The modern-day Honda CB350 is one of those motorcycles we wished was available in more parts of the world. It first broke cover in India, where it’s produced, and later rolled out to Japan as the rebadged GB350. You can get it in Taiwan too, where it’s officially called the Honda H’ness CB350—but you can forget about buying one in Europe or the USA. That’s a real shame, because the Honda CB350 is about as adorable and approachable as factory bikes get. Its 348.4 cc single-cylinder engine squeezes out 21 hp and 30 Nm, and it sports modern amenities like LED lighting. It’s not too bad looking e ..read more

Our friends at Australia’s Purpose Built Moto lead the charge this week, with a stunning custom Ducati Monster S2R that recalls the iconic Paul Smart Ducatis. We then hop over to Indonesia to profile a sassy Yamaha MT-25-turned-adventure bike, look at a vintage Triumph T140 from Spain, and drool over a classic Honda CB450 with a modern engine swap. Ducati Monster S2R by Purpose Built Moto Hotdogs and ketchup, pasta and Parmigiano Reggiano, Ferrari and the color red; some things were just made for each other. For us, it’s Ducatis with teal green frames and silver metallic bodywork. This used ..read more

Tourists flock to Indonesia for its beaches, volcanoes, and temples. But our interest in the Southeast Asian archipelagic state is more mechanical in nature. The Indonesian custom motorcycle scene is brimming with creativity and talent, and the country’s top custom builders have become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. Andika Pratama is one of the Indonesian scene’s shining stars. He runs Krom Works—a three-man operation in South Jakarta. But the commission for this elegant custom Harley Sportster came from 7,000 miles away in Geneva, Switzerland. The project kicked off ..read more

Six months ago, BMW Motorrad gave us a taste of the first major overhaul to the immensely popular R nineT—the renamed BMW R 12 nineT. Since then, murmurs have persisted that the R 12 nineT won’t be the only new bike released on the updated heritage boxer platform. The Bavarian powerhouse has just confirmed this, with the unveiling of the new BMW R 12 cruiser [above]. Yes, cruiser. Despite the legacy of the oft-maligned BMW R1200C and the lackluster reception that the R18 has received, BMW is insistent that what the people want is a boxer-powered cruiser. That said, the R 12 might be their sha ..read more

CCM Motorcycles epitomizes the symbiosis between motorcycle manufacturers and the custom scene. The boutique British brand’s offerings are all based on the same lightweight single, and they all riff on popular custom styles. So motorcycle customization is quite literally baked into what they do. Now CCM is taking things up a notch, by offering a commission service that will pretty much go as deep as your pockets allow. This CCM Tracker and Roadster are the first two commissioned bikes off the production line—and despite how good they look, they only scratch the surface of what’s on offer. Th ..read more

The donor bikes for this week’s selection of tasty customs couldn’t be more diverse. First, XTR Pepo offers up a custom Ducati Scrambler. Then we feature a Royal Enfield Bullet 500 from Indonesia, a vintage Triumph TR6 Trophy from Down Under, and a Cyberpunk-inspired Kawasaki ER-6N. Ducati Scrambler by XTR Pepo Pepo Rosell is no stranger to the Ducati brand. Not only did he work for a few Ducati importers, but he also started the Spanish workshop Radical Ducati, which pumped out scores of lithe, fast, Italian twins from his Spanish workshop. These days he runs under the XTR Pepo banner, and ..read more

“I’ve never sat on a running Norton before,” photographer Marian Sell announces proudly. He’s just finished dialing in this 750 cc Seeley Norton Commando—a process that involved multiple heat cycles, ignition timing adjustments, carb syncing sessions, cylinder head re-torques, and valve clearance resets. Now, a year after buying it as a rolling chassis, Marian’s first functioning Norton is finally complete. “It runs like a clockwork,” he adds. “It reminds me of the Porsche 928 my grandfather owned when I was a kid, in terms of the engine sound and feel. It has a very solid pull in the mid-ran ..read more

It’s no secret that we’re suckers for a good dual-Sporty around here. The premise of turning a V-twin cruiser into a dirt-flinging scrambler is not only cheeky, but it proves the Sportster’s endearing versatility. And this Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 scrambler is a stellar example of the genre. It’s the work of Ruler—a Japanese custom bike workshop headed up by Takeshi Mizuta. Mizuta-san racks up more mileage each year than most, commuting 75 miles by bike every day. So he’s all about building custom motorcycles that are fun and functional. Ruler has a couple of Sportster scramblers under ..read more

As one of its pre-eminent voices, Winston Yeh’s contribution to the modern custom motorcycle scene is undeniable. But where does he draw influence for his Rough Crafts creations from? This custom Harley Fat Boy offers a surprising clue. “I’m a huge fan of the chopper era,” Winston tells us from his studio in Taipei, Taiwan. “West Coast Choppers, Motorcycle Mania, Biker Build-Off; these were my heroes when I was still in school. The wild, fat rear tire, high handlebars, and Frisco tank look was the pinnacle of badass-ness for me.” Winston’s custom Harleys are far removed from the raked-out, g ..read more

In case you missed it, the massive annual motorcycle trade show, EICMA, has been happening all week. We’ve covered more EICMA news this year than we usually do—but as the show draws to a close, we’ve spotted a few additional titbits that we didn’t get around to. Below, you’ll find news on the new Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 30° Anniversario 916, MV Agusta LXP Orioli, the Honda NX500, and Royal Enfield’s electric Himalayan prototype. And if you’re missing your weekly dose of customs, rest assured—Speed Read will return next week. Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 30° Anniversario 916 Limited editions are all ..read more