London Motorcycle Show 2018 Gallery: Classics and Customs

London Motorcycle Show 2018 Gallery: Classics and Customs

The London Motorcycle Show set up camp again in the vast barn that is ExCel in the Capitals Docklands area.  It’s a smaller show than the annual Motorcycle Live  show, but with so many motorcyclists living in and around the South East of the country – not to mention lots with plenty of cash to spend – the show is always well attended. With many of the big manufacturers exhibiting from Husqvarna to Suzuki and a healthy representation from the Adventure sector not to mention accessories, clothing and of course – free stickers

But if there was one trend that was immediately evident in both the stands and the bikes it was a backward -looking trend towards custom builds and retro machines. From the huge classic auction area packed with many bikes that in their day were far from classics to Kawasaki’s revisited Z900 RS and CCM’s stunning Spitfire range to Yamaha’s Yard built projects and even a whole stand of barn finds.

The theme continued with the massive presence from ‘built‘ magazine – lower case letters essential – who were exhibiting an impressive display of hand-crafted machines featuring everything from Harley Davidson to KTM engines wrapped in new clothes. ‘Built’ has becoming so popular that they’ve recently become a monthly magazine, bucking a trend that has seen magazine titles disappearing quicker than African elephants. Good work chaps.

For the beard-stroking, tattooed, lumberjack shirt wearing hipsters –  who had caught the Tube from Hoxton as it was cold – it was heaven on earth. For those that were there first-time round, we could only wonder at who would possibly want to buy a Honda CB350 for £2500, let alone a forty year old one …

Anyway enough of that –  here are all the bikes that caught our eye at the London Motorcycle Show 2018 – enjoy!

Blue and silver streamlined custom cafe racer on a stand at a show
SUPER-CLEAN AND SUPER STRIPPED DUCATI
Close-up of the red trellis frame, engine and black bodywork of an MV Agusta sports bike
BEAUTIFUL DETAILING ON THE MV
Black Triumph prototype race bike with a gold exhaust on a display platform with an information card
TRIUMPH MOTO 2 DEVELOPMENT BIKE – WHEN CAN WE BUY ONE?
Close-up of chrome engine parts, a round headlight and a polished tank on a custom motorcycle on a Union Jack display
SOME AMAZING MACHINING ON THE FRONT END OF THE BROUGH
Custom V-twin motorcycle with a sculpted frame and black wheels on a stand with visitors behind
A NICE BUILD BUT NOT EXACTLY A PRACTICAL COMMUTER
Custom chopper with an exposed chrome V-twin engine and blue pipework on a wooden plinth
THE TANK WILL GET YOU TO THE PETROL STATION AND BACK
White, red and green MV Agusta sports bike on a plinth with a circular logo
MORE MV LOVELINESS
Custom BMW boxer scrambler with a green tank and a leather seat on a wooden plinth, with visitors behind
STRIPPED BACK AND SIMPLE BMW
Custom sports motorcycle with twin exhausts on a Union Jack floor in front of a banner showing men in brown jackets
THE GUYS ON THE PICTURE ARE LOOKING FOR A BUYER UNDER 60
Custom cafe racer with a zigzag-patterned tail, yellow shocks and a blue tank on a wooden plinth
OWWW- MY EYES!
Silver streamlined Moto Guzzi special with a disc rear wheel on a black platform
SLEEK AND AERONAUTICAL MOTO GUZZI
Custom KTM scrambler with a white tank and the number 77 on a red stool at a show, with visitors behind
FUNKY KTM 400 SCRAMBLER
Custom retro bike with a white and black tank and chrome pipes on a wooden plinth
CLEAN HONDA 400 FOUR
Custom scrambler with a grey tank, a polished headlight and knobbly tyres on a black mat
DON’T FANCY THAT PIPE POSITION
Silver custom Suzuki Katana with a large screen and red Suzuki lettering on a paddock stand
IMMACULATE AND SLIGHTLY PIMPED KATANA
Custom Triumph scrambler with a white tank and knobbly tyres on a wooden plinth, with visitors behind
TRIUMPH SELL MODELS NOT FAR OFF THIS AS STANDARD
Orange and gold custom V-twin cafe racer with a fairing and chrome exhausts on a plinth
HARLEY ENGINE, BMW RS COLOUR SCHEME – WEIRD!
Custom V-twin motorcycle with polished silver bodywork and a maroon frame on a stand
THIS ENGINE MAY KICK BACK!
Custom black cafe racer with a blue tank, brown seat and wide tyres on a plinth
SIMPLE STRIPPED BACK BUILD WHICH IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD
Custom Yamaha scrambler with a chrome tank and yellow frame on a plinth
WASP CHASSIS ARE MORE OFTEN ATTACHED TO CLASSIC MOTOCROSS SIDECAR OUTFITS – NOT THIS ONE
Vintage red and gold Kawasaki 250 two-stroke motorcycle on a show floor, with visitors behind
IF YOU CONCENTRATE, YOU CAN SMELL THE TWO STROKE
Early motorised bicycle with a small engine and a red tank on a red carpet display
SUPER EARLY HONDA – THAT’S PRETTY DAMN RARE
Red and black custom chopper with a long raked fork on a display with brochures beside it
ALLOY WHEELS ON A BOBBER – DISCUSS …
Custom flat-track style motorcycle with a polished tank and exposed chrome V-twin engine on a plinth
THE GEOMETRY ON THIS IS JUST ODD – NOT SURE HOW WELL IT GOES ROUND CORNERS
Red and yellow flame-painted custom sports bike on a stand with sponsor brochures in front
NOW THAT’S A BIT MORE PURPOSEFULL
Green, white and red custom cruiser with polished exhausts on a display in front of a Carole Nash sign
LOOK AT THAT EXHAUST – YOU DON’T GET THOSE AT KWIK FIT
Two blue and yellow Suzuki race bikes, one with the number one, on a lit display
RETRO GP METAL – SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL
Repsol Honda and blue Yamaha MotoGP race bikes displayed side by side at a show
BIKES OF LEGENDS RIGHT THERE

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