Blog — Craftsmanship

I spend far too much time sifting through endless sites looking for builders and bikes. I was taking in a German motorcycle show when I came across this Kawasaki and I immediately knew I had to track down this builder. Tomotors Race Machines is a one-man company from East Germany owned by a secretive builder aptly named Tom. (He didn’t offer his last name and I didn’t ask). Tom is a Kawasaki dealer, and has been building motocross racing machines for 25 years. Photos by Kyle Reim Photography Update: Tom really does have a last name: Große. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Here...

Inspired by his client’s IWC Ocean timepiece, this BMW R80 was completely restored by Franco “Frank” Augello of SuMisura, Milan Italy. In this post, Frank gives some background on this build, and why he started SuMisura. “A BMW will leave from my workshop where it has been transformed and personalized with much love and dedication, as if it were mine – pampered and revitalized.” – frank augello Making unique motorcycles with a soul For the last four years Frank has been collecting old-ruined motorcycles – especially two valve BMWs – and transforming them in his “SuMisura” workshop. Until a few...

What can you say about Richard Pollock of Mule Motorcycles that hasn’t been said before? His bikes are a reflection of his personality: meticulous, detailed, hard-working, reliable, and with a no-bull attitude. So, it’s one of the perks of the job when someone like Richard gives you an inside look at some of his latest builds. “Seems the Triumphs have become very popular. And for all the good reasons. Inexpensive to purchase stock, easy to make lighter faster, better handling and more powerful. Add to that you can make them look lots better than stock and you have a customizer’s...

Last night I received this mysterious email from renowned motorcycle builder/artist Chicara Nagata. Subject line: “Security camera!?!?” Just that subject line and an attachment. Uh, okay. So I opened it…low and behold I see it’s a Sony/Honda hybrid of a HD security camera and vintage motorcycle…I had to pick up my jaw off the floor. In my line of work, it’s best to never question the motive of a true artist – I just let the art flow over me. “Every project, I encounter many, many problems. I can’t count how many times I give up to make motorcycle. But...

When I get an email from Richard Pollock of Mule Motorcycles, I always get a bit excited – it’s like getting the ultimate care package. Once again, Richard did not disappoint: a makeover for a Steve McQueen Limited-Edition Triumph. The other bonus about receiving a build story from Richard: being a natural storyteller, he knows how to spin a yarn. So, I give you the story of this build as told by Richard himself. “Steve McQueen liked bikes and cars, not because it enhanced his celebrity, but because he was a gearhead first. He bankrolled ‘On Any Sunday’ not for...