Ten Bolts. Ten Customized Builders. One Winner. You Determine. Such was the headline traversing across the internet when Star Bikes gave calls to a few of the prime builders within the nation to compete in a “customise it as you see match” construct contest based mostly on a freshly minted, inventory 2014 Yamaha Bolt.
Huge OEMs proceed to assist develop motorcycling by realizing that the DIY motion is right here to remain, and that the one approach to play in the identical sandbox because the quickly rising classic customized market is to indicate their help by way of tasks like these. Triumph, Kawasaki, BMW, Moto Guzzi—all of them get it. And now Yamaha America is declaring they get it, too.
The longer term is shiny for these of us not content material with what rolls off the meeting line. This implies a brand new potential leap in customized motorcycling—that means new clients for these sensible manufacturers—who notice that clients are based mostly on the motorcycling lifecycle, and never simply present buying energy or habits.
One in all our favourite builders was on the checklist when the calls went out: Greg Hageman, of Hageman Bikes. Greg has constructed a quiet however simple status for constructing ultra-clean efficiency customs based mostly on classic machines. His penchant is for the outdated, mixed with upgrades in spots that depend—suspension, rubber, braking.
This time, Greg had an opportunity to place a contemporary machine below the knife.
“My purpose was to construct a motorbike that might convey again that feeling of awe I had when strolling right into a dealership as a ten-year-old. I’d stroll up and down the aisles taking a look at bikes, simply dreaming and watching the great thing about this stuff, particularly the grime bikes and enduros—the go-anywhere bikes that appeared excellent residing within the nation like we did. So when given the prospect to construct a contemporary, go-anywhere, do-anything interpretation, I jumped at it.
“I did as a lot analysis as potential earlier than receiving the bike, however there simply wasn’t a lot on the market. There have been just a few builders posting pics, however actually nothing accessible aftermarket but, and little or no information in regards to the bike. As soon as I obtained the bike, I sat and studied it for just a few hours, and rode it round a bit to get a really feel for the facility and stability it had. After that, I tore it down. As soon as I had a “clear slate” and had eliminated all of the litter blocking my view of the skeleton, I then envisioned what I needed to do.
“I constructed the bike in a manner as to not molest or hurt the inventory body or parts—one thing that was all bolt-on, so I can later create a equipment to provide so others can reproduce it. The tip result’s a retro-looking, powerful machine. With the knobbies, you possibly can hit the gravel, unmaintained roads, or journey all the way down to Starbucks for a espresso.
Or should you choose, throw on some much less aggressive tires and also you’ve obtained a retro supermotard. They only don’t construct something like these bikes anymore. You stroll right into a dealership now, and your selection is to purchase a cruiser, a plastic sport bike, or a plastic grime bike. Nothing with soul or magnificence just like the bikes had within the ‘60s and ‘70s.”
This text first appeared in problem 11 of Iron & Air Journal, and is reproduced right here below license.
Hageman Cycles | Web site | Instagram
Story by Brett Houle | Photos by Erick Runyon
