How good does a bike have to look to make up for the fact that its functionality is compromised? From futuristic customs to retro throwbacks, these 5 bikes are a reality at the altar of vanity is making a huge sacrifice.
Being a motorcycle enthusiast is difficult. Constantly torn between form and function. Everything that looks bulgy doesn’t necessarily mean a comfortable ride, and vice versa. And appearance is clearly a high priority. The world of motorcycles is full of machines that move the heart and soul with their extraordinary beauty, but it can be a real pain to live with and ride them every day.
We observe five motorcycles (and scooters) that look like they belong to an art collection but don’t actually look like they’re on the tarmac. From early 2000s BMWs to Harley-Davidson cult classics and even a carbon-composite 120 mph (193 km/h) scooter… take a closer look at today’s selection.
Auto Fabrica Type 17
auto fabrica
The man who ordered the “Type 17” told the creators of Auto Fabrica to “go crazy.” Considering this was the company’s first official enduro custom, this project was by no means simple.
The bicycle seat is its most prominent element. Now, it’s the cover over the seat. Thanks to a clever latch system, they quickly release to reveal comfortable-looking Alcantara seats.
The cover is there to protect the Alcantara, but…hmm, I don’t know how to carry it while riding the bike. Maybe in your backpack? Or you can just leave it in your garage at home, where it’s completely useless…but hey, it’s nice to have it working like a proper bike. This isn’t the first seat fetish we’ve seen on Custom. Dotto’s first custom bike had a seat hidden under a folding tailpiece.
auto fabrica
Aside from the cover, the ride quality certainly seems to be good. The 2009 BMW G450X serves as the basis for the Type 17. Its 449cc single-cylinder engine is oriented 30 degrees forward and the crankshaft rotates rearward. The “fuel cell” is wedged between the subframe rails under the seat, as the airbox takes up the space that a traditional fuel tank would take up.
It features an all-aluminum bodywork handcrafted by Autofabrica. Like a traditional enduro bike, there are large side panels that direct air to the radiator, which tapers into a compact tail section. A box-style muffler inspired by the Ducati Desmosedici is cleverly integrated into the rear fender, and the header is hand-sand-bent.
One look at the Type 17 and you’ll know exactly who put this custom together thanks to the giant logo that runs the length of the bike. Based in Southend-on-Sea, UK, Auto Fabrica is owned and operated by brothers Bujar and Gazmendo Muharemi. As of this writing, they own a series of customs ranging from Type 1 to Type 22, and have designed, prototyped, and built builds from concept to finished product.
Piper Moto J Series
piper moto
The Piper Moto J series “super scooter” created a lot of buzz when it was announced in June 2023 and quickly became a hot topic. But it’s more than just a scoot. A four-stroke KTM 690 engine powers the two-seater with a bespoke frame and carbon composite body. The J-Series’ LC4 engine can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds and reach a top speed of 190 mph.
It produces 67 horsepower, all of which is transmitted to the rear tires using a six-speed gearbox. However, this is not a typical transmission with a foot gear lever and clutch. Rather, it has an electric paddle shift system.
A custom chromoly TIG welded trellis chassis and CNC-machined billet swingarm are some of the features Piper Moto has added to the J-Series. ExeTC remote reservoir shock outbacks and 43mm WP Apex USD forkups complete the picture. How stylish!
piper moto
Let me tell you, the great motor and suspension features come at a price. As you can see, lifting the rear fairing creates a precious little space under the seat for storage space, making a boring standard scooter very practical and useful. So while this may look cool and go fast for a scooter, it’s probably less practical than a supersport bike that looks pretty cool and goes pretty fast.
The person responsible for this work is the famous John Piper, who has worked for the likes of Jaguar, Prodrive, Williams and the Benetton F1 team during his distinguished engineering career. Additionally, he participated in auto racing events such as Le Mans and WSBK.
Piper once described the J-Series as “a Lambretta on steroids,” and that seems to be a given. Everything from original working, road-legal prototypes to full design rights are currently up for sale. This was because Piper did not have the resources to commercialize the project on his own.
dodge tomahawk
Stellantis North America
Dodge has a track record of creating outlandish concepts, some far more outlandish than others. Introduced in 2003, the Dodge Tomahawk is perhaps the weirdest thing ever.
Created by Chrysler Group’s Bob Schroeder and Dave Chais, the Tomahawk debuted at the 2003 North American International Auto Show. Powering the build and dominating the design was the Viper muscle car’s massive 8.3-liter V-10 engine, with two engines delivering 500 horsepower (370 kW) and 525 pound-feet (712 Nm) of torque. can. It’s a pretty slim rear tire.
Yes, a pair. The Tomahawk had a total of four wheels, which were independently suspended to allow for up to a 45 degree tilt angle. With the two front wheels so close together and the huge engine between the front wheels and the rider’s seat, traditional forks and regular steering were out of the question. Therefore, a set of handlebars located closer to the tank required operating two center-hub steering systems instead of one, giving the Tomahawk the turning radius of a medium carrier.
Stellantis North America
Dodge claimed the Tomahawk’s top speed could reach 420 miles per hour (676 kilometers per hour). Not a chance. Aerodynamics means more than horsepower when it comes to top speed, and this machine’s drag coefficient appears to be about the same as a piano.
Although nine of the cars were sold through the Neiman Marcus catalog for at least $550,000 each, the Tomahawk was never road-legal and existed primarily as an attention grabber for car brands. It did its job very well, so perhaps in that sense form follows function here – but this was of little consolation to those unlucky enough to actually have to ride it.
Like the poor soul in the video below, we’re tasked with getting this monster up the hill at Goodwood. From the looks of it, brown leather might have been better on this day.
K-Speed Honda Ducks
K-Speed
It resembles a vintage race bike with a pounding heart…a Honda 125? “Yes, please,” says K-Speed. The Dax is equipped with a handsome retro trash can-style fairing made of lightweight composite fiber. Thanks to an extended swingarm at the rear, the bike is visually stretched to balance out the front end, and 12-inch wide wheels give it all it needs to handle both available horsepower. We provide rubber.
The exhaust, lowering suspension, and rear wheel cover are all part of K-Speed’s Diabolus series. A custom header precisely positions the muffler at the edge of the fairing. The Diabolus seat sits above the footpegs, which have been strangely moved to the swingarm. This decision extends an already rather odd-looking riding position, ensuring that your knees extend upwards every time you go over a bump.
The motor is equipped with a centrifugal clutch and a 4-speed box, so you don’t have to deal with a clutch lever. So K-Speed devised an ingenious way to completely remove the foot control from the scoot. The shifter has been changed to a Jockey/Suicide hand shift arrangement, and the rear brake lever is mounted on the left bar.
K-Speed
K-Speed is one of Thailand’s most famous custom shops, producing motorcycles at breakneck speeds, with a particular focus on small bikes popular in the Southeast Asian market. This Dax custom is definitely beautiful.
shape? check. But what about the functions? It’s still a minimoto under the hood, but it’s heavier, with thicker hoops, extra-wide bars, and a forward-leaning riding position with unsprung footpegs that jack the rider’s legs up and down wherever they ride. . It seems like a perfect machine to display indoors.
harley davidson forty eight
harley davidson
Harley-Davidson will always hold a special place in motorcycle history. Although the company is best known for its roaring Ultra-American V-twin cruisers, it has expanded with a huge variety of bikes over the years, including a scandalous foray into silent electrics.
However, it sticks to a tried-and-true formula. In 2010, the Forty-Eight was added to HD’s Sportster series. Its name comes from the famous “peanut” fuel tank that Harley introduced in 1948, and the balloon-tired, low-slung, retro-feeling bike quickly attracted fans.
While some bike enthusiasts liked its style better than others, there was one major problem with this bike. The peanut fuel tank has a capacity of 2.1 gallons (7.9 liters), and riders claim a range of just 50 miles (80 km). Fortunately, they just have to pause their search for open roads and start looking for fuel.
harley davidson
Form-wise, it looks and sounds great. The 16-inch spoked front wheel with fat tires and cut-down fenders is visually appealing, and the classic Sportster 1200cc V-twin runs just fine, but its mileage can’t be ignored.
Worst of all, this is a standard production bike, not some crazy concept or custom. Forty-Eight makes Harley riders’ range complaints about electric bikes especially funny because the LiveWire One can go twice as far in combined cycle use.
Thank you, dear reader! What is your favorite example of form over function in the motorcycle world?
Sources: Auto Fabrica, Piper Moto, Stellantis, K-Speed, Harley-Davidson
