’ we managed to come up with a Top 3 we could both fully subscribe to.

And the winner is…
A 1994 Yamaha XV1100 had scored high points on both our lists and was chosen ‘Best of show’ in this year’s Café Racer category. Its owner, Borislav Alexsov, has put quite a lot of hours in building this machine and is rightfully proud of the result. 2nd place went to Vencislav Angelov with his stunning 1984 Honda CBX 750, and 3rd place went to Kaloian Ivanchev Chekelev with his very cool BMW R75 which saw daylight in 1982.

All top 3 finalists were showered with gifts from local sponsors. To top it off BikeBrewers’ came bearing gifts from our partners Felix Auto Moto and SA1NT! adding a helmet and a sought after twill trucker cap to the basket of each of the category winners!

Come rain come shine
Bulgarians have been spoiled with loads of sunshine over the past couple of months. Unfortunately, rain was predicted during the hours of the event. The start of the award ceremony for the café racer category was launched with a clap of thunder followed by a slight drizzle. That made us feel like home instantly.

Luckily the audience was not scared away that easily, and there was quite a cheer from the several hundred people on the square. According to the organizers, the total attendance during this year’s edition the audience grew with 20% to around 2.500 visitors who meandered amongst all the beauty displayed on the town square this morning.

The next edition
Writing this post just before the party organized by the Cafe Racer Club Bulgaria, we are already spoiled by the kindness of the Bulgarians we met on the way, especially by the members of the café racer community.

As much as we love attending established events in Western European countries, we are always on the lookout for new, exciting and more grass roots experiences. This scene is way bigger and vibrant than you would ever dare to imagine. Everyone we met was proud of the results of their labour and insights are shared freely among this close-knit society.

We will be back for sure and hope the organizers can look forward to an even bigger crowd in 2022. Being the only international visitors this year, we share our experience with the knowledge that this is likely to be the last time we enjoyed this exclusivity.

Given the fact that there is a very lively local scene and magnificent twisty country roads and awesome virgin off road tracks to be travelled freely, it is likely many adventurous bikers from the West will be heading East next year.

Photos by:
Georgi Georgiev Photography
Kalina Kalcheva
BikeBrewers

The post REPORT: Café Racer Fest 2021 by Café Racer Club Bulgaria appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

V-Twin

Cult-Classic
Due to its unpopularity at the time, the XV slowly started to grow a cult-like following. Being an underdog, second-hand XV’s have been up for grabs for beer money, and it soon became the custom builder’s base bike of choice; with its narrow frame, short wheel-base, easy to work on engine, and Japanese build quality. No surprise that we at BikeBrewers have featured modified XV’s over a dozen time!

Jerem Motorcycles
We have seen what France-based Jeremie Duchampt of Jerem Motorcycles is capable off in the past. This time, he did his magic on the venerable Yamaha XV 1000 TR-1. The bike he used was a neat looking 1982 model. All stock and original. Jeremie first took the entire motorcycle apart, replacing each and every bolt and bearing. The first modifications were done to swingarm and subframe. The swingarm got cleaned-up by removing any unnecessary tabs, and the rear-subframe was swapped out for an in-house made unit. After that, both parts received a sandblast and a fresh coat of black gloss paint.

Cannibal
At the front things have become a bit more serious. The front end of the Yama was swapped out for a fork and front wheel from a Kawasaki ZX6R Ninja. The same goes for the Tokico radial calliper brakes. Combined with a Brembo master brake cylinder and steel-braided hoses, they give the old TR-1 some incredible stopping power. Visibility is provided by LED lights at the front and rear, as well as LED indicators all around. A KOSO speedo gives all the necessary info whilst maintaining a minimalistic look. The rear wheel is a unit from a 2006 Suzuki SV 650, and is now being offered traction by a Sachs rear shock which was cannibalised from an MV Agusta.

The engine received a rebuild and was tuned on a dyno by Thorn Bike, not that it was necessary, but more for peace of mind. The carburettors were rebuilt as well, and are now mated to a Harley-Davidson air-filter. The piece-de-resistance has to be the exhaust system. Built by hand in the Jerem Motorcycles workshop, it looks like a piece of art. Other eye candy has to be the handmade seat. Made by Point Sellier 34, it fits the XV like a glove.

Digital meets Analog
Although the build was kept minimalistic, there are a ton of details on this bike. The original fuel tank was replaced with another Yamaha fuel tank, one from an XV750. It got slightly modified to accommodate a Motogadget fuel sensor. Special paint with Stardust glitter finish and 12 layers of clear coat was done by the folks at A2F. Underneath the fuel tank, a light weight Solise lithium battery is housed, together with the M-unit. The underside of the tank received KEVLAR protection.

Finally, a few more small details that leave a big impact. The bike has the JM Logo engraved on various part of the motorcycle, making it clear that Jeremie built this one. About 400 hours of labor has been put into this café racer, but the results, speak for themselves. We haven’t received any official specs, but it is safe to say that most of the original 70hp and 80Nm of torque are now available on tap. Combined with the heavy weight reduction… If we were in France, we would surely drop by to check this build out. In the meantime, we will have to make do with the pictures Jeremie sent us.

Builder details:
Jerem Motorcycles
Instagram
Facebook

The post Cafe Racer in Red: a Yamaha TR1 by Jerem Motorcycles appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

‘Crazy for building MAD stuff’

The city of Roosendaal in the south of the Netherlands harbours a small outfit run by a big (1.96m) guy. I got to know Daan Borsje a couple of years ago when we were both sitting in a jury for a build off competition. Daan is an automotive technician by trade and has been working on scooters, cars, and motorcycles since the age of 14. At this young age, he had already decided customizing was a better way to make money than stocking inventory in supermarkets like his pals were doing.

His first bike was a Honda CBR600 Hurricane, which is also the bike that brings back fondest memories. As a youngster he did a 400km road trip with a friend, traveling light and packing just a couple of shirts, shorts and flip-flops. I guess this was a trip in the summer and they were heading south…

Birth of Adonis

In 2012 our 29-year old friend decided to turn pro and launched his company ‘Moto Adonis’.In this relatively short period of time, nearly 100 customized bikes left the workshop to start a fresh life with a new owner.  But that’s not were the ambition ends. Moto Adonis’ leading man hopes to one day build “the most famous and beautiful bike mankind has ever seen!” How’s that for setting high standards?

This project is already in the works and is extra special as Daan started it with a mate of his who is no longer with us. “I will build this bike. Even if it takes me 5 years. I don’t care. It will have to be stunning and perfect. The design is done and I am starting to get to grips with the art of working aluminum” Daan responds to our question on planning.

Inspiration

Asking builders about people who inspire them or their personal heroes is always an interesting question as it often puts their designs more into perspective. Daan uses Roland Sands and the bikes from Hazan Motorworks to drive his imagination. Pretty awesome inspiration if you ask me.

In terms of brands, Moto Adonis have no real preference. The bikes produced by Daan and his team have different continents as their birthing ground. However, Two cylinders seem to have a special attraction to Adonis. Many of their bikes have a body containing two throbbing (often air-cooled) hearts. At the loading dock in Roosendaal, you will see a variety of designs leaving the ‘factory’, again no real preference in terms of types. Mostly cafe racers, bobbers, brats or trackers. Not so many choppers, as Daan is not a huge fan.

BMW R 1150 GS

To prove their point about being a two-cylinder fan Adonis suggested we feature the BMW R 1150 GS they recently built for a client from Belgium. This was the ideal project; a well-used bike in not too good condition and ‘carte blanche’ from the owner. Out came the cutters and the grinders and the boys set out to work. Who said they did not like ‘choppers’ as this is exactly what they did.

All stuff that had no real use being there was eliminated. The bike was taken to pieces only to be built again from the ground up. A wider rear frame was installed to house a comfy wide seat. Brackets were made for the rear to hold all the lighting on the back of the bike. Same thing in the front to which the “big ass fog light”, the oil cooler and blinkers were mounted.

Other stuff added:

• replaced the brake pump, gas lever, and steering control
• added a new scrambler style handlebars
• replaced speedo with an Acewell 2853 AS and mounted it on the headlight

All parts that were re-used ended being completely restored and custom exhaust pipes were added for some extra fun. The front of the exhausts are coated with ceramic and the engine was painted black before mounting it into the frame again. The tank of any bike is always a real eye catcher. It can really make or brake a design. In this case everything came out exceptionally smooth on such a rugged looking bike.

To top off the bottom freshly coated rims were used with special rubbers from Heidenau (K60) covering them. As the pictures prove the end product made the owner a very happy ‘teenage grandfather’.

Barking Mad

It is not very often that we give special attention to the exhausts, but the ones fitted to the BMW attracted our attention.  Turns out Adonis has just launched ‘Mad Exhausts’ as a sub-label in honour of Daan’s friend Wouter van Egmond who sadly passed away in 2017. Adonis stands for perfection and so do the exhausts. They are produced in close cooperation with a friend who has left his mark in highly competitive arenas such as Formula 1 racing and the Moto GP. A true specialist when it comes to exhaust systems, who brings a treasure of expertise to the brand.

If you are looking to attract an audience with your custom bike, I suggest you take a good look on the Mad Exhaust website before making purchase decisions.

The post Shop Visit: Moto Adonis appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

The post Yamaha XV1700 by Spartak Garage appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

You may recall a similar looking bike built by Industrial Moto late last summer. We featured it in 2017. Someone liked it so much they wanted one for themselves and commissioned Industrial Moto to build another one. While this version is based on the original Project Scout concept, it incorporated a few changes. Maybe the most noticeable is the color of the rims. The customer wanted to feature more of the Solar Flare orange in the color scheme. This Scout II also has front suspension sourced from a Yamaha R1. The front brake master cylinder and reservoir were re-located under the gas tank to give the front end a cleaner look.

The gas tank is originally from a 1974 Suzuki GT750. The wheels came from a Honda CB750. The subframe and seat are handmade and the seat was finished by Tuffside seats. The electrical system includes a MotoGadget m.unit that uses a smartphone as the proximity key and allows the rider to program the display, brake and turn signal functions, as well as report faults and act as an alarm system. We do not expect to see this bike off-road, but the word “ruggedized” factored heavily into the design.

As with all of Industrial Moto’s bikes, all colored surfaces are powder coated to match the specific color scheme, including every exposed bolt head and nut. The motor is completely disassembled and rebuilt with new bearings and seals. Front and rear suspension are rebuilt and modernized. Footpegs and controls are handmade in Industrial Moto machine shop. This bike may be similar to the original project Scout, but it is still a one of a kind build.

The post Project Scout II by Industrial Moto appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

I can’t help it, but we got a submission of another awesome Yamaha Virago. And just like Bal Deo’s Virago I’ve posted last week, it’s an XV750. It’s not on purpose, it’s just how they roll in.

This bike is built by Oran, owner of Buriam Siammotor, a motorcycle dealer in Buriram. This mid-sized town which located in north-east of Thailand was selected to held Moto GP at Chang International Circuit for the first time in 2018. Oran’s family has a long history of selling motorcycles and he’s involved in the business as a youngster. A couple of years ago he bought a 1982 Yamaha XV750 without a clear idea behind it. “Simply because I love the unique sound of the V-twin and that the bike was from my year of birth.” He decided to turn this Virago into a sleek looking cafe racer.

With the help of Mee Classic Shop, a custom bike shop in the same region, Oran managed to create his very own version of the Virago cafe racer. Oan: “Many people told me to stop wasting my time with this project, but the harder they told me, the harder I pushed to get the bike ready”. Most of the parts saw the hands of the builder and he brought the machine back in shape. All parts have been painted, polished or powder coated to bring back the “shine”. Unlike many others, he did not go for the standard Mojave gas tank, but he used a complete hand-built aluminum tank. Combined with the custom subframe and seat, the bike got a beautiful classic line.

The post Sweet Thai Chilly appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.