Ride Like Buddha

Cafe racers, custom motorcycles, classics, and more. Why ride like Buddha? Sometimes when you ride a motorcycle on an empty road, moments pass where you don't think about anything. You are just aware of your immediate surroundings and nothing else - no worries about the future, no thoughts on the past. A keen sense of presence. Buddhism is like that.

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Beyond Iron, the story, heart, and passion behind Miami's own IronGeek Garage.

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1967 Suzuki RK67

For seven consecutive years since its first 1962 full-season entry in Word Grand Prix Road Racing, Suzuki rider/machine won either the rider's or the manufacturer's title, earning Suzuki a global reputation as a “lightweight specialist.” However, after the 1967 season, Suzuki announced withdrawal from World GP due to tightening of FIM regulations. The little 50cc racing machine pictured here clocked an awesome 109 mph/176 kph!

The engine was tuned to an extraordinary 350hp per liter. The RK67 motor was a two-stroke, water-cooled parallel twin, and the Japanese factory managed to squeeze a remarkable 17.5hp out of it, with a redline of 17,300rpm. To keep the bike in its extremely narrow power band, Suzuki fitted the bike with a 14-speed gearbox. The RK67 sported an aluminum frame and only weighed 128lbs/58kg. 

Read more about Suzuki history here. 

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Triumph Thruxton from Kiddo Motors

Barcelona-based Kiddo Motors  philosophically explains, "Your bike is part of you, who you are, and what you do." If so, then their custom 2005 Triumph Thruxton means they like to have fun because life is short.

Specs:

Spoked wheels are from Alpina Raggi. 

Wiseco big bore kit

Keihin Racing FCR 39mm Flat Slide carbs

Two-into-one exhaust system from British Customs.

Custom minimal fenders, seat, and modified rear subframe.

Rear shocks are now Öhlins rear shocks

Beringer brakes.

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Sanctuary Honda CB1100R

AC Sanctuary does amazing customs and restorations for retro superbikes. Sanctuary is headquartered in Tokyo and has 5 stores carrying their motorcycles. Their website is in English too if you want to see more awesome machines.

Specs for Sanctuary's Honda CB1100R named RCM 156 include:  

Heavily reinforced frame.

Ohlins suspension front and back.

17” OZ Racing wheels shod with Pirelli Diablo tires. 

Engine boost from 1062 to 1123 cc.

Mikuni TMR38 flatside carb setup. 

Nitro Racing titanium ‘V3’ exhaust system.

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Deus Yamaha 225 "Cafe Scorpio"

The Cafe Scorpio from Deus Ex Machina in Bali started off life as a humble Yamaha 225. After some care and grinding, it took on a new form. Deus  dropped it, chopped it, and created an octane infused, mug of fun, that is built mean, and made to lean, with the help of some custom parts. They brewed up a custom Deus tank, light alloy clip-on drop bars, black Daytona speedo, Daytona rear shocks, polished aluminum alloy brake and clutch controls, and a down low custom exhaust that will blow the foam off your Latte as it burns down the road.

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Ducati 1098R "Flash Back America" from Mr. Martini

Mr.Martini is a brand made out of sheer passion, dedication, research and unique creativity. Mr Martini's Italian garage is located in an old Liberty style building in front of the historic Triumph dealership. 

Given that the Ducati 1098R is effectively a road-legal World Superbike, most of the modifications are to the bodywork. The Ducati 1098 was made from 2007 to 2009, in three versions, the 1098, 1098S, and 1098R. The 0-60 mph time is less than 3.0 seconds and top speed is estimated at 180 mph (290 km/h). The 1098R puts out 155 rear wheel horsepower and weighs just 364 lbs dry.

Stock Ducati 1098 below:

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1975 Suzuki GT550 "Honduki"

Based in Virginia, MotoHangar is a custom shop which specializes in Cafe Racers based on ’70s Japanese motorcycles. The owner and operator is Pat Jones. 

The Honduki was the winner of the "Best in show" and "Trick Bits" awards at Fighter Fest 2011 Carlisle PA. It started life as a 1975 Suzuki GT550. Created to combine the old and the new, with updated suspension the bike handles like a modern sportbike with all the charm of a vintage two-stroke motorcycle. Modifications include custom subframe and tail section. Modified Kawasaki H1 expansion chambers. Elk skin leather seat and fiberglass seat pan. Custom Honda headlight. Kawasaki 636 rear suspension and Suzuki GSXR front forks. 

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Yamaha SR400 from Motor Rock

It's fun to showcase customs from all over the world, but one of my favorite spots is Japanese. They just do things different over there. For this build, Motor Rock overhauled the engine, added a Keihin Carburetor, K&N air filter, and Motor Rock’s custom 69Megaphone exhaust.

Mustang fuel tank and custom front and rear fender. Magura separate handle bar with polished 7/8 inch clutch lever, one off handle bar switch and one-off mirror. A 69 light type 2 steel rim headlight and throttle holder from Motor Rock’s catalog.

Progressive short suspension, one-off seat, 69 tail type 1 aluminum taillight and drilled sprocket cover also from Motor Rock’s catalog. Other parts include classical step foot pegs and POSH type 72 winker.

The finished custom SR400 rolls on Excell H-Shape aluminum rims wrapped in Avon SP MKII front tire and Avon SP SMII rear tire. 

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2010 Kestrel from Falcon Motorcycles

Falcon Motorcycles was founded by Ian Barry in Los Angeles in 2008 to produce the Falcon Ten, a collection of ten unique motorcycles designed and engineered by Barry and fabricated around ten iconic engines. The project explores the concept of the motorcycle, pursuing the highest level of design, craftsmanship, and performance by investigating the history, contemporary application, and latent potential of engineering.

Specs:

De-unitized 1970 Triumph Bonneville engine, modified alternator, aluminum, Borrani WM1 wheel, Borrani WM2 wheel, brass, brass mesh, bronze, BSA A-10 transmission, cloth, copper, glass, gold leaf, Firestone tire, GP carburetors, iron, leather, leather rope, Loctite, nickel, paint, palladium leaf, rubber, safety wire, stainless steel, steel, Suzuki GS550 clutch, tape, Triumph generator cap, Venom Avon tire. 36 x 24 x 82.5 in.

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1966 Honda CB160 Poco Bastardo #002 from Lossa Engineering

This hot little custom got a lot of attention when it came out a few years ago. It was featured everywhere and Lossa Engineering picked up a lot of fans including some Hollywood celebrities. Right now, Poco Bastardo #2 is up for sale again so I figured this is a good time to show it off.

Specs:

Relocated battery

frame de tabbed and hooped

polished engine covers

custom exhaust with Lossa reverse cone mufflers ceramic coated black

K&N pod filters

Keihin 24mm Carburators

gold chain

polished hubs with chrome hoops

Drilled front hub for brake cooling with brass screens

bobbed front fender

cafe seat with leather upholstery

wired from scratch with a modern rectifier and dry cell battery

H1 steering stabilizer

custom rearsets

Lossa l.e.d. tail light

Lossa license plate bracket

lightening holes everywhere

Hagon Racing shocks

Chrome Lossa cafe bars

custom shortened control cables

2 stage House of Kolor paint, Orion Silver

Modern style tires, 1 size up from stock

Electric starter

Big bore kit, 3mm over

Stage 2 port job

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1981 SUZUKI GSX 750 E by Anvil Motorcycles

Milan-based Anvil Motorcycles was started by two, thirty-something, Italian friends, San Marco Filios and Alessandro Phonz Fontanesi. Both have an obvious background in design and a love of motors. The Anvil guys say that people stare at their bikes "like courious animals, they come nearer and nearer, trying to understand what the hell they are looking at."

Specs:

Standard engine, ANVIL painted

ANVIL filters

ANVIL painted fuel tank

ANVIL painted muffler

Standard front fork, very hard

ANVIL rear fender

ANVIL rear and head light

ANVIL custom paint

ANVIL seat

ANVIL pegs

What it looked like before Anvil did it's thing:

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1980 Honda CB 750 by CRD

We already featured several Cafe Racer Dreams customs before (click tag “CRD” to see more) and we’re glad to share another to the talented crew in Spain. Nicknamed “Brownie”, this chocolate beauty is CRD’s build #9. It took 3 months to customize.

Specs:

Keihin carbs, free-flowing filters and a custom exhaust system.

Hagon shocks

Renthal Ultra Low bars

Firestone Deluxe Champion tires.

Electrics have been simplified and the ignition key unit has been relocated to underneath the tank on the right-hand side.

Tank is stock, cut down, and side covers are gone.

Battery is hidden away in a small custom-made aluminum box. 

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Seeley Norton Commando – Formula 750 Racer

Vintage racing has been growing over the years in the US.  Historic racing leagues such as WERA and AHRMA have inspired old and new racers to bring vintage machines out of the garage and onto the track.  The competition is real, and demands a motorcycle that would reach the podium in its day. 

This fast machine was commissioned by Dan Rose and Rev’It Leathers and completed by Kenny Cummings from NYC Norton. 

1968 Seeley MK2 Chassis with highly tuned Norton Commando motor – The pivotal bike from NYC Norton. It has taken 4 consecutive AHRMA BEARS National Championships.  This bike is campaigned yearly on tracks all over the United States, and it’s evolution and development never stop.

Key build components include:

1968-spec Seeley MK2 Chassis and tanks, built by John Wood Racing in the UK, from T45 alloy

JS Motorsports Lightweight Long Rod/Raised Piston Pin setup

Hemmings PW3 Cam

Reinforced Maney Crankcases, Crankshaft, Cylinder Barrels, and Exhaust

Fullauto Cylinder Head

TT Industries Close-Ratio 5-speed Magnesium Gearbox

Hemmings Norvil Disk Brakes, AP Racing Calipers, Brembo Master Cylinders

Cosentino Engineering fork internals

Triumph 4-Bolt Rear Hub with disk and sprockets

Molnar Kirby Fairing

Dunlop KR825 front and KR164 rear tires

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Yamaha Xj600 by Pimmel & Messar

At the end of 2010, Pimmel & Messar opened shop in northeastern France. The location was an old ambulance garage, which is ironic considering they are breathing new life into old machines.

The patient here, a Yamaha XJ600, is a relatively light motorcycle that originally came with a top half fairing. It was built from 1984 until 1991, when it was replaced with the Yamaha Diversion/Seca II. In the U.S., the bike was sold as the FJ600. The 1984 Yamaha XJ600/FJ600 is notable for being the first Japanese inline-4 with a displacement of 600cc. The XJ was also one of the first bikes inline-4s to use mono-shock rear suspension design.Specs:

Stock Yamaha XJ600 was completely dismantled to replace the worn out parts. The stock XJ600 tank was replaced with a 1978 Suzuki GS 550 fuel tank. At the front the forks were lowered by 6.5cm and the original mono raised to 7 cm. The headlight was replaced with a vintage car fog light and the taillight is a led fitment. At the rear the bike was modified to fit Ducati SS tail unit and features a custom seat.

The wiring was simplified and the battery was relocated underneath the rear unit. The exhaust was handcrafted by Pimmel & Messer and has been fitted with a good 4-in-1 dirt bike 250 cm3 silencer. The finished Yamaha XJ600 custom was painted in a silver metal base and a blue “Evian” and deep black. The 985 numbers at the rear reflects the year of manufacture of the motorcycle.Stock Yamaha CJ600

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1978 Yamaha SR 500 "Solus" from Lossa Engineering

Lossa Engineering is a Custom motorcycle manufacturer based in Long Beach, California. Founded in 2007, by Jay LaRossa, it specializes in café racers based on Japanese, Italian and British bikes from the 1960s and 1970s.

The short film was shot by Ricki Bedenbaugh and was featured on Cafe Racer TV season 1.

Specs:

Frame de tabbed and hooped

Battery relocated

GSXR front end

Adapted brembo brakes front and rear

Brembo front rotor

RD400 wheels

Custom made sprocket carrier

GSXR rearsets

Cal Fab aluminum swing arm

Custom made rear brake stay

Bobbed Honda front fender with handmade fork brace

Gauge bucket molded into headlight bucket with re orientated Lossa brand tach face

Tommaselli headlight ears

Binelli gas tank with custom gas cap

Handmade steel tail section with frenched in Lossa tail light

Wired from scratch

Big bore kit

White Bros. Cam

Heavy duty valve springs

Ported head, 36mm Mikuni flatslide carb

Custom intake manifold

K&N filter

Custom exhaust with Lossa cone muffler

Welded sprocket cover

All aluminum was polished first, then hand brushed and cleared over

Works shocks.

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Chang Jiang 750 from Bandit9

No one could introduce this bike better than the builder, Daryl Villanueva, "The idea was to build a dark, mechanical beast. It had to be visceral.” 

Bandit9 is a Beijing-based motorcycle company that specializes in the handmade design, engineering and craft of any bike. The name “Bandit9” comes from the idea that bandits, pirates and outlaws are the kings of innovation and individualism.

Specs:

Rebuilt engine. Rebuilt transmission.

Wheels: 4.00 x 19 front and rear. Front Spoke Rims. Back Alloy Wheels.

Upgraded front disc brake.

Custom Bandit9 matte black paint. Custom Bandit9 exhaust. Custom Bandit9 gas tank and cap. Custom Bandit9 handlebar. Custom Bandit9 rear fender and brake light. Custom Bandit9 headlight. Custom Bandit9 turn signals and switches. Custom Bandit9 seat.

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1974 Kawasaki KZ400 - Nomad Island Tracker from Analog Motorcycles

Tony Prust officially started Illinois-based Analog motorcycles in the summer of 2009, after riding and customizing motorcycles for over 15 years. The attention to detail Tony developed throughout this hobby, combined with his experience as a carpenter, results in incredibly beautiful motorcycles.

Specs:

Full frame up custom - custom seat pan and diamond stitch upholstery - bobbed front and rear fenders - custom built battery box and modified electrical - powder coat everywhere - custom paint to mimic a curling wave - low scrambler bars - aggressive adventure style tires for off roading to surf destinations (owner has plans of mounting a surf rack on it) - pod filters and open exhaust with emgo megaphone mufflers - wrinkle powder coated engine - custom billet dash bracket with aftermarket gauges - aftermarket headlight with stone guard - drilled rotor - aftermarket clutch and brake perches with billet levers.