The primary two bikes on our listing this week show that there’s customization potential in each bike. A customized Kawasaki ER-6N from Indonesia leads the cost, adopted by a customized Buell XB12X Ulysses from Italy. Moto Borgotaro teases us with a surprising 1983 Ducati 600 TT2, and Tamarit proves their mastery of Triumph bikes with a menacing Triumph Bobber.
Kawasaki ER-6N by Katros Storage A fast scroll via Katros Storage’s social media channels yields spectacular outcomes. Andi Akbar, the workshop’s founder and proprietor, and his group have been pumping out all method of customized bikes for some years. From choppers to café racers and the whole lot in between, the Indonesian outfit is one among Southeast Asia’s finest.
For this practice Kawasaki ER-6N mission, Katros Storage teamed up with Ziko, a fellow Indonesian {and professional} drift racer. Ziko is keen on a pleasant bike, however that is his first customized bike, so he wished it to be as simple to journey as potential. With the temporary calling for upright ergonomics, chunky rubber, and futuristic model, the group selected a avenue tracker construct.
A bone-stock 2017 Kawasaki ER-6N was wheeled into the storage and, two months later, this emerged. The underpinnings of the bike stay as Kawasaki supposed, with Katros focussing their efforts on the aesthetics.
A brand new entrance fork cowl was formed from a sheet of 1.2 mm metal by hand, flowing effortlessly right into a customized headlight shroud. LED flip indicators are barely seen on the fork covers. The tank and radiator shrouds had been carried over from the inventory bike.
The stomach pan and seat cowl had been additionally formed by hand from the identical metal because the fork cowl. A Ducati Monster Evo 1100 served because the inspiration for the seat, as its ergonomics suited Ziko properly. The seat works so effectively with the manufacturing unit tank that you just’d suppose it was inventory.
The again finish has a Triumph Trident 660 vibe, and we love how the built-in facet covers flare out like wings. Three-in-one LED lights are embedded into the rear of the seat, which is completed with a discrete Katros Storage brand.
The wheels are inventory (17” back and front), however they’re adorned with customized wheel covers. Created from 2 mm aluminum, they lend an aggressive stance to the ER6. Retaining with the theme, Katros selected a set of Shinko E805s to wrap the wheels with; a suitably chunky 130/80-17 up entrance and a whopping 170-60-17 on the again.
Drift racing isn’t essentially the most inconspicuous sport, so a wild paint scheme was on the playing cards from the start. Sweet apple pink paint with airbrushed stripes and daring Motul logos had been splashed on, paying tribute to Ziko’s sponsor and making this ER-6N stand out much more.
“We attempt to make individuals open their minds to any bike,” Andi provides. “Regardless of how ugly, they’ll nonetheless be lovely when modified with the suitable idea and soul.” [Katros Garage]
Buell XB12X Ulysses by Gdesign Buell’s first try at an adventure-touring bike, the XB12X Ulysses, utilized all of Buell’s packaging improvements. It had an aluminum perimeter body gasoline tank, hole swingarm oil tank, and entrance perimeter brakes—however it wrapped them up in a rugged package deal with a cushty (however very tall) seat and handlebars. It was quirky, little doubt, however it’s gone on to construct a cult following.
When a 2006-model Buell XB12X appeared at Giacomo Galbiati’s GDesign studio, he thought the Ulysses might use a bit extra off-road taste. So he remodeled it into the imply machine you see right here, dubbed ‘La Bulla.’
“The mission comes from my ardour for the Buell model, mixed with off-road journey,” explains Giacomo. “In my thoughts, it means having the ability to grind out kilometers on asphalt or filth with out limits. All of the adjustments made to La Bulla go precisely on this course.”
Imbuing an aggressive, edgy design into the bike meant that Giacomo removed most of Buell’s authentic bodywork. All of the modifications had been made by hand—and the listing is in depth.
The entrance finish now sports activities a customized GPS navigation tower and makes use of the dual manufacturing unit headlights. The tower is totally customizable and presently incorporates a waterproof cellphone case, a digital dashboard, and twin USB shops. Tall, huge handlebars had been bolted on with a Domino throttle, billet switchgear, and a grasp cylinder from Braking.
A pair of spoked wheels was sourced, together with dirt-appropriate journey tires. The ‘tank shroud’ (which is only a cowl for the airbox) was changed with a customized aluminum unit. The seat was additionally made out of scratch, with a utilitarian leather-based saddle paired with a customized baggage rack and an LED taillight
The body and swingarm had been despatched off to be micro-peened and handled to a clear end, to keep away from oxidation. The 1200 cc Sportster engine was overhauled and fitted with an HP Corse muffler and hyperlink pipe.
The belt-drive was transformed to chain and the suspension was jacked by an inch back and front. Now geared up with Hyperpro springs, this Ulysses is greater than prepared for off-road forays.
With all of the manufacturing unit bodywork gone, the bike weighs 30 kg [66 lbs] much less. The bike lately gained an award on the Italian Bike Week in September 2023 and positioned among the many first on the prestigious Huge Twin Bike Present in Holland. Whereas the pared-back industrial model gained’t be everybody’s cup of tea, it’s arduous to not recognize the craftsmanship. [GDesign Instagram | Photos by Mattia Negrini]
Bought: 1983 Ducati 600 TT2 at Moto Borgotaro An engine on the restrict of the laws, light-weight the whole lot, and a bunch of gifted riders. That’s the essential story of the Championship-winning Ducati 600 TT2. Unveiled in 1981, the bike was designed by Fabio Taglioni for the System 2 racing sequence.
The TT2 was going up towards the Japanese four-cylinder bikes of the day, so Taglioni’s insistence on minimizing weight was on the forefront of its success. The trellis body weighed a mere 7 kg [15.4 lbs] and was mated to a light-weight mono-shock swingarm and totally adjustable Marzocchi entrance forks with magnesium lowers. It rolled on light-weight Campagnolo rims, and Ducati even went as far as to drill out the cogs within the gearbox to shave off much more weight.
The engine was from a Ducati Pantah, however it was bored out by 1 mm to present a complete displacement of 597 cc; 14 cc greater than a inventory Pantah. Racing cams (operated by Ducati’s now-famous Desmodromic system), bigger valves, and a ten:1 compression ratio had the TT2 pump out 78 hp at 10,500 rpm.
Serving to issues alongside had been a pair of smooth-bore 41 mm Dell’Orto carbs, modified by Malossi. The engine additionally featured uncovered camshafts and a magnesium major cowl for further weight saving.
This TT2 particularly was lately provided on the market via Moto Borgotaro. It’s been effectively preserved during the last 25 years and appears nearly model new. From the fairing to the unique componentry, the whole machine is a rolling murals. Even when it weren’t an integral piece of Ducati historical past, it could nonetheless be an exceptionally fascinating bike.
On the time of scripting this, the TT2 was nonetheless on the market, however Moto Borgotaro’s web site now lists it as offered. And that’s no shock—that is an unbelievable instance of an especially uncommon mannequin, and has the excellence of being one among solely two TT2s ever imported into Japan.
It will look nice in any Ducatisti’s assortment, however we expect it could look even higher smashing down the straightaway in a classic bike racing occasion. [More]
Triumph Bobber by Tamarit Bikes Plainly Tamarit Bikes is consistently in our information cycle—however with over 180 builds to their title, it’s simple to see why. The Triumph specialists have simply produced one other banger, with this beefed-up Triumph Bobber.
Tamarit got down to “showcase the total potential that the bobber model can supply.” So reasonably than attempt to flip it into one thing it’s not, they selected to lean into the Bobber’s inherent model and accentuated its traces. The silhouette is recognizable, however Tamarit has thrown a number of fascinating particulars into the combo to show it right into a extra aggressive beast.
To attain this, the crew fabricated a brand new tail part, mixing it with the gasoline tank to create a monocoque physique that flows effortlessly alongside the spine of the body. Multi-function LED lighting was built-in into the again of the seat to maintain the bike highway authorized and a black Alcantara saddle was draped on high. The best way the seat pad runs onto the highest of the tank has turn out to be a signature contact for Tamarit.
The subframe was modified to accommodate the brand new tail, shortening the already-truncated Bobber design. One other notable change is the swingarm cowl, which wraps across the rear wheel and offers the fragile Triumph swingarm rather more presence. It seems so good, that Tamarit will likely be making it accessible on the market quickly.
The Henry Ford-dictated shade scheme of black, black, and black prompted Tamarit to switch the exhaust with a customized Zard piece. Öhlins forks and customized triple clamps had been additionally bolted on, with a lean-sensitive LED headlight fitted to the fork clamp beneath a Motogadget Motoscope dashboard. Bar-end mirrors and Motogadget flip indicators had been added to the brand new drag-style handlebars.
A pair of attractive tubeless spoked wheels from Kineo was put in too, together with wave brake rotors and Avon AV66 rubber. And, like most of Tamarit’s bikes, the bike’s wiring is now run by a Motogadget mo.unit controller.
A customized stomach spoiler was made to suit the entrance of the engine, additional enhancing the Bobber’s aggressive model. The ignition was relocated to the left facet of the bike, simply above a neat storage field that provides the barest trace of practicality. Customized badges spherical out one other modern construct from the Spanish powerhouse.
It’s all black, all bobber, and all Tamarit. [More]
