From the category archives:

Motorcycle Builders

Cabin motorcycles, the nomenclature for fully enclosed 2 wheelers, are an interesting vehicle concept that, no matter their function or rationale, have to overcome a lot of resistance from both drivers and motorcyclists. Peraves, makers of the Ecomobile, Monotracer and the soon to be unveiled E-Tracer electric and X-Tracer X-Prize competitor, are well aware of [...]

{ 26 readers have commented so far, ... your thoughts? }

Snaefell Laverda Sidecar Project

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 6/29/2009

in Motorcycle Builders, Motorcycle Design

François Knorreck, a French motorcyclist with a passion for building things to suit his own vision, bought a Laverda in 1976 and turned it into a nicely modified sportbike. He rode the bike perfectly satisfied until 1993 when he began to conceive the idea of a new project and got the urge to build again, [...]

{ 20 readers have commented so far, ... your thoughts? }

Moto Guzzi Makeovers

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 6/25/2009

in Motorcycle Builders, Motorcycle Business, Motorcycle Design

Italian motorcycles are often recognized for their beautiful styling, but one brand (Ducati) tends to overshadow all of the other smaller marques. When you step outside of the Ducati world and look at the other bikes, there’s much to appreciate. Recently, I’ve been noticing more and more really nice examples of the Moto Guzzi lineup, [...]

{ 19 readers have commented so far, ... your thoughts? }

It’s always nice to see a story online about interesting bikes, though, seeing it in front of you and having the opportunity to talk to the builder is better. But, how many of us have the time to travel around the country to see one bike we might be interested in, I’m guessing not very [...]

{ 6 readers have commented so far, ... your thoughts? }

TSS1100GP Kawasaki Triple Project

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 6/16/2009

in Motorcycle Builders

If you haven’t checked in with the Two Stroke Shop lately, you might have missed this, the TSS1100GP Kawasaki Triple project, a nice little modification of a Kawasaki ZX-10R, where they remove the engine and replace it with a brand new 3 cylinder, 1100cc 2 stroke. If you remember, these guys have been building the [...]

{ 20 readers have commented so far, ... your thoughts? }

Here’s a project built by “Team Motorcycle,” students at the University of Minnesota, they added landing wheels for a motorcycle that is coming to a stop, enabling a paraplegic to ride a two wheeler.
Ryan sent me a note:
The bike was designed for Scott Tyson, a paraplegic of 15 years following a motorcycle accident. [...]

{ 21 readers have commented so far, ... your thoughts? }

What is a custom motorcycle? Is it a 300 rear tire, a big V-Twin with loads of chrome and paint as loud as the pipes or is it more than that, … or less? Ian Barry, of Falcon Motorcycles, builds one of a kind, redesigned British classics. Beginning with salvaged frames and engines, everything is [...]

{ 40 readers have commented so far, ... your thoughts? }

Got a note the other day pointing to a website about Charles F. Taylor and his efforts to build a one wheel vehicle. When you think one wheel, you probably picture monowheels, where the operator sits inside the wheel, but Taylor was on a different path altogether, his wheel was centered within a platform that [...]

{ 20 readers have commented so far, ... your thoughts? }