If you happen to be the proud owner of a Yamaha VMAX (or V-Max, as it used to be called) and want to give it the custom treatment, this list should provide ample inspiration.

The Legendary Yamaha VMAX

Since 1985, the Yamaha VMAX has been one of the most celebrated motorcycles in the industry, winning numerous awards and garnering critical acclaim all over the world. Between then and now, the Yamaha VMAX has come in two distinct flavors: the original Yamaha V-Max (1985-2007), and the new breed of VMAX we have today.

The original V-Max remained largely unchanged throughout its tenure, being powered by a 1,197cc, liquid-cooled, 70-degree V4 engine that boasted godlike acceleration and very little in the way of modern technology.

By 2007 though, Yamaha decided that the VMAX needed a significant upgrade. The new breed of Yamaha VMAX was given a bigger 1,679cc engine capable of 173.4 horses and 113 lb.-ft. at the rear wheel, a sporty slipper clutch, muscular bodywork, and a real futuristic vibe.

There’s no denying that the Yamaha VMAX is one of the most desirable motos ever made — and there will be purists who think that customizing an already amazing motorcycle is nothing short of sacrilege. However, there are a handful of talented designers and engineers out there who have managed to do the VMAX justice, transforming the wild stallion into something even better.

Top 10 Yamaha VMAX Customs

Though the reign of the Yamaha VMAX coming to an end in 2020, we’ve decided to celebrate the power cruiser by compiling a list of its best-dressed custom offspring. These are some of the most memorable Yamaha VMAX customs of recent years.

“Infrared” by JvB-moto

Built in 2015 to celebrate the Yamaha VMAX’s 30th anniversary, this Yamaha Yard Built offering is the brainchild of Jens Vom Brauck from Germany’s JvB-moto.

As you can see, it’s quite a departure from the original VMAX’s radical dragster-style form. Instead, JvB-moto has turned the idea of the VMAX on its head and built a new-café racer designed for muscular performance and urban street cruising.

The build features a whole host of new bodywork features including some top-notch carbon fiber work in the new tank cover, rear tailpiece, and headlight unit. The aluminum touches like the fenders and air scoops (sourced from an old-school VMAX) take everything you thought you knew about the Yamaha VMAX and transform it into something new and fresh.

Add in some Motogadget accessories, an Autometer drag rev counter, a Termignoni exhaust system, and a color scheme inspired by the 1985 Yamaha Racing GP team, and you’re looking at one of the boldest Yamaha VMAX customs ever made.

Badmax NOS VMAX R by John Baltera

Unlike the rest of the Yamaha VMAX customs on this list, this one isn’t backed by a professional company. John Baltera’s Badmax perfectly illustrates the effort VMAX enthusiasts will go to in search of ultimate performance.

Calling in a lot of help from Paul Civitello of Mad Max Enterprises, Baltera raked his frame to 37 degrees to improve stability, added longer fork stanchions to compensate for the lower front end, and added a steering damper to keep things happy.

Next, the engine was rebuilt from the ground up with the addition of a cool NOS system hidden inside the VMAX’s airbox. To make the most of the new NOS setup, Baltera had the gearing adjusted for ultimate power delivery. He also converted the final drive to a unique chain drive system. The chain drive conversion allows the bike to have some adjustable extension to help with stability when the VMAX is going full throttle.

In fact, there are plenty of mods on this old beauty — far too many to list here — but we’re including it on the list for the sheer enthusiasm shown. And while most of the other Yamaha VMAX customs listed here are more or less cosmetic, this one is all about performance.

“CS_07 Gasoline” by it roCks!bikes

The team at it roCks!bikes have a history of creating fantastic monocoque creations, so when they were given a Yamaha VMAX to play with, we expected nothing less than a one-piece monocoque beauty. Since 2013 the Portuguese outfit has been working hard to make monocoque arrangements their trademark design, and this Yamaha VMAX is no exception.

Since the VMAX has long been referred to as a muscular drag bike, the guys at it roCks!bikes decided to take that idea and run with it, turning the VMAX into something that’s more speeding bullet than motorcycle.

Boasting a hand-built monocoque unit built from a single sheet of metal that incorporates the seat, tail, and tank (though the tank is a false tank only, with the real one hidden under the seat), the VMAX now has a slender, sleek, sports-oriented profile sculpted into a retro shape.

The build also features handlebars, switches, and signals from Motogadget, a handmade leather seat, and a vintage Yamaha paint scheme. This Yamaha VMAX custom is easily one of the most inventive that we’ve ever seen.

Walz Yamaha VMAX by Walz Hardcore Cycles

Based out of Germany, Marcus Walz of Walz Hardcore Cycles has become one of Europe’s most famous and respected motorcycle builders, winning numerous awards, including taking first place on the Discovery Channel’s 2006 “Bike Build-Off” series.

Famed for his iconic drag-style frame and some rather outlandish customs, Walz decided to take a more reserved approach on this Yamaha VMAX build. Walz opted to enhance the work that Yamaha had already done, creating a fierce aesthetic that complements the VMAX’s notoriously powerful and aggressive engine.

With this understated masterpiece, Walz masterfully proves that sometimes the less is more approach yields superior results. Interested? Back in the day, this exact model was up for sale for $57,530 … though we think it would be worth quite a bit more if it went on sale again today.

Yamaha VMAX Hyper Modified by Abnormal Cycles

Brianza-based Abnormal Cycles had their work cut out for them when they were commissioned to work on this Yamaha VMAX. Tasked with injecting a hearty dose of Italian flare into the heart of the Japanese behemoth, Abnormal Cycles had a tricky job on their hands.

Luckily, the guys in Milano didn’t disappoint. The team built their concept around the term “neo-vintage” and then got straight to work constructing new aluminum bodywork — crafted entirely by hand. Additionally, Abnormal Cycles installed some classic spoked wheels and upholstered an exquisite leather seat.

We think they managed to build an incredible neo-vintage-looking motorcycle that still shows off the racing heart of the VMAX. We’re not the only ones to think that, since this awesome Yamaha VMAX custom won the “Best of Show” award at the 2011 EICMA Custom Contest. Who would’ve thought that the old musclebike could be a refined show winner as well as a demon on the roads?

Carbon VMAX by Carlex

Polish automobile interior specialists Carlex may be more famous for designing and building extravagant car interiors, but when given a challenge, they certainly rise to it. In fact, this is one of two Carlex Yamaha VMAX customs that make this list, because they’ve made two very different and very special machines.

This first one takes the standard Yamaha VMAX and turns it into a refined and elegant machine, adorned with bespoke carbon fiber features. And we’re not talking about a couple of little design points — we’re talking about almost everything.

The tank is carbon fiber. The side panels are carbon, too. Even the iconic VMAX air scoops weren’t spared the carbon fiber treatment. All this is complemented by a beautifully upholstered leather saddle with contrast stitching that stands out nicely with the stark carbon and black leather finish.

What we particularly like about this build is the fact that Carlex went beyond the bike and even made a matching set of accessories including a wallet, an open-faced helmet, and a matching backpack. Now that’s some serious attention to detail.

“VMAX Hyper Modified” by Roland Sands Design

Even if you’re not familiar with the world of custom motorcycles, you’ll surely have heard of Roland Sands who had a long career as a racer that saw him break numerous records and snag an AMA championship. Sands knows a few things about motorcycles. Since his retirement, he’s built some of the most beautiful custom motorcycles that we’ve ever seen, from sensational Indians to incredible Ducatis.

For this Yamaha VMAX, Sands and his team at RSD decided to maintain most of the stock elements of the legendary machine, making the most of its original parts. In essence, the idea was to highlight the most attractive part of the VMAX (the engine) and simplify everything else around it.

After moving the fuel tank to under the swingarm and building a new rear subframe (to give the rider a more aggressive riding stance), Sands succeeded in creating an iconic custom build. The VMAX now looks more like a relaxed-style sportbike, featuring huge horsepower and lots of torque, in a package that weighs almost 100 pounds less than the original.

“Hyper Modified VMAX” by Lazareth

Before Ludovic Lazereth blew all of our minds with his Maserati V8-powered motorcycle, crazy Yamaha R1 customs, or unusual quad bikes, he built this: a Yamaha VMAX custom that utilizes a whole host of carbon fiber and aluminum billet parts.

Like many designers who have taken on the VMAX, Lazereth was reluctant to change too much about the bike’s original styling and thought it best to leave the VMAX’s more iconic parts, like the air scoops, alone. His main challenge was to modify the motorcycle without sacrificing the spirit of the VMAX — and we think the finished result is a resounding success.

Featuring subtle but beautifully fabricated additions and finished in reserved but elegant paintwork, the Lazareth VMAX takes the Yamaha to new levels. This custom has proven that the Yamaha doesn’t have to be personified as an aggressive drag racer — it can be a sophisticated, refined ride, too. It’s a lot like James Bond in its own way: a gentleman on the surface, but a formidable force should you want to put it to the test.

“V-Speed” by Liberty Yamaha

French Yamaha dealership Liberty Yamaha took the café racer idea to a whole new level with their incredible V-Speed creation. Drawing inspiration from the MT-OS concept that Yamaha unveiled at the 2005 Paris Motor Show, Liberty Yamaha got to work.

Boasting one of the coolest half-fairings ever seen, the V-Speed is a testament to the dealership’s engineering skills, with the vast majority of the parts being one-off hand-made units. While the front is instantly eye-catching, the rear isn’t without a few surprises of its own.

Thanks to a new rear-subframe, a race-inspired tail, a larger rear rim, and a new quick-shifter, this Yamaha VMAX is an absolute acceleration machine. The whole bike has also been lowered and sports some elegant aesthetics featuring carbon fiber and aluminum components.

This amazing build was also dedicated to the legendary French Yamaha icon Jean-Claude Olivier, who tragically lost his life back in 2013. This Yamaha VMAX custom is a fitting tribute.

Mad Max VMAX by Carlex

When the Polish outfit was tasked with giving a Yamaha VMAX a touch of the Carlex treatment, the team decided to ride the Japanese machine into a dystopian future, giving us this post-apocalyptic, dieselpunk machine.

What do master upholsterers know about custom motorcycles? Well, Carlex decided to play to their strengths and employ materials that they’re already familiar with. In this case, it was leather — and a lot of it. After wrapping whatever could be wrapped in leather, the team at Carlex sewed and distressed the whole lot, making for an odd but satisfying finish.

For the metal parts that couldn’t be upholstered, Carlex called in some favors from a jewelry atelier. Using a mystery process involving silver flakes and a lot of secrecy, the jeweler team managed to give the air scoops, metal covers, and rear-end a majestic patina … which looks even better when you have no idea how it’s done.

Carlex explained that their VMAX “resembles the skin of a wild beast and perfectly corresponds with the character of the motorcycle” – and they’re not wrong.

When you think of scramblers, you might think of chunky tires and long-travel suspension. Flat trackers need a racing number plate and an upright riding position. Café racers bring to mind clip-on bars and hump on the seat. A stretched sportbike naturally requires a laughably long swingarm and a garish paint job. Harley-Davidsons occasionally get converted into these stereotypical bikes, but not as often as your standard Japanese bike.

Instead, most custom Harleys are converted into a hardtail bobber, old-school chopper, or those wonderful over-the-top custom Harley baggers that we’ve seen time and time again. Fortunately, there are plenty of daring builders who like to push their Harley custom motorcycles away from the realms of flake paint jobs, polished chrome, and leather tassels and into a whole new dimension.

10 Best Custom Harleys

We’re going to take a look at some of the builders who are redefining what a custom Harley-Davidson can be. Hopefully, there are a few that take you by surprise and redefine the stereotype of what a Harley must look like. There’s more to the best custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles scene than the Captain America bike from Easy Rider — so forget what you think you know about the best custom Harleys.

“Thunderstruck” Harley-Davidson XR1200 by Officine D.C

Named “Thunderstruck” and built by Leonardo de Canio of Officine D.C, this cool motorcycle bucks the trend of modified Harleys. This interesting-looking XR1200 will likely be met with divided opinions — and that’s fine. We like a bit of controversy.

Inspiration struck de Canio while he was listening to the iconic AC/DC tune “Thunderstruck.” Mid-song, his eyes fell on a miniature model of Kevin Schwantz’s classic Suzuki RGV-500. After numerous drawings and countless abandoned concepts, de Canio managed to marry the aggressive chords of the AC/DC song with an iconic GP racer — a marriage he then built on top of a Harley-Davidson.

The build is certainly eyecatching, from the carbon-fiber bodywork to the performance-enhancing Ohlins suspension. But our favorite part is the front fairing which takes its inspiration directly from the aerodynamic winglets and fairing arrangements of MotoGP. And to make things perfect, de Canio treated that stunning bit of carbon fiber with the racing number of the late Nicky Hayden.

’00 Harley Fat Boy by GS Mashin

Tom Mosimann, Swiss sign writer by day and custom builder trading under GS Mashin by night, has built one of the coolest custom Fat Boys that we’ve ever seen. Starting life as a 2000 model, this Fat Boy takes its inspiration from the old-school salt racers and drag strip competitors of yesteryear. This bike doesn’t jump on any café racer or scrambler trends, and the result is impressive.

This modern classic would look right at home on the Bonneville Salt Flats, and Mosimann has managed this by fabricating some beautiful metal pieces. The wraparound front fairing is the first thing to catch the eye, followed by the bike’s unusual tank that seamlessly joins an elongated, racy tail section.

Though this crazy custom Harley wears some interesting clothes, the engine was left alone, save for an upgraded and hand-built exhaust system decked out with a set of GS Mashin air filters. A few key ingredients like the Auto Meter speeder, a set of LSL bars with Beringer controls and RSD grips, and a set of foot controls from Performance Machine bring the whole build together. Not to mention that incredible paint job.

“El Cochino” by Altes Eisen

Depending on your opinion of what a custom bike should be, you’re going to love or hate the custom Harleys on this list. Some are out-and-out show bikes, while others have been pared down for performance and practicality. Then there’s this: “El Cochino” by Germany’s Altes Eisen — a crazy custom Harleys that’s just too odd to pigeonhole.

It’s certainly not a café racer, and though it bears some resemblance to a scrambler, it could be more of a drag machine. We think it would look most at home sitting in the London fog of a strange Steampunk alternative Victorian history.

The name “El Cochino” is interesting, but the Altes Eisen moniker will tell you more about the soul of this build. These German fabricators prefer everything old school, building motorcycles with old techniques and shying away from anything too modern.

ABS is a no-no, engine-mapping is forbidden cartography, and unless the fuel injection comes from the kind of syringe found in a comic book insane asylum, it’s completely out of the question. El Cochino might look like a film prop, but it’s a fully functional motorcycle, built the old way, with absolutely no modern gimmickry to besmirch its good name.

“Pata Negra” by Speed Merchants

Michigan-based Speed Merchants are one of the biggest names on the contemporary custom moto scene, so when award-winning chef Sean Yontz gave them a call to give his 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster the full Speed Merchants treatment, he expected fantastic results.

And Speed Merchants delivered. Given a brief that essentially asked for something black with rear-sets, a racing-style plate on the front, and that be recognizable as a Speed Merchants builds while still looking different, the team set to work.

Ditching the stock tank in favor of an XR unit and fabricating a whole new rear sub-frame section and tailpiece to match the new slimmer tank, the build began to take the shape of a street-going flat tracker. Riffing off of that idea, Speed Merchants added in some top-of-the-line accessories, such as Magura handlebars, Motion Pro grips, Accossato controls, Storz Performance rear sets, and a cool front plate —  treated with a Lazer Star light for good measure.

With the bike looking like a motorcycle, all that was left was for a bit of TLC on the engine, which was bored out to 1200cc, upgraded with Andrews N4 parts, treated with Chopper Daves air filters, and converted to a chain drive. Finally, the black paint job finished off this cool custom Harley.

“Gentleman Jim” by Deus Ex Machina

Deus Ex Machina builds some incredible custom motorcycles, but this custom Harley Sportster is a notch above the rest. It’s refined and cool, but completely understated.

Don’t be fooled by its tame looks though as underneath that calm exterior is a powerful 45-degree v-twin engine straight from a 2008 Harley-Davidson 1200 EFI Sportster. Dubbed the “Gentleman Jim” after the legendary boxer, James J. Corbett, this custom beast packs a powerful but elegant punch, much like its namesake.

Other cool features include the rear end of a Kawasaki W650, Sato Racing rear sets, swan neck style bars from Tingate, rear dampers from ICON, lighting from Lucas, and a 2-to-1 exhaust from Roland Sands Design. It might not have a commanding aesthetic, but you can’t deny this bike’s refined sense of cool.

“Sporganic” ’88 Sportster by Adam Nestor

How do you build a custom motorcycle inspired by a plant? Like this. The “Sporganic” motorcycle started life as a 1988 Harley Sportster and has grown into something more at home in a greenhouse than a garage, thanks to the expert fabrication skills of Adam Nestor from Adam’s Custom Shop in Sweden.

Before you get your knickers in a twist, we’re all well aware that this is hardly the most practical of motorcycles. Nestor has no problem letting people know that his “Sporganic” organic Sportster is a show bike, and a very beautiful one at that.

This custom Harley focuses on organic lines, natural curves, and rounded shapes. The subtle details really separate this motorcycle from the crowd. The placement of the shock absorber between the elegant split tank is one of those genius features, along with the addition of a springer fork that was salvaged from a 1940s-era hill climb motorcycle.

Then there’s the intricate brass and wood trimmings, and that beautifully organic antique green paintwork. All-in-all it’s an outstanding custom machine.

“Ivory Comet” by JSK Customs

Taiwanese-born designer Samuel Kao of JSK Customs has crafted some stunning motorcycles, but there’s something about this custom Harley Sportster that really strikes a chord.

It might have something to do with not-so-subtle “Speed Racer” inspired aesthetic, or it might come down to the fact that it boasts some impressive sheet metal work. Or maybe it’s because it’s a faithful attempt at turning a Harley-Davidson into a retro-modern café racer that be at home in any of the big manufacturer’s contemporary vintage-themed lines?

This custom Harley is essentially a Ducati 916 with a beefy Harley-Davidson Sportster engine as its beating heart, wrapped in meticulously designed bodywork. The bodywork isn’t there by accident — it was painstakingly carved and tested the old-fashioned way before being hand fabricated in sheet metal.

This laborious process is rarely done these days, and that’s why we dig it. We’re not alone in our admiration either as this beauty has won plenty of awards, including the “Best Café Racer” award at the 2014 Born Free Motorcycle Show.

XG750Turbo Street Fighter by Cherry’s Company

When Kaichiro Kurosu of Cherry’s Company was selected by Harley-Davidson’s top brass to build a bespoke Harley custom, he knew that playing it safe would be a mistake. Rather than follow the standard Harley custom trend, he decided to take his Harley-Davidson XG750 to the limit, by turning into a legitimately frightening streetfighter — complete with a turbocharger.

Unlike a lot of custom machines that rely on aftermarket bolt-ons, pretty much everything on this build was handmade, save for the engine, Ducati Monster rear suspension, and (unspecified) automotive turbocharger.

The new race-inspired trellis frame was hand-built, and the bespoke girder-fork was handcrafted along with the swingarm, carbon trusses, and a whole host of little CNC machined bits and bobs. And, of course, there’s the main bodywork too, lovingly shaped by hand from sheet aluminum.

And let’s not forget that turbocharger, mated to a completely bespoke oil cooling system with an intercooler and air surge tank, not to mention the exquisite exhaust system. This bike is an engineering masterpiece — and it’s one of our favorite custom Harleys ever.

“Alpaca” Turbo Ironhead Sportster by DP Customs

This build might seem more traditional thanks to its hot-rod-inspired aesthetic, but this 1979 Ironhead Sportster is packing heat — yep, it’s turbocharged. When the team at DP Customs decided to build a bike for themselves, or rather, their shop, they settled on something personal: one of their own bikes, a ’79 Ironhead Sportster.

One of the Del Prado brothers’ regular rides too, it’s not just a cool model. The idea was to build a low and long hot rod with a bobber-style hardtail. But to make things more interesting, the guys threw a turbo into the mix.

Bolting on a turbo is one thing, but it needs a good engine for full effect, so the brothers rebuilt the motor and treated it with forged pistons, new valves, new springs, an exquisite aluminum intake, and more. It’s a fast bike, if not the most practical bike in the shed. But why have practical when you can have fun?

“Hooligan Tactics” by Rough Crafts

If you’re into custom Harleys and haven’t heard of Winston Yeh and his Rough Crafts brand, then you’ve obviously been living under a rock. The Taiwan-based builder has garnered international acclaim with his builds. That being said, when it comes to Rough Crafts Harley-Davidsons, we happen to like this one best.

Built on top of a Forty-Eight, the “Hooligan Tactics” has an interesting story behind it. After building a streetfighter-inspired custom for Harley-Davidson Taiwan with a donor Dyna, Winston wanted to see if the refined streetfighter aesthetic could be applied to a Sportster. While musing on this, a Forty-Eight was rolled in with an open-brief.

Rough Crafts ditched the stock swingarm in favor of an XR100 unit and swapped the front forks for GSX-R600 units. When paired with Progressive Suspension piggyback rear shocks, the bike’s silhouette morphed into an aggressive, fierce shape. The stock wheels were swapped out for aluminum rims from Arlen Ness, shod with Dunlop Sportmax rubber, and equipped with Lyndal brakes,

But the real beauty here is in the small details. The countless bespoke Rough Crafts parts usually get overlooked, such as the rocker covers or the clutch cover, and the understated exhaust system. Of course, the tank and tailpiece are fantastic fabrications, but what we like the best about the “Hooligan Tactics” beast has to be the digital camo-style paintwork.

Don’t Miss This Eye Candy: Best Custom Harleys

Whether you’re working on your own custom Harley build or just dreaming of cool rides, these custom Harley motorcycles dare to push the boundaries and buck the trends. And we thank the daring builders who ditched the polished chrome and leather tassels for a whole new world of Harley customization.

The Best Motorcycle Gifts for Bikers in 2021

For motorcycle lovers, you can’t go wrong with any motorcycle-related gifts. So as long as you’re giving a gift that’s loosely connected with two-wheeled transportation, your motorcycle enthusiast is sure to love it. However, if you want to buck the trend and buy a really unique and useful gift, we’ve got some interesting motorcycle gift ideas for you in this guide.

Before buying any type of motorcycle cleaner, it’s wise to identify what kind of motorcycle owner you are.  Do enjoy spending time polishing every metal part of your motorcycle? Or are you happier with a quick wipe-down that requires little time investment? A top-of-the-line detailing kit that you rarely use won’t be as effective as an average bottle of spray cleaner that you pick up regularly.

The Best Motorcycle Cleaners For Everyday Use

Whether you’re in the market for a full detailing kit or simply want an effective, easy-to-use individual product, we’ve rounded up some of the best options so you can spend less time shopping and more time polishing up your ride.

Purchasing (and using) any of these spray cleaners, polishes, waxes, and detailing products will help you to keep your motorcycle looking better and lasting longer. Here are the top 10 best motorcycle cleaner products to keep your bike in top condition.

And while scouring motorcycle salvage yards isn’t a bad way to spend the day, you can probably save time and money and go straight to your garage instead. Because if your garage is anything like mine, it might be full of neglected motorcycles and parts just waiting to be brought back to life.

In an ideal world, we’d like to see all of our motorcycles live forever, but that’s not exactly realistic. Luckily, the world is very much into a thing called upcycling at the moment.

What Is Upcycling?

So what’s upcycling? It’s a lot like recycling, but instead of returning a product back to its original properties to be broken down to base materials, upcycling focuses on creative re-use — transforming an already existing product into something practical, beautiful, and useful. By jumping on the upcycling bandwagon, we can all turn our old motorcycle salvage into truly useful things that will give your old bikes and parts new leases on life. All you really need are some tools, some salvaged motorcycle parts, and a bit of inspiration.

12 Crazy Contraptions Made From Upcycled Motorcycle Parts

See those old front forks? Why not take one of the fork legs and bolt it to a sturdy base plate and attach a saddle to the top? That’s a unique bar stool right there. How about that Harley Davidson side cover? Let’s reinvent it as a fruit bowl. How about those old bike chains? Give them a clean-up, weld each link together in the shape of a hook and you’ve got a new helmet hook for your garage wall.

There are literally hundreds of things that you can do with motorcycle salvage with the help of your imagination and a few tools. A MIG welder is pretty handy, though not necessary. The only thing you really must have is some inspiration, and in that respect, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top 12 coolest things we’ve seen built from motorcycle salvage!

Disc Brake Knife

Let’s start with a relatively easy project: the disc brake knife. We saw this one on YouTube a while back and were so impressed that we built one of our own. Brake discs are easily procured and many are tossed aside for scrap … which is crazy when you consider their carbon content.

The metal used in brake discs is pretty high quality and has already been conditioned – so it’s easy to turn this into a knife. This is a great upcycling project for those who don’t have access to any heat treating tooling. Simply cut to shape, add a bevel, make a handle, and sharpen.

Obviously, there are more intricacies to the art of crafting your disc brake knife, but if you want an entry-level project to get into the world of knife making, then this might be for you. Making a practical tool out of a discarded part is the absolute definition of motorcycle salvage upcycling.

Rear Shock Table by Classified Moto

When they’re not building apocalypse busting customs or constructing two-wheel works of art for the TV screen, the good folk at Classified Moto turn to their box of spares and create decorative furniture from their motorcycle salvage. Classified Moto makes a mean lamp or two, but our personal favorite is their table made from rear shock absorbers.

Now, we don’t recommend that you out-and-out copy this idea because what would be the fun in that? But take inspiration from the use of shock absorbers, because they can be incorporated into a lot of designs.

When it comes to re-purposing old springs, the older they are the better. The older springs will lend a unique personality to your design that you just can’t get from modern springs. Naturally, you’re going to have to do a fair amount of sanding and cleaning to get them back to shiny … but it will pay off in the end.

Bonneville Bowl

While we heartily advise against any type of Triumph Bonneville butchery, we do recommend mimicking this idea with cheaper and less sought-after alternatives. Literally, any old spoked wheels from your local motorcycle salvage yard will do just fine.

This stunning bowl is one of two constructed by Taiwanese designer Wa Ya-Lin as part of a design challenge for MA Product Design students of Birmingham City University’s Institute of Art & Design. Using the bike’s spokes, Ya-Lin was able to weave together an intricate framework to create a fully functioning bowl. The spokes are all laced to a small hub that acts as the bowl’s base, which has been covered with a clear Perspex protection plate, etched with the Triumph logo.

Now, if you feel like taking a wire brush to those old Kawasaki KZ wheels rusting in the corner, then visualize this stunning end goal as you painstakingly knock the rust of them, because it will make the effort worth it in the end.

“Scales” Instrument Cluster

Cleverly, these “Scales” come from the mind of British designer John Doherty, also as part of the Birmingham City University’s Institute of Art & Design contest. This masterpiece is fully functional with the dials accurately displaying pounds and kilograms.

This is a great example of motorcycle salvage upcycling but it does have a major problem. While the design does make excellent use of the old motorcycle instrument cluster, it seems that Mr.Doherty might have purchased the working parts of the scale … and if you’ve got to buy a functional product to then break it and reassemble in something else, it kind of defeats the object of upcycling. However, we’ve only assumed that.

If you happen to have a busted instrument cluster AND a broken set of scales, then by all means build one of these beauties. We think every home should have one.

Motorcycle Parts Clock

Though not as advanced as the kitchen scales or as intricate as the spoke-bowl, this upcycled design is probably a lot more practical. If you don’t mind taking a little bit of time to clean up some of your old parts, with a little elbow grease and some shining, you can turn some of your motorcycle parts into a cool and functional clock!

Once you have the parts, you’ll probably want to spend a few days de-greasing and polishing them. With a little shining up, the piece will be transformed from a greasy old cog or sprocket into a working piece of wall art. If you want the clock to tell time, you will need to source some battery-powered clock hands. With a little drilling and fabricating, your new clock will come together in no time flat!

Motorcycle Lever Cutlery

This beautifully crafted dining cutlery set comes from a designer I-Chen Yang. The set features front brake and clutch levers as handles for your usual knife, fork, and spoon arrangement.

If you’ve got the know-how and think you could successfully graft a blade to the end of a brake lever without it snapping under stress, then get to the workshop right away and build these magnificent items – then sell them on a site like Etsy so the rest of us can buy them!

The downside to this is that while levers are easily procurable down at the motorcycle salvage yard, you probably won’t be seeing many just laying around in your garage. If your levers are anything like mine, the ends are the first things to snap off … and that’s the most recognizably motorcycle-like part about them.

Wheel Coffee Table

This clever coffee table is built around a motorcycle wheel and tire. Chinese designer Zhan Cheng came up with this awesome piece which is essentially a completely deconstructed wheel.

The bottom half focuses on the hub, spokes, and rim, with it all topped with glass to make a practical shelf. The top portion of the table is essentially a flat tabletop that sits on top of the remaining tire. It’s all brought together with a few steel rods artfully bent into shape – but apart from that, the design is very straightforward.

This design would likely be pretty easy to replicate or adapt, and you can source these parts pretty much anywhere. If it were up to us, we’d employ a used tire rather than the expensive-looking new one seen in the picture. Either way, you can bet this upcycled table is the perfect furnishing for a motorcycle enthusiast’s home.

“Omni-Bang” Tail Light Speakers

If you’ve got ready access to either a pair of vintage bullet tail lights or torpedo headlights, and you’re no stranger to a little bit of electric wiring, then this project could be right up your alley.

If you dig through your basement, attic, or garage you can probably source an old pair of speakers somewhere. They probably work just fine, and maybe you discarded them because they were not as cool looking as you once thought or not compact enough for your minimalist interior décor. Well, fear not, now you can bring them back to life by transplanting their innards into something a little cooler: old headlights or taillights for example.

That being said, good-looking torpedo-shaped accessories are often in high demand and most of the good condition examples you might find at motorcycle salvage yards are snapped up pretty quick. But if you happen to have something laying around, then do what Taiwan’s Chang Sung-Ching did and build yourself some compact, high-performance speakers.

Fender Desk Lamp

Simplicity is often the key when it comes to upcycling motorcycle salvage, and we think this stunning little lamp from Savvas Panagiotou is the perfect balance of “interesting motorcycle part” and “subtle execution.”

There’s not too much to say about it because it is exactly what it is: a front fender used as a shade that projects the light of a bulb down. Motorcycle fenders are a dime a dozen, and your garage is probably filled with them in various materials, shapes, and states of decay. They often get replaced when a bit of grit dings the paintwork or when the chrome starts to flake off.

Now instead of throwing your old fender in the corner to rust, how about stripping it back, painting it up real nice, fabricating a little stand for it, and wiring it up with a bulb and switch? For a little effort, you get a really cool and unique objet d’art.

Garage 54 “Premix” Exhaust Lamp

If you’d like a lamp but want your light fixtures to have a little more character than a front fender can provide, then you can always try to build something like Garage 54 has done.

Dubbed “Premix” this awesome light fixture takes its inspiration directly from a two-stroke KTM exhaust pipe. In fact, it takes more than inspiration – because it is a KTM exhaust pipe. Built on top of a reclaimed bearing and supported by a large sprocket and a bicycle cassette, the Premix is essentially a gorgeous KTM pipe with that fat expansion chamber mated to some collars and a big lightbulb.

The idea might be simple, but the execution is far from it. There’s a lot of man-hours gone into it, but don’t be disheartened. Instead, take inspiration from this crazy lighting rig and see what’s achievable with the parts you’ve already got laying around. Old, blown exhausts are easy finds at motorcycle salvage yards. Just pop a bulb in the end of one, mount it on something, and shine it up real good for your own take on this cool design.

Throttle Cork Screw

This upcycle idea is just about the best use of a motorcycle part outside of being a working motorcycle that we’ve seen yet. British designer Nick Orme has managed to transform the right-hand controls of a motorcycle into a must-have accessory for anyone fanatical about motorcycles and fine wines. Orme’s design won first prize at the Birmingham City University’s Institute of Art & Design contest in 2010.

That’s right, it’s a corkscrew, and it really works. The twist grip of the throttle utilizes a ratchet system that helps propel the screw into the cork, and the brake lever in turn levers the cork out of the bottleneck. Absolutely genius.

Is it something you could build at home out of old motorcycle salvage? If you’ve got a mind for engineering then why not? It’s easily one of the most advanced things on our list here, but as far as inspiration goes, consider this fuel for the fire. In reality, it’s probably not the best thing to replicate as a Sunday afternoon project but it was too damn cool not to mention.

Vintage Motorcycle Rocking Horse

The corkscrew is cool, but we like this one better. What better way to revive an old motorcycle than to give it a new lease on life as your child’s new favorite toy? If you can find a bargain at the motorcycle salvage yard on a bike that’s functional days are long gone, then don’t pass it over immediately.

Instead, you could do what Felix Götze did, and turn it into a unique rocking horse to help inspire a new generation to get on two wheels. Built from old German motorcycle salvage, this rocker is essentially a frame that has been adjusted to rock on the floor, mated to a sprung saddle, some faux-handlebars, a beautiful headlight, and an old two-stroke engine to provide some ballast.

This awesome little rocker comes complete with vintage German motorcycle colors for added authenticity too. While it’s not the most complex project on the list, we think it may be the best — because every child needs one of these growing up.

If You Can Dream It, You Can Upcycle It

The world of upcycling can turn old motorcycle salvage into useful (and cool!) things. We hope this list inspired you to think twice about the spare parts you’ve got lying around your garage. With a little elbow grease and some inspiration, who knows what creative thing you can create next.

While there’s no one motorcycle jacket to rule them all, there are plenty of excellent jackets out there that will suit your needs and budget. We’ve put together a list of ten of the best motorcycle jackets that we’ve seen, with jackets selected for different riders and different riding styles. Here are our picks.

10 Best Motorcycle Jackets For All Kinds Of Riding

Flooded lead-acid, absorbed glass mat, gel cell, lithium iron, or lithium-ion? Factory-activated, sealed or unsealed? Buying a new battery for your motorcycle isn’t quite as straightforward as you might think, so we’ve decided to take the guesswork out of the task and give you a thorough overview of all things battery-related.

What’s The Best Motorcycle Battery Out There?

To make life a little bit easier for you, we’ve put together a list of the best motorcycle boots on the market, followed by a short buying guide to help you make sure that you’re buying the right motorcycle boot for your needs. Take a look at the list below and let us know if there are any gems we missed.

While leaving it on your bike gives you access to both hands and lessens the “look at me, I rode here” vibe, it does put that pricey helmet at risk for theft. Luckily, we’re not the only ones who’ve considered this – there’s a wide variety of options for securing your helmet to your bike.

We looked around and found some of the best locks on the market. We found a range of locks from standard cable locks to frame-mounted locks and, even a portable helmet locker. If you’re in need of a good, sturdy motorcycle helmet lock, check out our list and the following buying guide.

A Return To Racing

In 2017, when Indian burst onto the flat track racing scene with the FTR750, it made history. The marque managed to score three consecutive championship victories in the American Flat Track Twins class. With these victories, Indian Motorcycles made a name for itself in the oval, and the legendary FTR750 went on to inspire a production line of larger, road-legal motorcycles: the FTR 1200.

However, it seems Indian wasn’t content with flat track domination. In August 2020, Indian announced plans to return to another racing arena. Now that the brand had conquered the flat, it was time for them to hit the slopes. That’s right. Indian is going hill climbing.

Initially, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) approached Indian’s racing development team and asked them to consider entering the hill climb. Indian was no stranger to hill climbing, but the last time the brand had entered a hill climb event was in 1939. Understandably, Indian was hesitant to get on board.

To sweeten the deal, the AMA offered to partner Indian with John Koester, a five-time national champion who knows all there is to know about hill climbing. And, just like that, Indian was back in the hill climbing game.

But before Indian and Koester could tackle the slopes of the 2020 AMA Pro Hillclimb in the newly created Twins class, the FTR750 was going to need some work.

The Indian FRT750 Hill Climber

The new Twins category in the AMA Pro Hillclimb has one significant rule that all entrants must adhere to: the bikes have to run knobbly tires rather than traditional paddle tires. Given the demands of the knobblies, Indian chose the FTR750 over the street-spec FTR 1200. However, they would have to make some big changes.

The engine was in need of an overhaul. Indian Racing got to work modding the cylinders, pistons, and other internals. At the same time, the team at Rekluse developed a more appropriate clutch system. S&S worked their magic, tuning the engine and exhaust. With the engine in development, all Indian needed was a hill-climb-ready chassis.

Koester and his father (and crew chief) Gordy tackled the chassis. Using their experience, they converted the flat-track Indian FTR750 into something that looks more like a motocross bike. They made revisions to the front suspension and handlebars. The duo fabricated a new rear subframe, equipped with modern plastics, and a motocross-style seat. Of course, the real talking point was the all-new extended swingarm.

At the rear, the unmissable extended swingarm was specifically designed for hill-climbing. Koester fabricated the swingarm himself. And since he’s the biggest name in the sport and the first American racer to win all three AMA Pro Hillclimb classes in a single season, there’s not much doubt that it’s the right swingarm for the job.

The result is a motorcycle that weighs in at approximately 310 pounds with an estimated output of 94 horsepower at the wheel.

A Recipe For Success

This new and improved Indian FTR750 is a formidable machine, and when paired with a champion rider like John ‘Flying’ Koester, it’s a likely recipe for success.

“It’s an absolute honor to represent Indian Motorcycle as it makes its dramatic return to hillclimb racing on the same machine that literally changed the game for flat-track racing over the past four years,” said Koester in a press release from Indian Racing. “We’re excited to unleash the FTR750 on the hill, with our minds firmly fixed on the ultimate goal of capturing a championship,” he said.

We’re fairly certain that Indian has what it takes to claim top honors in the AMA Pro Hillclimb. Whether its newly designed FTR750 has enough sex appeal to make hillclimb racing a more popular sport remains to be seen.

Despite all of the enthusiastic talk, we can’t help but notice the elephant in the room. Why isn’t the FTR750 available to the public?

What’s Next For The FTR?

Indian is currently chasing another championship with the FTR750, but when will the public get to play with it? This is a question that Indian seems reluctant to answer.

For race purposes, the FTR750 seems to be the ideal candidate, but why won’t Indian bring it to the masses? Sure, we saw 50 limited edition models, but that’s hardly mass-production.

The current Indian FTR 1200 S is a successful motorcycle. It’s fun to ride, with an aggressive forward riding position and commanding road presence in a comfortable package. However, critics have been quick to point out that it’s heavy — one of the heaviest motorcycles in its class. For what was dubbed a “production street tracker,” some of the original potency of the FTR750 was diluted as it evolved into the FTR 1200.

But this could all just be part of Indian’s master plan. Look in any comments thread after an article about the FTR 1200, and you’ll see riders crying out for a real production 750 instead. Perhaps Indian is teasing the public with more FTR750 publicity stunts like the above-mentioned hillclimb, before dropping a new line of 750-powered models?

Maybe the idea of a slow tease marketing campaign is a bit far-fetched, but one thing is for sure — we all like the 1200, but give us the FTR750 already!