Only Real Motorheads Can Name The Base Motorcycles From These Bike Mods
- by Arun Pundir
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Modding motorcycles and superbikes is not a new fad. All of us personalize our rides in ways big and small - we want our cars to reflect our personality and quirks. We want our rides to look ours in unmistakable ways. So modding bikes and cars basically becomes an extension of our personality. Of course, some people take the extreme route to this.
Case in question, these examples of extreme modifications of motorcycles that are done so well, no one can recognize the base bike it originally was. Unless they are true motorheads. Obviously, the people who have worked on these custom mods are the ones who really know their stuff – these bikes are not put together just like that. The experts who modded them took their time, spent big bucks and knew their stuff. And all sorts of base bikes were used to create these wonders – there are old classics and superbikes that were mercilessly taken apart before being built back into something incredibly unique.
That’s another thing about a mod done right, it makes for a vehicle that no one has or will ever have. When these custom guys are done with their job, it doesn’t even matter what the base motorcycle was, to begin with, considering they can amp even the weakest of engines into works of art. So check out these bike modifications and test if the base bike is easy to spot underneath all that custom work, or not!
Name the Japanese base bike underneath all this Yankee enthusiasm...
Like baseball and the Yankees? Those who do may like this bike then, custom-made by Mike Corbin at the Unique Custom Shop. Take a gander at what he did to this sportbike and a Yankee theme. Custom illustrations, chunky tires, as well as a bat, a ball, and a glove. This monster is perfect to be ridden to a game, and can literally cheer with you by jumping up and down! The base bike is from the Japanese stable of superbikes, and its name means a bird.
Which BMW motorcycle has the Diamond Atelier Cafe Racer been built upon?
This bike has been customized by Munich-based custom bike organization Diamond Atelier founded by Tom Konecny and Pablo Steigleder in 2013. These guys are known for their work in custom mods, especially, with BMW superbikes. Stripped down to minimum necessities, this bike was rewired to make it a cafe racer and then got a brand new paint job. The gold hubs with custom black wheels rode on Continental tires and really cool custom seats for a comfortable ride that could zip when it needed to.
Which Indian motorcycle was used to make this Indian and Jack Daniel collaboration?
There's a certain beauty about this bike and its white, white tires. You can think of it as a lovechild of the Indian brand of motorcycles, and Jack Daniels - two brands that are older than many of us combined. This bike was made to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Jack Daniels Black Label and the 115-year-old heritage of the Indian motorcycles, so the cask-like wooden bells and whistles are easy to explain and great to look at. Plus those tires can blind!
A French designer used a Japanese motorcycle to build this awesome cafe racer. Recognize the base bike?
This motorcycle was made by Sacha Lakic, a French designer. He built this Café Racer from a bike from Japanese manufacturer Honda. Suffice to say, it looks nothing like the motorcycle it once was because there are far too many custom parts in and on it, to count. The motorcycle caught Sasha's attention as it languished in a friend's garage and he went on to build this masterpiece with a custom exhaust and much more in a minimalistic, edgy design.
Which old Honda bike was turned into this masterpiece by Strange Coast Moto?
The base bike here is an old, old Honda one – the kind that could take you from place A to place B in relative ease, but definitely not speed. A lot of the base bike has been replaced; the front is actually from a 945RR while the gas tank is that of a CX500. Not just that, the creator managed to install a car’s turbocharger take off a Volkswagen Golf to power up the bike and increase its performance.
Which Kawasaki motorcycle was used as a base for this Brazil-made Mr. Ride custom?
Mostly, you do not find Brazil-made customizations in the market. And that’s because parts are super expensive in that part of the world. This did not deter the owners of motorcycle modification and customization company, Mr. Ride - Flavio Vanna and Fabio Mattioli even one bit. So they went about building a whole new bike around this famous bike, so named after great martial artists. The coolest bit it that many customizations were handmade including that boxy fuel tank that sits just right.
Name the two-stroke Yamaha motorcycle than went into creating the Scrambler by Ranger Korat.
This may come as a shock, but the base bike here is a Yamaha two-stroke bike, known for reliability but definitely not performance or speed. But with the custom mod it got, it looks ready to take on anything the Supermoto throws at it. The bulk of the modifications done by Ranger Korat involve performance, thus keeping the motorcycle's weight light enough to be raced across any dirt or mud track. Beefy tires also add charm and grip to it.
The tank of this 80s motorcycle rhymes with the name of the modded one, Fusqvarna.
This motorcycle was built by Felix and his custom company, Le Garage Felix – using the Honda FX650 as the base. The most notable thing about this bike is that it borrowed the gas tank of a rather well-known 70s and 80s dirt bike, and took it nomenclature inspiration from it as well. The FX650 was literally denuded of just about everything and even got a complete engine overhaul. Custom Pirelli tires add to its charm, performance as well as power.
Which Kawasaki bike was modified to make the Metal Mulisha as an ode to Brian Deegan?
Metal Mulisha is a clothing brand by professional freestyle motocross racer Brian Deegan, who coincidentally is also one of the primary founders of freestyle motocross. Considering he started the craze, at least partly, it’s only fair that his clothing brand gets a motorcycle fan. This custom was developed by Break Lites Motorsports, who worked on a base Japanese bike to get the look in place. Notice the rear drive chain? Coupled with the caliper, it looks like an electric saw!
This Kawa-Sharpie was hand-painted using a Sharpie. Name the Kawasaki model used as the base...
The Kawa-Sharpie takes inspiration from the Sharpie Lambo that has been painstakingly painted by a sharpie pen by a graffiti artist in Miami. The Lambo was a son’s way of paying homage to the Lamborghini dealership so passed to him by his dad. The Kawa-Sharpie was similarly modified by Break Lites Motorsports with some custom body fairing in white, and even the rims were coated with white powder paint. The Sharpie custom body pain was done by an art student, using a Sharpie for hours on end.
Which motorcycle's engine does the SBstunts T-Rex 16S three-wheeled motorcycle use?
Like three-wheeled motorcycles? They give the thrill of the ride, with the safety of an additional wheel for balance. So it feels and rides like a motorcycle, but it has three wheels instead. While this motorcycle has not been modded upon a single base bike, it does the use the engine of a big British auto giant that churns out luxury cars as well as luxury bikes. It’s called the T-Rex 16s, possibly because it looks like the skull of one.
Brandon Hochman won this as a raffle prize in Ride 4 Haiti. Identify the Suzuki model used as base.
Brandon Hochman really wanted this motorcycle, and we believe he really wants to help the world as well. He maxed out his ATM just to buy enough raffle tickets to get it, partly because of its good looks and reliability, and partly because helping the world seemed like a nice thing to do. Ever since the bought this Japanese-manufactured motorcycle, he has been riding for humanity, pets, and several other causes as well - enough to give us hope for humanity in the process.
Which company makes the Ruckus, the scooter so modded into the Iron Eddie?
This may look like a monster, but it’s nothing more than a modded scooter, that a respected Japanese manufacturer churns out by the dozens. Scooters may not be very popular in domestic markets, but in third-world countries, they are a very important means of transport. The mod here is all about style – considering it has literally turned this scooter into a cruiser that can be driven only by a man with rather epic proportions and limb. And it’s red enough to make a ruckus!
The Cha-Cha Garwood custom has been done on a Kawasaki sports tourer. Identify it.
One big, fat and very orange motorcycle – this one has been customized by Garwood Custom Cycles into some sort of a big, bad beast. The original cowls and fairing have been replaced by something which is not just bigger but a whole lot faster as well. The whole look is very Oriental and a tad garish for normal everyday rides. It’s been named the Cha-Cha (pronounced as Sha-Sha) considering it must well be smoothly moving or dancing on the roads.
The base bike is a flagship model of Kawasaki, and a sports tourer as well. Which is it?
Again a Kawasaki sports tourer, the base motorcycle is one of the flagship models of this brand. The paint job makes it look strangely skeletal and a lot scary, and it’s not just about looks alone. Initially, all the custom done on this was purely cosmetic, until the engine blew. After then, Kona, the owner who self-customized this motorcycle worked on the working as well and actually turned it into a super beast in the engine department too. It looks mean and drives fast.
Name the 125cc Honda motorcycle used as a base to create the Garwood Flash.
Imagine adding the power of nitrous oxide to a 125cc motorcycle. If all was done technically correct, the results are likely to be powerful and rather awe-inspiring. Apparently, the 125cc motor in the original Honda motorcycle has been replaced with a 183cc piston motor version to give it added power. With the neon paint job and graphics, this custom mod now looks like the speedster it is, rather than the sedate bike it once was. The name is Flash, and the mod has been done by Garwood Custom Cycles.
Which flagship Yamaha motorcycle was used as a base to make this VIP CJ Velez mod?
If this rode by us, we’d be craning our necks for a double or triple look too. This red and white classic mod has been done on a famous flagship brand of the Yamaha, classified as a supersport motorcycle. The VIP rims look good, and the repaint that this custom mod as given really increases its style quotient. The customization was done by C J Velez, and almost every part of this motorcycle was replaced or at least repainted to set it apart.
Which Suzuki "bird" went into making this custom Fat Tire?
The first thing you see on this bike are those impressive shockers, the second is that big, fat rear tire. And the third has to be those graphics. This particular Suzuki bird has been customized by Dusty Johnson for ex-wheelie champion Chris McInnes who really loves big tires it seems. The tank has obviously been replaced, as has the seat, and the exhaust and a lot more. The bike is clearly as unique a mod as can ever be with its stunning looks.
Which Suzuki motorcycle went into making this edgy Carlos Mortagua mod?
We have never seen an edgier bike – it looks all bones and power and even has a rather morbid name in the Disturbed Cadaver. It was modded by Carlos Mortagua, owner of the Mortagua Fighter, a Portuguese custom motorcycle company. The exteriors are so sharp, literally, it could slice parts of the rider if there was laxity in the ride. The bike beneath is nearly unrecognizable, but it is a 1993 Suzuki model that did pretty well in its heydays.
Which base motorcycle was turned into this unbelievable Flying Pharaoh?
This is one very Egyptian-themed mod, considering the name is The Flying Pharaoh. When this particular motorcycle moves, watching the carbon fiber Dymag wheels is like poetry in motion. The base bike was a Suzuki one but parts of other motorcycles were also put in - like the seat and the tail unit from an MV Agusta F4, and the sea pad from a Ducati. The exhaust was also rewired to better fit the MV Agusta F4 tail unit and the paint job set it even more apart.
The Predator custom mod uses a famous Suzuki superbike as a base. Identify it
Honestly, if anyone ever saw this motorcycle tailgating them in the rearview mirror, they'd put the brake so fast, it would set a new world record. Why? Because this is the scariest looking beast, ever. You'd expect to see something like this in horror movies, not on a road in real life. Basically, this is a Predator-themed vehicle, wherein the engine of the base superbike has been maintained but the cowls and fairing have been custom-replace and painted to match the gory theme.
Which Yamaha chopper was chopped up to make this rad custom mod?
This motorcycle takes naked to a whole different level, taking the seat itself to a terribly contemporary smallness. It may ultimately be a comfortable ride, but it certainly does not look it. It has been modified from a Yamaha chopper by a Japanese group of artists who call themselves The Uglies. Most of the replaced parts have been homemade to a great extent and frankly, the custom mod looks ways different than any chopper anyone has ever seen. The suspension may not be too great on this one though.
Which 1998-Yamaha Supermoto motorcycle was gently converted to make the FTW400?
This motorcycle was customized and then named the Flat Track Weapon 400 – possibly because on a flat track, it could outrun and out-ride just about anything on wheels. The base motorcycle used was a 1998-introduced Yamaha 250-cc four-stroke motorcycle that gave the track almost 50 horsepower of great performance. The side fairing has been removed as has the extended tail unit and there have been plenty internal modifications as well to increase the performance and power of this bike and make it fit for just about any track.
A 1974 Moto Guzzi motocycle's engine went into making the Dustbin Racer. Which one is it?
With these rather classy looks, we do not know this custom mod so created by Craig Rodsmith was dubbed the Dustbin. Most of the motorcycle has been built by scratch but two previous Moto Guzzi motorcycle parts make the main components. The frame of the motorcycle has been taken from the 1969 A-series Ambassador but the engine comes from a 197 Moto Guzzi, the name of which indicated to the lost city of gold. It’s a really beautiful custom motorcycle and reports say was sold instantly.
Which touring BMW motorcycle went into creating the Alpha?
The Great White is both a feared and a revered creature - the most fantastic hunter in the seas. No wonder that a custom motorcycle modification company decided to pay it an ode bu making a custom mod in the Great White's shadow. The Alpha is just that - a predator as swift on the roads as the shark is in the seas. The idea for this was born in Turkey, so thought by Doruk Mehmet Erdem and fabricated domestically by Mark Atkinson