European Bike Building Championship

1491 Views 16 Replies 9 Participants Last post by kuhlka, Apr 14, 2007

Golfinc

Discussion Starter · Apr 12, 2007

Hey guys-

Some of you may know me from over on TRat and if Cheap speaks up, please don't hold anything he says about me, against me. He's not that trustworthy. I swear!

Anyway, thought you guys might like to check out the results from the European Bike Building Championship held in Mainz, Germany a few weeks ago. While no S3's, there were some VERY cool bikes there. Go to the link below and on the right hand side, click on the bike name to see specs on each bike, them click the smaller bike image for close ups.

www.amdchampionship.com

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

abruzzi

· #2 · Apr 13, 2007

Whay are the vast majority of these cruisers? (or did I look in the wrong place?) It seems like everyone and their brother are building cruisers, but few are building custom sport bikes. I'd hope a euro contest would have less cruisers as they're not even that popular there. (or am I wrong about that too?)

Geof

Golfinc

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 13, 2007

A couple of reasons but the main one being that the event was being co-sponsored by Custom Chrome Europe as a part of their builder open house. The event, hwoever, was open to everyone, sportbikes included and their were a couple of streetfighters based on V-Twin power plants.

What you find is that yes, custom sportbikes are poular in Europe with the streetfighter style being the most popular of those. However, custom V-Twins still dominate the "custom" scene. Even there, especially Germany, and the northern Euro nations.

I saw (and moved, ouch!) each one of the bikes in the Championship and I can tell you there is some pretty amazing talent buidling bikes there. The engineering and workmanship are first rate.

Among those that I would love to ride are the 2nd place finisher and the Sepster bike. Way cool!

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kjazz

· #4 · Apr 13, 2007

You gotta be fugging kidding.....

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dfib

· #5 · Apr 13, 2007

Looks like something out of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! WTF!

abruzzi

· #6 · Apr 13, 2007

Dfib said:
Looks like something out of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! WTF!

I liked that one just because it was so out there. I wonder how drivable it is.

I liked this one too:

Geof

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dfib

· #7 · Apr 13, 2007

abruzzi said:
Dfib said:

Looks like something out of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! WTF!

Click to expand...

I liked that one just because it was so out there. I wonder how drivable it is.

I liked this one too:

Geof

That one I can understand.... It looks low and fast. Prob hurts like hell to ride it for any length of time, but looks usable at least!

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Martin_R

· #8 · Apr 13, 2007

kjazz said:
You gotta be fugging kidding.....

What are you talking about? That thing is gorgeous. If you are going to build a trailer queen to do rounds at the motorcycle shows, why not go all out and build something different?

I have to salute Isto's imagination and hand fabricating skills on building the Omega. Attention to the smallest of details goes way beyond other custom bikes I have ever seen. Chassis and shape is formed by hand with a hammer from sheetmetal and almost every part is hand fabricated by the builder himself. The winged lamp alone took him 100+ hours to fabricate.

Kudos also on the engine choice. As every US made V-twin out there is weak on power, one might as well go vintage. 1942 600cc 741 Indian is again something refreshingly different to the usual "let's bolt a bunch of aftermarket hi-perf engine shit together and call it custom"-mentality.

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Golfinc

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 13, 2007

Krugger's bike is very cool, a nod to Bonneville. I would love to take it for a spin.

Martin R- Do you know Isto? He's a different cat and while the Omega bike is weird looking, like most in a competition like this, you have to see it in real life to "get it". Get up close and look at the imagination and artistry. It's as much art as function really. They are concept bikes in a lot of ways.

Funny thing on that bike is I saw it for the first time in Sturgis last year at the AMD World Championships and the tires were very white. When Isto brought it in the hall a few weeks ago, they were yellowed. I thought maybe it was due to the compound in the tires. When asked, Isto said they were different color because he had been riding it since last August. Go figure!

Devious2xs

· #10 · Apr 13, 2007

After looking as many of the bikes in the contest, I see a reoccurring theme - low slung tracker or salt flats look. This seems to be the trend there and here as well.

At least it is different than the apehanger chopper look of the past few years.

Martin_R

· #11 · Apr 13, 2007

Golfinc said:
Martin R- Do you know Isto?

Not personally, no. I checked the bike out at a show and had a chat with the man. The bike really stood out from the crowd of the usual copy-cat creations as a true original.

He's a different cat and while the Omega bike is weird looking, like most in a competition like this, you have to see it in real life to "get it". Get up close and look at the imagination and artistry. It's as much art as function really. They are concept bikes in a lot of ways.

Sure. That was my point exactly. If a custom bike compo is about artistic eye and fabrication skill first and performance and rideability second, then I think there is a lot to learn for other builders on just the approach on Omega.

When asked, Isto said they were different color because he had been riding it since last August. Go figure!

Never would have though he rides it that often. If I remember correctly even the rear wheel rim brake mechanism was built by himself from scratch. He must ride somewhere where there is not much traffic as I am sure the stopping power might not be exactly Brembo level.
;D

Golfinc

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 13, 2007

Yeah, he didnt say riding it a lot! That's for sure!

DirtMcGirt

· #13 · Apr 13, 2007

Now this speedy is tight work! :jerkoff:

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kjazz

· #14 · Apr 13, 2007

Martin_R said:
kjazz said:

You gotta be fugging kidding.....

Click to expand...

What are you talking about? That thing is gorgeous. .....

Hey, just my taste, or lack there of according to you. Personally, I'm more about form follows function. If a motorcycle isn't fun to ride and doesn't adequately fulfill that role, then why build it?? I like art though, mostly the stuff that hangs on a wall. Then again, I do enjoy a deco inspired aircraft. The stuff between the wars is like music to my eyes (dumb metaphor). A Staggerwing Beech for instance or a '37 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900, ora Talbot-Lago. I'm appreciative of the visual balance achieved by his bike, his use of materials and the range and airy-ness of it is quite striking.

Oh for crissakes I give up, it's stupid looking. There. And I dont want to ride it either. :laugh:

kjazzz

kmoss

· #15 · Apr 13, 2007

Why do they always jack up the ass end of the euro street fighters?

dfib

· #16 · Apr 14, 2007

kmoss said:
Why do they always jack up the ass end of the euro street fighters?

So her boobies stick out further!

Seriously though, I have noticed that a fair amount too.
Anybody from the east side of the big pond care to comment?

kuhlka

· #17 · Apr 14, 2007

mmmm, beautiful frame...

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