Classic Motorcycles | Custom Bikes | Customized Motorbikes https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/community/classic-custom-motorcycles/ Motorcycle Reviews, News on Motorcycles, Specs, Test & Race Results Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:41:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cropped-UMC_LOGO_512x512-140x140.jpg Classic Motorcycles | Custom Bikes | Customized Motorbikes https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/community/classic-custom-motorcycles/ 32 32 T.C. Christenson, 1943-2023 [4-Time Drag Racing Champion] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/29/t-c-christenson-1943-2023-4-time-drag-racing-champion/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:41:34 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270155 Thomas “T.C.” Christenson died on September 21, 2023. He was born on February 1, 1943. Christenson’s long career in the motorcycle industry included running Sunset Motors in Kenosha, Wisc., for 54 years. In that time, he took Norton from being known as a great road bike brand to the top of the motorcycle drag racing […]

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]]> Red Alert! Midwest Autumn Motorcycle Riding https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/26/red-alert-midwest-autumn-motorcycle-riding/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 23:13:43 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270046 In the upper Midwest, it is the final act of the riding season. It is the special treat nature provides when days get shorter, summertime heat dials back to cooler temps, and the humidity lowers. The green of standing timber, corn, and grain turns to vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, and tan. It is […]

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]]> 2023 Wisconsin Moto Guzzi Riders Rally Coverage [39th Edition] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/28/2023-wisconsin-moto-guzzi-riders-rally-coverage/ Tue, 29 Aug 2023 06:00:35 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269295 The 2023 Wisconsin Moto Guzzi Riders Rally was held at Legion Park in Wonewoc. Formed in 1982 to bring the Dairy State’s Moto Guzzi riders together, the Wisconsin Moto Guzzi Riders share technical tips on the storied Italian motorcycles, as well as hold rides and enjoy good times together. Annually, the WMGR holds a rally […]

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]]> 2023 Honda XR650L Review [30th Anniversary Retrospective] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/06/13/2023-honda-xr650l-review-30th-anniversary-retrospective/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 06:05:16 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=267075 Introduced in 1993, the Honda XR650L is sold today in nearly its original configuration—no significant changes whatsoever. Thirty years is a long time for any motorcycle manufacturer to continue without offering the latest technology or gadgets. Attracting buyers without new bells and whistles is unheard of in the developing world, yet the 2023 Honda XR650L […]

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]]> Ultimate Collector Motorcycles Book Review [Riders Library] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/05/20/ultimate-collector-motorcycles/ Sun, 21 May 2023 05:46:30 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=266258 Masterpiece. Stunning. Superb. Roll out the superlatives; they all apply to Ultimate Collector Motorcycles by Charlotte & Peter Fiell, as it is the ne plus ultra of classic motorcycle literature. There is little this magnificent two-volume set does not offer the serious motorcyclist, collector, aficionado, broker, trader, builder, designer, restorer, historian, or expert. Of the […]

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]]> Elvis’s Final Motorcycle To Be Auctioned [1976 Harley-Davidson] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/05/12/elviss-final-motorcycle-to-be-auctioned-1976-harley-davidson/ Sat, 13 May 2023 04:04:42 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=266076 Rock ’n’ roll icon Elvis Presley was also an avid motorcyclist. He owned many motorcycles over the years; however, there was only one final bike that Elvis bought—a 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH Bicentennial. Mecum Auctions will be putting this historic motorcycle under the gavel at Dana Mecum’s 36th Original Spring Classic (aka Indy 2023) at Indiana […]

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]]> SR75 World Team Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Inside Look https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/05/06/sr75-world-team-suzuki-v-strom-650xt-inside-look/ Sat, 06 May 2023 07:02:09 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=265940 Although the new Suzuki V-Strom 800DE is getting plenty of attention, the venerable V-twin V-Strom 650 is still ready for adventure duty. SR75 World Team Suzuki, based in the UK, has been winning arenacross championships for a decade, as well as being involved in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross series and Red Bull Straight Rhythm. […]

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]]> 2024 Triumph Bonneville T120 DGR Limited Edition First Look https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/04/04/2024-triumph-bonneville-t120-dgr-limited-edition-first-look/ Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:01:01 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=265147 By now, The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride (DGR) has become part of the modern motorcycling lexicon, helping raise awareness and funds for men’s health charities across the globe. The DGR was founded in Sydney by Mark Hawwa, who hit on a “dapper” theme for the inaugural ride in 2012, uniting fans of vintage or classic motorcycling […]

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]]> Mike Hailwood 1960 Ducati 125 Barcone D1 Auction Coming https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/04/01/mike-hailwood-1960-ducati-125-barcone-d1-auction-coming/ Sat, 01 Apr 2023 07:43:56 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=265079 Mike Hailwood’s 1960 Ducati 125 Barcone Grand Prix racebike is up for auction at Bonhams’ Spring Stafford Sale. The auction is part of the International Classic Motorcycle Show at Staffordshire County Showground, about 25 miles north of Birmingham in Britain’s West Midlands. Ducati pulled out of GP racing in 1959, but that didn’t stop Stan […]

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]]> RCxCM CosmosCharger Harley-Davidson Street Bob Inside Look https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/21/rcxcm-cosmoscharger-harley-davidson-street-bob/ Wed, 22 Mar 2023 02:10:16 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264831 If you’re not in the DIY computer world, the Taipei-based Cooler Master may not be a familiar name. However, motorcyclists interested in innovative custom builds are likely well-acquainted with Rough Crafts and its owner, builder Winston Yeh. An alumnus of Roland Sands Design, Yeh made a name for himself in the ’10s with a streak […]

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]]> Personalizing Your Dual Sport Motorcycle: 2019 Husqvarna FE 450 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/14/personalizing-your-dual-sport-motorcycle-2019-husqvarna-fe-450/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 23:17:15 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264679 I like the newer KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles. Since 2017, KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles have been the bikes to have for dual sport and trail riding for most of us. Unlike many, however, I am not too keen on the 500/501 model for various reasons—the main one being the vibration. It’s enough to cause my […]

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]]> Cycle Magazine 1953 Retrospective: A Look Back 70 Years https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/12/cycle-magazine-1953-retrospective-a-look-back-70-years/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 05:00:27 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264631 In 1953, Cycle magazine touted its 1000-mile road test of the latest 350cc single-cylinder swinging-arm Velocette on the front cover, complete with a leggy movie-star model. The rear swingarm with adjustable shock mounting angle was a new thing for Velocette that year, so the company took the opportunity to coordinate a full-page advertisement with the […]

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]]> 2023 Jack Daniel’s Indian Limited Edition First Look [Chief Bobber] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/06/2023-jack-daniels-indian-limited-edition-first-look-chief-bobber/ Tue, 07 Mar 2023 01:46:48 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264432 Indian Motorcycle and Jack Daniel’s continue their special edition partnership with the new 2023 Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse. There will be 177 examples of this motorcycle, which looks to Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee whiskey for inspiration. With the Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse as a starting point, here’s […]

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]]> 1973 Honda XR75: 50th Birthday Celebration https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/06/1973-honda-xr75-50th-birthday-celebration/ Mon, 06 Mar 2023 22:53:02 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264405 The road to dirt bike nirvana for young motorcyclists got underway in the 1960s, though the offerings weren’t impressive. Early in the decade, you could buy a Taco, which featured a rigid frame, lawnmower engine, tiny tires, and no front brake—grim. Priced at $150 (about $1475 in today’s dollars), Taco sold what seemed like millions […]

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]]> 2023 Arch 1s Review: The $128,000 Question https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/02/03/2023-arch-1s-review-the-128000-question/ Sat, 04 Feb 2023 07:08:29 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=263686 Casually leaned on its side stand in an unassuming Malibu parking lot, sat the 2023 Arch 1s. Dripping in carbon fiber componentry and flexing enough CNC-machining to make any CAD designer’s eyes go blurry, the thought of saddling up on Arch Motorcycle’s second production model was like coming face-to-face with a unicorn. The $128,000 price […]

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]]> The Art of Advertising – BSA Promotional Art 1967-1970 Review https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/02/05/the-art-of-advertising-bsa/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 07:04:44 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=263712 Three of Brad Jones’ recent books provide a history of the BSA brand of motorcycles that is quite unlike that available on any other brand. The series includes BSA Motorcycles – The Final Evolution, From the Inside – BSA/Triumph’s Umberslade Hall Research Establishment Revealed. Now, Jones has added The Art of Advertising – BSA Promotional […]

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]]> 1953 Webley-Vickers VW2000 Up For Auction [VW/BMW Custom] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/01/06/1953-webley-vickers-vw2000-up-for-auction-vw-bmw-custom/ Fri, 06 Jan 2023 08:15:04 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=263013 Take a 2000cc Volkswagen horizontally opposed four-cylinder motor, drop it into a modified 1960s BMW motorcycle chassis, and you have a fascinating custom build. Despite its listing, the 1953 Webley-Vickers VW2000 motorcycle was built in the 1970s by Doug Whitson, and there’s an interesting story behind it all. Rodger Willis developed the tooling and parts […]

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]]> 2023 The Quail Motorcycle Gathering Date Set [and 3 More Events] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/12/30/2023-the-quail-motorcycle-gathering-date-set-and-3-more-events/ Sat, 31 Dec 2022 02:37:39 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=262805 There are four events at Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, Calif., on the 2023 Peninsula Signature Events schedule that will interest motorcyclists across the globe—The Quail Motorcycle Gathering; The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering; The Quail Ride; and The Quail Rally. First up is the 13th Annual The Quail Ride on Friday, May 5. […]

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]]> 1922 Brough Superior Mk1 Auction [Mecum Kissimmee 2023] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/12/16/1922-brough-superior-mk1-auction-mecum-kissimmee-2023/ Sat, 17 Dec 2022 05:55:39 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=262517 Over a century after its creation, this 1922 Brough Superior Mk1 will be on the block at Mecum Auctions’ Kissimmee 2023 event. Running January 4 through 15 and billed by Mecum as “The World’s Largest Collector Car Auction,” Kissimmee 2023 has nearly 4000 lots consigned for sale. There are only two known examples of the […]

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]]> 6 Must-See Custom BMW R 18s From Germany https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/12/06/6-must-see-custom-bmw-r-18s-from-germany/ Tue, 06 Dec 2022 20:55:51 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=262321 BMW Motorrad’s annual quest to provoke German-built custom versions of their motorcycles continues. BMW picks a group of builders and gives them three months to create something special. The results reflect a broad range of tastes. We’ve picked six of our favorite R 18 builds in the 2022 BMW Motorrad Customizing Contest for your enjoyment. […]

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]]> “Jump First, Think Fast” Book Review [Gilroy Indian and more] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/11/14/jump-first-think-fast-book-review-gilroy-indian-and-more/ Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:06:49 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=261667 Frank J. O’Connell is perhaps one of the most broadly experienced top business executives ever to lead a motorcycle manufacturing company. He is also a serious motorcycle enthusiast who has written a new book: “Jump First, Think Fast — An Unconventional Approach to Higher Performance”. O’Connell’s résumé includes leadership positions at Reebok Brands North America, […]

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]]> Re-Make/Re-Model [Editor’s Letter – November 2022] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/10/25/re-make-re-model-editors-letter-november-2022/ Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:44:40 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=260809 Every once in a while, it’s a time for a change. Usually, people wait for a marker—the beginning of a new year, or some other odometer clicking over. In spite of that, I’ve been working at staying out of ruts like that, so there’s no time like the present. We’re almost 150 issues into Ultimate […]

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]]> 1966 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson CR Sprint [A Look Back] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/10/21/1966-aermacchi-harley-davidson-cr-sprint-a-look-back/ Fri, 21 Oct 2022 16:51:56 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=260727 The beauty of purpose-built racing motorcycles is undeniable. This 1966 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson CR dirt tracker embraces minimalism, as everything on the bike is there to get it to the checkered flag as quickly as possible. Marvin Long took this racebike to a National Short Track win in Montana. The Harley-Davidson dirt trackers of the era […]

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]]> 2023 Arch 1s First Look [Production Custom Sport-Cruiser] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/10/13/2023-arch-1s-first-look-production-custom-sport-cruiser/ Fri, 14 Oct 2022 01:58:49 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=260229 The long-anticipated sport-cruiser from Arch Motorcycle is here. The 2023 Arch 1s features a sport-oriented riding position with mid-controls. This production custom sport-cruiser has an MSRP of $128,000. Each motorcycle is hand-built after a meeting with the buyer to determine the optimum configuration. Sport-oriented features include fully adjustable Öhlins suspension developed with Arch Motorcycle. The […]

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]]> Overland Expo Yamaha Ténéré 700 Review [Yellowstone Tested] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/10/13/overland-expo-yamaha-tenere-700-review-yellowstone-tested/ Thu, 13 Oct 2022 21:14:23 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=260210 The motorcycle community is tight-knit—one of the things I really like about being a motorcycle rider. Earlier this year, I met a moto rider and writer working for Overland Expo at the launch of the new Triumph Tiger 1200 adventure motorcycle. We swapped adventure travel stories, as you do with similarly minded people at these […]

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