England’s Pier City Cycles leads the charge this week, with a custom BMW R12 in a timeless roadster style. We also profile a Moto Guzzi V7 scrambler from Unikat Motorworks, a Suzuki DR-Z400 built to take on the Sahara, and a Harley-Davidson Sportster S from a Lithuanian parts manufacturer.
BMW R12 by Pier City Cycles The English workshop Pier City Cycles made their bones customizing the BMW R nineT in myriad ways. So it was only a matter of time before they worked their magic on the updated BMW R12.
Commissioned by the BMW Motorrad mothership themselves, this handsome boxer was designed to showcase the R12’s malleability. Pier City played it smart, eschewing the typical café racer and scrambler styles to build a classic roadster. There’s nothing extreme here—just a smorgasbord of tasteful mods that harmonize to create a custom motorcycle that looks, dare we say it, comfortable.
One of the BMW R12’s cleverest details is also one of its subtlest. Pier City eliminated the airbox to hollow out the area under the seat—a task made easier thanks to the R12’s layout, which has the battery mounted under the fuel tank. But once everything was stripped out, the crew was faced with the unsightly frame brace that’s typically hidden by bodywork.
To solve this, they designed a three-piece frame cover that also acts as an inner fender for the rear wheel. Keen eyes will also notice an Öhlins shock wedged into the tidy under-seat triangle.
A custom-made headlight nacelle sits up front, while Motogadget mirrors adorn the bars. The rear fender’s been deleted, with a custom tray tidying the area under the freshly upholstered saddle.
The finishing touches give the BMW R12 something of a hot rod feel. From the crisp paint job and powder-coated wheels, to the burly low-slung G&G exhaust system, this roadster is pitch-perfect. [Source]
Moto Guzzi V7 Stone by Unikat Motorworks The Moto Guzzi V7 might not be the fastest modern classic out there, but it’s a great blank canvas for customization. This 2022-model V7 Stone has just gone under the knife at Unikat Motorworks in Poland, emerging as a rugged lemon-hued scrambler.
Unikat’s work on the humble V7 was all about massaging it in the right places. The subframe was trimmed and looped, before being treated to an abbreviated rear fender.
The crew wanted a shorter seat, with a gap between it and the rear loop to recall the British scramblers of yore. But they didn’t want to lose the neat interface between the front of the OEM seat and the fuel tank. So they hacked off the front of the stock seat pan, fabricated a new rear half, and added foam and upholstery.
Moving to the suspension, Unikat dropped a Bitubo cartridge kit into the forks and installed a pair of Bitubo shocks at the back, raising the rear ride height a smidgen. The forks retain their original brace, but the front fender’s been swapped out for a handmade high-mounted unit. The wheels are laced tubeless items from Kineo, and the tires are Michelin Anakee Wilds.
Next, the stock headlight was remounted onto a bespoke bracket that brings it closer to the forks and adds a hint of utilitarian style. Other upgrades include braced handlebars, Evotech levers, bar-end turn signals, and Motogadget mirrors. A Motogadget motoscope mini speedo sits in front of the ignition barrel, while three-in-one Highsider LEDs handle taillight and rear turn signal duties.
A two-into-one stainless steel exhaust system swoops its way down the right-hand side of the Moto Guzzi V7, terminating in a perfectly proportioned reverse cone muffler.
For the livery, Unikat wanted something that was minimal, but still striking. They settled on a yellow base with dark grey stripes, picking the exact color codes from the Audi and Ferrari catalogs, respectively.
It’s a striking look for the typically vanilla V7 Stone—and it looks like it’d be a hoot on winding country lanes and loose fire roads. [Source]
Suzuki DR-Z400 by Marco Graziani and Giorgio de Angelis Off-road enthusiasts are spoiled for choice when it comes to enduro bikes geared for high-stakes desert racing. But what if the stakes are a bit lower—and the emphasis is on style rather than speed?
This eclectic Suzuki DR-Z400 desert racer was built to tackle this year’s running of La Ruta del Nabab. It’s a motorcycle trip through the Saharan desert where modern plastic bikes are shunned in favor of neo-retro and custom rides—the more artistic, the better.
It belongs to Giorgio de Angelis, who’s gone to great lengths to build a desert racer like no other. But long before Giorgio got his hands on it, Marco Graziani of CC Racing Garage worked on it, developing a full aluminum frame to shave weight and improve handling.
Marco never found the time to finish the full build—so Giorgio took it over and got it across the finish line.
The DR-Z400’s handmade aluminum bodywork is certainly attention-grabbing. The rear section is particularly intriguing. Here, the seat splits, and the metalwork tapers, drawing attention to the titanium exhaust that runs through the body and exits out back.
The graphics were designed by Miami-based artist Andrew A. Antonaccio, with green wheels complementing the desert sand theme.
Giorgio’s an experienced off-road rider, so this build is as much about tackling the desert as it is about looking cool. Billet aluminum yokes add rigidity to the front end, while tapered handlebars offer more control and comfort. You’ll also find upgraded aluminum radiators, a sump guard, and frame protection.
Are there better bikes for off-road riding? Probably—but none are as unique as this one. [Giorgio de Angelis Instagram | Images by Giovanni de Angelis]
Harley-Davidson Sportster S by Killer Custom Based in Lithuania, Killer Custom specializes in bolt-on custom parts for American V-twins. So when Harley brought the new Sportster S to market, Killer Custom snapped one up and turned it into a test bed (and showcase) for new parts.
Killer Custom’s changes lean into the muscular, neo-futuristic vibe of the Sportster S. The front sports a new headlight nacelle and a massive set of 2” T-bars. A short Killer Custom fender hovers above the front wheel.
Further back, a Killer Custom seat pad replaces the stock unit for a slimmer look. The Harley’s clunky rear wheel hugger-slash-license plate holder is gone, replaced by a neater side-mounted bracket. The slim LED turn signals and taillight are all from the shop’s catalog.
The sleek high-mounted exhaust is from KessTech in Germany, and features the ability to adjust the volume level.
The Sportster S is finished off in an ice-cold sparkle paint job, with a blacked-out engine and red graphics on the wheels.
If this shiny prototype tickles your fancy, it’s currently for sale via the Bike EXIF Classifieds. And since it’s only be used for shows and short test rides, there’s a measly 130 miles on the clock.
