For a while now I've admired the work being done by Classified Moto and Spirit of the Seventies, luckily for me they've both worked wth XS850's. I also came across a chap called Josh Edgar of Spin Cycle Industries who also did a crackin job on a 850.
Click on the images to go to their websites.
Research & Inspiration
Ok so as promised here's an update on the research and inspiration for "Pearl" And there's two more customisers to mention; Wrenchmonkees and Livtid and an online
magazine called Iron & Air.
Prolific Danish custom house Wrenchmonkees have recently completed Monkeee #50 (right) which is based on a XS750 and, to my mind at least, they've done a crackin job.
LivtTID are a Californian group with an interesting approach to cafe customs possibly their most innovative design concept is a cafe seat made from bamboo (below right). I love the contrast of the bare metal tank and the bamboo seat, but its a mother load of work and I'm even less talented with woodwork than I am with metal... but it looks gorgeous!... hmmmmm
Iron and Air showcased LivTID and their bamboo hump in issue No.4 (Oct 2012) but in issue No.3 they fatured a custom project bike called "Isabel" (below). Now while the steampunk look isn't quite my thing what impressed me was the bespoke clocks and switch gear and the use of bare metal finishes, oh and the shell case valve caps! Definate food for thought there.
© 2012 by Tom Harrington.