We have seen some incredible builds the last 12 months, and we have to say that despite the world pandemic, we are very pleased to see that so many people still take time work on that what we love most: motorcycles. For 2021 we have created a TOP 5 of some of the most interesting, esthetically pleasing cafe racers we wrote about here on BikeBrewers. We looked at the number of views and shares on our website and social media channels, but also at originality. After all, the list is subjective.

So without further ado, and in complete random order, here are the BikeBrewers TOP 5 Cafe Racer builds of 2021

1. Moto Guzzi 1100 Cafe Racer by Robin Mehnert
When Robin Mehnert, the woodwind instrument maker from Germany, messaged us that he and his father had built a cafe racer based on a Moto Guzzi 1100 California, we got very excited. When you see the pictures of the Guzzi, it’s not hard to see why. Make sure to read the full article to find out more about this clean looking example of Italo-Germanic craftsmanship

2. Icon Motorcycle Triumph Bonneville Triton
Okay, so this Triumph Bonneville was actually built a couple of years ago. However, we only really heard of Icon Motorcycles last year. We didn’t know much about the outfit, and sadly their website has gone offline since. All we know is that the 2 Triumph Tritons they’ve build are unlike anything we have seen in a very long time. It’s almost like a spiritual experience. Luckily, we spent some time writing an article about the work of these fine people, that are based in the Netherlands.

3. Harley-Davidson LiveWire “Rule Breaker” by Moto Adonis
Moto Adonis has been working hard in 2021, with a number of unique projects and builds, we are impressed by the work the 2-man team from the Netherlands has been delivering. When they presented their Harley-Davidson LiveWire project our jaws literally dropped to the ground. This must be the most menacing looking electric motorcycle we have ever see. Period! It looks like a great white shark. In black. On 2 wheels. We dare anybody to show us a custom electric motorcycle that looks better than this.

4. Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 “Lilith” by XTRPepo
There is such a thing as a match made in heaven. In this case, it would be Pepo Rosell, founder and owner of XTRPepo, and Royal Enfield. Let us explain. Pepo has been building race bikes since before we could remember. He has been doing that passionately for the past 25 years. The last 6 years or so, he decided to take step back from building radical custom racing machines for high end customers, and to focus on the more “fun” side of business. Which brings us to Royal Enfield. The people’s champion as far as we’re concerned. Royal Enfield has rapidly gained popularity outside of its domestic market in India. No frills, simple, classy, and affordable. Heck, 2 of our editors bought a Royal Enfield 650 for personal use! That says something! Pepo built a period-correct racer around the Continental GT, and it looks the part.

5. Triumph Bonneville “Gotham” by Tamarit x MotoShare
Tamarit has been building bikes for a long time now, and this heavily modified Triumph Bonneville was their 81st build to be precise. The Alicante, Spain based builders were commissioned by MotoShare to build a cafe racer that provokes people. A bike that gets people talking. José Antonio of Tamarit says: “We took a 2007 Triumph Bonneville and turned it into this ominous looking machine. It was during a video call that one of the guys from MotoShare mentioned it looked like it was made for Batman. It was ‘The Gotham’ from there on.”

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This time Grzegorz Korczak, the man behind Unikat, got his hands on a 2021 Triumph Bonneville Bobber. I know, I know, this looks like a different kind of bobber. Truth be told, there are different definitions of what makes a bobber, a bobber. There are European and American style bobber, there are also Japanese style bobbers. Regardless of the different styling exercises, one thing that they all have in common is the fact that they appear to be minimalistic. In a way, you could look at this like this: what a café racer is to a road bike, a bobber is to a cruiser. Same rules apply: get rid of all unnecessary parts to reduce the weight, and make the bike look as simple as possible.

Coming back to Unikat’s Triumph Bonneville Bobber, which has been name “K18”, we see that a number of stylish mods have been made to the original. No doubt did the original Bobber look great, but what Unikat did here takes the stock bike to a whole other level.

The original bobber wheels have been replaced with a pair of lightweight, black Takasago Excel 17” rims with stainless steel spokes. What’s interesting about the wheels is that they have adopted the BARTubeless system; transforming them into tubeless wheels. The rims have been wrapped by a pair of sticky Pirelli Dunlop Mutant tires.

The rear fender had been completely removed, while the front fender got a nice trim job and received a distinguished Unikat 1-of1 logo, kind of like an easter-egg, waiting to be discovered. Staying at the front, we can also see that the speedo and the headlamp have both been lowered for a sportier stance. There’s a set of Motogadget bar-end indicators, which have been combined with a set of bar-end mirrors. The handlebar grips have received a nice leather wrap treatment. Womet Tech supplied the sporty clutch and brake levers. A pair of fork gaiters keep the front fork clean and mean.

Moving a bit more backwards to the fuel tank, we spot a beautifully milled, gold anodized fuel filler cap. Underneath the fuel tank, the original factory airbox has been removed and a pair of free flow air filet, curtousy of K&N have been placed to take care of the breathing. The ‘faux-carburetor’ injection covers have been treated to the 1-of-1 logo treatment too. Underneath the engine, a stainless-steel exhaust system, in combination with Unikat’s very own in-house built exhaust pipes, ensure that the combustion gases leave the engine in an effective and dramatic manner.

A lot of work has been put in cleaning up this bike by hiding as much of the wiring as possible. Part of that is the Hi-sider 3-in-1 taillight, that have built in indicators and license plate holder, and is in fact completely road-legal. The special thing about is, is that it is integrated into the single-seat. The finish of this Triumph in a gorgeous dark green color in combination with glossy black, with all the little gold-colored details really distinguishes this build from any other Bobber we have seen so far.

Builder details:
UNIKAT Motorworks
Website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

The post Triumph Bonneville 1200 Bobber “K18” by UNIKAT appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Passionata

Learned from the best
Massimo has been customising motorcycles for some time. After working as an independent designer for Aprilia and Moto Guzzi for several years, it is safe to say that he has learned a thing or two about motorcycles. He is specialised in handling carbon fibre parts for concept bikes. Some of the bikes he has worked on are the Aprilia RS660 and the Moto Guzzi MGX-21 Flying Fortress. This has given him the inspiration he needed to set up his own shop.

Monaco!
Showing off his work is a major part of his job, and people’s genuine responses is what drives him. Massimo started this project with a clean Triumph Bonneville T100. He managed to find a mint condition specimen in Monaco; talk about posh! It was a low mileage unit and it came with a full-service history. The right kind of foundation for the design he had in mind.

Stance is everything
A lot has been done to the good ol’ Bonnie. To complete stance has been changed. This is the result of lowering the entire motorcycle by 40mm overall. This also helped improving stability by lowering the already low centre of gravity. The handlebar was also lowered to help with the look. A lot of CNC part were used in this build. The triple clamp is a custom design and is extremely light weight. The hold on to a pair of upside-down forks at the front, courtesy of Showa. Attached to the triple clamp you will find a mini speedo. This helps with keeping the lines low and clean.

Modern Classic
There is a flair of modern retro to be found on this Triumph. Although it comes with wire-spoked wheels that make it look classic, the massive double front rotor brake discs tell a different story. This Bonneville has some serious stopping power. The rear end of the motorcycle looks just as clean as the front. The LED taillight is tucked away underneath the custom-made brow leather seat. Talking about the seat, the rear subframe has been shortened to add to the sportiness. At the rear we also find a pair of Öhlins stereo shock absorbers. One of the most common complaints Triumph owners have about their Bonneville’s is the poor performance of the factory suspension. It seems that that problem has now been sorted!

Stylish
One of the features that really pops on this build has got the be the fuel tank. The colour looks very deep and clear. That has got to do with the fact that the tank itself received a whopping 14 layers of clear-coat. A pair of simple but elegant megaphone mufflers help the timid sounding T100 roar when it hits the cobblestones of the local piazza. According to Massimo, this improved Triumph Bonneville rides and handles like a true café racer should. We have no doubt about that!

Builder details:
La MotoCicletta
Instagram
Facebook

The post La MotoCicletta Triumph Bonneville Cafe Racer appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

BikeBrewers scoop ‘maiden ride’
The Tamarit team from Spain have their very own view on custom building. In a relatively short period of time the Alicante based workshop have managed to carve out a very special niche in the world of customization.
Their 81st build is yet again proof of their highly original way of thinking.
And BikeBrewers sat front row this time!

Our Spanish colleague Thierry Tronquit Prats is also responsible for MotoShare in Spain and Portugal. Having been involved with this build right from the start, he was also bestowed the honour to be the very first one in the world to push the ignition button on the result.

In celebration of this occasion he rode all the way from Madrid to the Tamarit workshop in Elche to launch this project and to try the bike. The results can be seen in the video.

Unique collaboration
MotoShare is Europe’s leading platform for motorcycle rentals. Launched in 2016 they initially made it possible for private motorcycle owners to rent out their bikes. More recently the services were expanded to also include rentals via official motorcycle dealerships.
This addition of services and MotoShare’s focus on international expansion has caused the business to explode in 2021. After a soft launch in Spain in 2019, the goal is to grow even more rapidly in 2021 on the entire Iberian peninsula.

MotoShare have commissioned Tamarit to produce a ‘one of a kind’ MotoShare Triumph. The official launch was held at ‘Irons Caferacer’ in Madrid. The coming months it will be displayed in the major cities around Spain as well as on the Balearic islands.

The best news is that this € 40.000 Triumph build will be available for rent and what’s even better is that this bike will be raffled off at the end of the 2021 riding season on October 31st!

500:1
No, we are not talking about the miles to the gallon here, but on the chances to win this unique piece of art. Only 500 lottery tickets will be sold in this campaign. Just 100 riders will have the opportunity to enjoy the bike for a day and participate in the draw. The remaining 400 participants can only hope that they will be the lucky owner of the Triumph after the draw.

We asked the CEO of MotoShare, Daan van der Wal, about the reasons behind this campaign. He explains: “MotoShare is all about offering memorable motorcycle experiences. Riding a machine like this is probably the epitome of a unique experience! We have already commissioned three builds in previous years offering magnificent riding memories while increasing brand awareness and gain market share in the Benelux. Magnificent bikes were built by Wrench Kings, Ironwood Motorcycles and Moto Adonis.

These bikes were also rented out and raffled off. Tickets sold like hot cakes and the campaigns have really boosted our growth. But this campaign is more elaborate and we are very proud to collaborate with the magicians at Tamarit on this project. We look forward to further expanding in Spain and Portugal in 2021.”

Introducing ‘The Gotham’
As soon as the bike started to take shape, it was clear that ‘the caped one’ would have been proud to ride it. José Antonio of Tamarit says: “We took a 2007 Triumph Bonneville and turned it into this ominous looking machine. It was during a video call that one of the guys from MotoShare mentioned it looked like it was made for Batman. It was ‘The Gotham’ from there on.”

Continuing: “At Tamarit we only work with Triumph as donor vehicles for the bikes we produce. Their reliability is second to none and this particular bike comes from a gentleman that hardly used it since he became the owner back in 2007.”

Inspiration
With the Batcave as the obvious shed for this machine now firmly planted in our heads we pried a bit further to unearth the source of inspiration for the Spanish team. They replied: “The idea was once more to push the boundaries of the Modern Classic bike concept. We wanted to include anything interesting from the Tamarit family book such has the hollow section under the seat, 16″ fat wheels or the Gullwing front fairing. On top of that, a new part was developed from scratch exclusively for this project : the rear fender.

We’re mostly our own source of inspiration, as we always try to keep the same style but without being repetitive. However, anything from 50 years ago may be used as inspiration. There are definitely beautiful things out there.

The guys at MotoShare were great to work with. They basically gave us ‘carte blanche’ to go wild and create our 81st dream bike. And we did!”

Shine versus friction
No build without challenges. You have to have some friction to get a bike to shine like this one does. “So what kept your fabricators awake at night on this project?” BikeBrewers asked.

José responded: “Adapting newly developed parts is always provoking, since handmade parts do not always fit as they should. The biggest challenge is always to make the most beautiful bike possible but being able to ride it comfortably for a bunch of miles. There are awesome and beautiful bikes out there but if it is something you can’t ride to the max, it becomes a ‘soulless’ bike at the end of the day. On top of that the rider’s back and bottom are bound to object going that extra mile!” he grins mischievously.

How it was done
In order to get Batman’s approval the bike had to go through some rigorous changes. The Triumph is heavily modified from top to bottom. Amongst the most significant changes: smaller (16”) but wider wheels, custom triple tee, frame mod, custom front fairing, custom seat, wiring relocation, empty area under the seat, custom rear fender, custom license plate holder.

Parts: The ‘usual’ Motogadget stuff, turning signals and speedometer, HAGON nitro shocks, KN filters topping it off with a magnificent ZARD exhaust.

José continues: “We absolutely love the overall feeling and looks of ‘The Gotham’. It is probably the finest we’ve ever done alongside the Gullwing models.

We are so happy to have Gotham as the bike for the Motoshare – Tamarit collab. It’s genuinely something out of the common that would help greatly both firms interests and aims. As every other classic-styled vehicle, you don’t want to pull a ‘Willy Fogg’ with this bike but it does ride awesome. You definitely can feel the pull while revving the engine. An all-round sports classic bike.”

Expert view
Normally we ask the builder about the handling of his machine. Having been the first one to ever ride ‘The Gotham’ it is BikeBrewer Thierry who has the final word this time: “The magicians from Tamarit have done an amazing job.” he says.

Continuing: “It took us over half a year to get everything together on this project. Not that there were many complications on the build, but putting all the pieces together on this cool marketing exercise was not easy. Especially the insurance bit.

With that all behind us, it was such a joy to have the honour to ride this dream on wheels! It handles perfectly and the mechanics have added an nice extra punch to this carburettor version. Riding ‘The Gotham’ makes you fantasize about being Batman in hot pursuit of the villains.
Pure unadulterated fun!

Interested in winning this bike? Check out: MotoShare-Tamarit

Builder details:
Builder
email: info@tamaritmotorcycles.com
Instagram
Facebook
phone: +34 966363832

other credits:
Rider: Thierry Tronquit Prats
Photographer: Gonzalo (Enigma) Martín
apparel: Sa1nt

The post ‘The Gotham’ by Tamarit & MotoShare appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

The Lisbon based brewers of Maria Riding Company have a respectful track record filled with awesome custom motorcycles, mainly built for their customers. Just like this Triumph Bonneville Scrambler.

Their customer had no clear instructions. “Our client just wanted big all terrain tires, nice brakes, suspensions and a respectful sound”. After building several Bonnie’s, it seems hard to build something new, fresh and unique, but I think they really pulled of a great bike.

The design was inspired by 2nd worldwar military vehicles and called it “Luther”. No big meaning behind it they say, but the bike has a personality and need a cool name.

Mods:

• Custom seat
• Chopped rear
• LSL handlebar
• Harley Vintage head light
• New back light
• New turn signals with handmade brackets
• Aluminum mudguard
• New sprocket cover
• New chain & sprocket
• Zard exhaust system
• LSL ignition relocator
• Small speedo with custom bracket
• Aluminum skid plate
• Posh Custom grips
• Complete new paint job
• Metzeler Karoo 3 tires

Like this Triumph Bonneville Scrambler? Check out this one, also built by MRC.

Follow Maria Riding Company:

Website | Facebook

The post Triumph Bonneville Scrambler by Maria Riding Company appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Great and subtle design with some powerful upgrades like progressive front suspension, Öhlins rear shocks and a Supertrapp exhaust system (full mod list below).

Although the design of the original Bonnie is still in tact, the list of mods is extensive:

• Billtwell Tracker handlebars & grips
• Bates style headlight with grille
• Motogadget tiny speedometer plus M-tri device
• Custom fiber glass side panels, front & rear mudguard
• Öhlins rear shocks
• Progressive Hagon front springs suspension
• Custom subframe
• Custom seat
• Metzeler Tourance tires (110 + 140)
• Alloy
• Racy levers
• Ignition relocation
• Relocated rectifier
• Wrapped Supertrapp exhausts
• New overall paint job
• New turn signals and rear light

Check out Macco Motors on:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

The post Triumph T100 Bonneville by Macco Motors appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

• Custom Polished Alloy Mudguards Front and Rear
• Down & Out Head Light and Brackets with Micro Bullet Indicators
• Single Clock Conversion
• Down & Out Short Seat and Loop Conversion
• Bates Style Tail Light
• Tracker Bars
• LSL Ignition Relocater & Chain Guard
• Down & Out Twin End Cans
• Shorter Air Box Covers with Down & Out Logo.

These bikes are for sale at £9500 (+/- $14,450).

The post Triumph T100 Bonneville by Down & Out appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Their modifications were thorough:

• New custom made seat
• Shortened back frame
• New tires from Continental TKC80
• New handlebar by LSL
• New small headlight
• New aluminum back mudguard
• New backlight
• New sprocket cover from LSL
• New aluminum Renthal sprocket
• New Exhaust system from Arrow
• Ignition relocation by LSL
• New turnlights and hand made aluminum supports
• New speedo and aluminum support plate
• New aluminum skid plate
• New grips from Posh
• New aluminum side plates custom made
• Paintjob: Original tank, rims, hubs, valve cover, carbs cover, mudguard, engine covers

They also tuned up the carbs to get some more power and throttle response.

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