Tag: Motorcycle

Sean Skinner is the Jekyll and Hyde of custom motorcycles. Sometimes he builds tidy restomods that show restraint, and other times he builds idiosyncratic machines that put his imagination on full display. This sublime Yamaha RD350 street tracker sits somewhere in the middle. Sean runs MotoRelic as a one-man band, out of a small garage behind his house in Hamilton, Virginia, USA. This project was commissioned by a customer who had picked up a 1973 Yamaha RD350 for $350 (a proper

The moment we saw this outrageous custom BMW R 1300 R, we thought of Philip Ludwig. A veteran of the Sultans of Sprint series and the man behind Kraftstoffschmiede, he’s made a name for himself building wild, boxer-powered BMWs—like his 2019 stunner, Achilles. Our suspicions were right. Philipp has been with BMW for years, working in both the automotive and motorcycle divisions, and is currently part of Motorrad’s R&D team. This R 13

The 1980s film, The Blues Brothers, follows Jake and Elwood Blues on ‘a mission from god’ to reunite their band for a performance and raise money to save their childhood orphanage. The duo’s aura of sublime simplicity is complemented by a monochromatic wardrobe, consisting of black suits, ties, fedora hats, and Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. Even after dark, the Ray-Bans took what could be a plain, G-man appearance to the epitome of cool. For motorcycle riders, sunglasses aren’t just an expression of style. They can be essential for protecting your eyes from wind and debris, not to mention reducing glare a

Every summer, devout BMW enthusiasts from across the United States and Canada gather at the BMW Motorcycle Owners Association’s annual rally. This group of passionate riders gathers to camp, break bread and celebrate all things BMW. This year’s event, held in Lebanon, Tennessee, included camping, concerts, riding seminars and demos, the Wall of Death and countless other attractions. New this year was The Builder’s Best Custom Motorcycle Show. The sho

Triumph’s current crop of modern classics shows real divergence from model to model. From differences in engine size and tuning, to model-specific geometry and variations in parts that go beyond basic trim, each bike is built for a purpose. But that wasn’t always the case. Back in the air-cooled era, the Bonneville, Thruxton, and Scrambler were separated more by styling cues and ergonomics than substance. This approach to platform sharing was the inspiration behind this Triumph Bonneville

For survivalists, the rule of 3s is a tool used to prioritize needs to survive less-than-ideal situations. The basic concept is that you can survive three minutes without oxygen, three hours of hypothermia, three days without water, and three weeks without food. While many motorcyclists may say they need their motorcycle as much as the air they breathe, the reality is that we can often be caught in inclement weather. And riding in cold and wet conditions can quickly lead to hypothermic conditions. While you can sometimes duck under an overpass to avoid getting saturated, there are products on the market that ensure you can keep

Gloves are easy to overlook. They’re small, relatively inexpensive and usually not the first thing you ogle when you step into a gear shop. But ask any seasoned rider who’s gone down at speed—your hands are often the first things to hit the pavement. So choosing the right motorcycle gloves isn’t just about comfort or aesthetics. Motorcycle gloves have evolved far beyond stitched leather and knuckle padding. Today’s market is awash with everything from featherweight motocross mitts to carbon-laced gauntlets pulled straight from the MotoGP paddock. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options, you’re not alone.

Cowboys roamed the vast American countryside in the late 19th Century, often with nothing more than their horse and a bedroll. There have been countless songs, poems, and paintings romanticizing their exploits; however, it was often lonely and treacherous work. These conditions are not unfamiliar to the modern motorcycle rider. Unlike the cowboys of the past, modern technology arms the savvy traveler with new levels of comfort, but a shelter that is good for one rider may not be the best option for another. While adventure bikes and baggers have more storage space, some motorcycles require more creative solutions.

Our weekly offering to the gods of speed is bookended with Suzukis. We start with a Katana from the masters at AC Sanctuary and end with a look at the new Suzuki GSX-8T and GSX-8TT. Wedged between them is a modern Honda Fireblade that pays tribute to Freddie Spencer’s NS500.

You might not know Sam Clercx’s name, but you’ve seen his work. He launched his career at the tender age of 15 as an intern at Ironwood Motorcycles, under the guidance of Arjan van den Boom. He’s had a hand in many of the amazing machines that have graced our pages—and he’s learned a thing or two, judging by this beautifully executed BMW boxer bobber. “I was there with Arjan when he built