The customized scene’s calendar is stacked with bike reveals the world over—however none of them are fairly just like the Yokohama Scorching Rod Customized Present. Colloquially often known as ‘Mooneyes’ (named for the corporate that organizes it), it’s a present as distinctive because the Japanese customized scene itself.
Held within the Pacifico Yokohama exhibition heart, Mooneyes has the distinctive distinction of being a one-day-only occasion. Which is a bit loopy, when you think about the sheer quantity of customized bikes and sizzling rods on show, and the sprawling vendor stalls that line every finish of the venue. Nonetheless, Mooneyes is a must-visit.
Our good pals and proficient pictures energy couple, Marc Holstein and Christine Gabler, are large followers of the present—and Japanese tradition basically. They attended their first Mooneyes in 2019 and had deliberate to return the next 12 months. However then the pandemic hit, and world lockdowns left them stranded at residence in Germany.
By December of final 12 months, issues had principally returned to regular, and one other pilgrimage to Mooneyes was on the playing cards for Marc and Christine. Since we couldn’t be there ourselves, we hit them up for a report.
“After Japan lastly opened its borders once more, it was clear that we needed to go and eventually meet up with pals and kinfolk, and begin engaged on private initiatives once more,” says Marc. “We managed to mix all the pieces with a go to to one of many world’s most interesting customized reveals.”
“The Mooneyes present was spectacular, to say the least. As common, it was completely organized—and the extent of the customized builds was merely jaw-dropping.”
Since this was the present’s thirtieth anniversary, the customized builders that attended pulled out all of the stops. Frequent present customer, Winston Yeh of Tough Crafts [above], was in attendance once more. Though he’s based mostly in Taiwan, he retains an in depth eye on the Japanese scene.
“They by no means copy others, they usually don’t care concerning the world’s traits,” he says. “All of them attempt to develop their very own distinctive type, so there’s by no means a necessity to check worth or struggle one another. If a buyer likes your type they’ll come to you, plain and easy.”
“You may see that café racers will not be the primary focus of the present,” Marc provides. “However there have been definitely some good examples to see.”
“Nevertheless, the chopper builds had been merely excellent—and for anyone that comes from a very completely different motorcycling background, I’ve to say that I fell in love with a number of the builds proven. The extent of element, the paint jobs, the perfection…it’s exhausting to place into phrases.”
We’ve already profiled the bike that gained the ‘Finest Element Work’ award at this version of the HRCS; a surprising Harley Dyna by Takuya Aikawa at Sureshot. And tomorrow, we’ll have an unique on the ‘Finest in Present’ winner; a mind-blowing shovelhead from the Japanese customized scene stalwart, Customized Works Zon [above].
Examine again later this month too, after we’ll be that includes the most recent construct from Cherry’s Firm builder, Kaichiroh Kurosu. It’s based mostly on a BMW HP2 Sport—and like all the pieces Kurosu-san touches, it’s out of this world.
We requested Winston and Marc to listing their private favorites from the present. “I used to be debating between Sureshot’s new bike, Customized Works Zon’s full aluminum bike, and Humongous Customized Cycles’ shovelhead—which could be very near my style,” Winston tells us.
“A number of that I wish to point out could be Customized Works Zon, Conceal Motorbike, and Hammers Cycle with their lovely knucklehead seaside racer. Winston from Tough Crafts additionally introduced his customized Royal Enfield to the present.”
Poring over Marc and Christine’s pictures has us jonesing to return to Mooneyes. The visible overload of extremely imaginative automobiles, all crammed into one chaotic day, juxtaposed towards Japan’s distinctly well mannered tradition; it’s one thing to behold.
After which there’s the folks themselves. Most of Japan’s prime customized builders are concurrently probably the most proficient and most humble folks you’ll ever meet. It’s nearly as in the event that they don’t notice fairly how a lot they blow the remainder of the world’s minds with the extent of creativity and craftsmanship that they produce; to them, it’s enterprise as common.
All this to say, when you haven’t been to Mooneyes but, add it to your bucket listing proper now. You gained’t be disillusioned.
Photographs by, and with particular due to, Marc Holstein and Christine Gabler
