MOTO MMXX

The Graft & Craft of Custom Motorcycles

The custom motorcycle movement has exploded in the past decade. What was once a fringe pursuit is now a mainstream phenomenon, so much so that many motorcycle manufacturers have initiated their own mass-produced “customized” versions. The 20 motorcycles in this exhibition - some never before seen in the US - are a small, multinational sampling from a massive global scene.

Every one of these builders have endeavored to create something entirely new. Each has a unique process, just as they each have unique reasons that compel them to customize and to build. The range of approaches illustrates the spectrum of customization, from the hand-sketched and hand-crafted to computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided-manufacture (CAM), from traditional hand-forming techniques to state-of-the-art computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machining and 3D printing. In all cases, the extraordinary results share little in common with their original donor bike.

One motivation behind this exhibition is to reveal the astonishing amount of labor and commitment that goes into each custom build - far more than the glossy photographs in blogs and magazines reveal. Some of these motorcycles represent months of work, some years. This exhibition makes an attempt to quantify the personal, and sometimes financial, investment involved, and the frequent discrepancy between that investment and the “value” of that creation.

The motorcycle industry is at a particularly interesting intersection as electric motorcycles emerge as the heir-apparent to the internal combustion engine. Unconstrained and unbeholden by the industry status quo, custom builders are uniquely positioned to explore this opportunity. I hope these thought-provoking builds challenge and confound your expectations about what motorcycles can and should be.

Today’s custom motorcycle builders are part designer, part engineer, and part artist. A heartfelt debt of gratitude to the fellow builders without whose labors and passion this exhibition would not exist.

See you on the open road.

Hugo Eccles
Curator, MOTO MMXX

MOTO MMXX curator Hugo Eccles is Founder and Chief Creative of UNTLD MOTO. UNTLD designs and builds motorcycles for private clients and in partnership with factory brands such as Ducati, Triumph, Yamaha, Moto Guzzi, and Zero.

FILM & VIDEO

The Triumph Thruxton R is a bespoke custom café racer built by Untitled Motorcycles, in association with Barbour International, for the GQ Car Awards 2018. Nice, huh? Subscribe to British GQ►► http://po.st/SubscribeBritishGQ Camera: Luca Lamaro and Kris Anwar Editing: Luca Lamaro CONNECT WITH BRITISH GQ Web: http://po.st/BritishGQ Twitter: http://po.st/TwitterBritishGQ Facebook: http://po.st/FacebookBritishGQ Google+: http://po.st/GoogleBritishGQ Instagram: http://po.st/InstagramBritishGQ Newsletter: http://po.st/NewsletterBritishGQ ABOUT BRITISH GQ British GQ is the premier channel for men's style, lifestyle and entertainment.
A collaboration between GQ, Barbour International and Triumph Motorcycles, build by custom bike builder Adam Kay, the man behind Hampstead-based Untitled Motorcycles (UMC). Subscribe to British GQ►► http://po.st/SubscribeBritishGQ CONNECT WITH BRITISH GQ Web: http://po.st/BritishGQ Twitter: http://po.st/TwitterBritishGQ Facebook: http://po.st/FacebookBritishGQ Google+: http://po.st/GoogleBritishGQ Instagram: http://po.st/InstagramBritishGQ Newsletter: http://po.st/NewsletterBritishGQ ABOUT BRITISH GQ British GQ is the premier channel for men's style, lifestyle and entertainment.
Adam Kay, co-founder of Untitled Motorcycles, popped into the 'Shed to drop off a customer's Moto Guzzi - so we pointed a camera at him. Product designer Joe was given a crusty old barn find of a V50 by his father-in-law to be, but without the time or space to restore it himself the basket case was delivered to Untitled for an overhaul.
Two attributes of the Moto Guzzi brand are individuality and uniqueness. And these two elements only get stronger when someone customizes one of our bikes. To satisfy these custom cravings, we recently launched the V9 Pro Build Project. The project targets builders who already have a deep respect for the Eagle brand and are celebrated internationally for their work.
Untitled Motorcycles' UMC-038 Hyper Scrambler on NBC's Jay Leno's Garage. Jay talks to the designer and builder Hugo Eccles, founder of Untitled Motorcycles in San Francisco. More details at www.untitledmotorcycles.com
Sales, Specifications & Enquiries: hello@untitledmotorcycles.com The HYPER SCRAMBLER represents the uncompromised pursuit of the purest riding experience. It is designed to capture the spirit of motorcycling without concession to economies of scale or other hindrances. By stripping the motorcycle to its essence, the Hyper Scrambler embodies the best of all worlds: hand-built individuality and factory-like quality combined with state-of-the-art technology. Inspired by Lotus Cars' raffish founder Colin Chapman's mantra "simplify and add lightness," all extraneous components have been removed. The result is a nimble, razor-thin 803cc motorcycle that is 20% lighter than its nearest competitor, and weighs one pound less than a Vespa. The Hyper Scrambler's svelte 325 pounds, combined with the 83hp fuel-injected engine, delivers a power-to-weight ratio in excess of most superbikes. This power is controlled by a modified 50mm throttle body with Bing fuel-injectors and huge 310mm semi-floating brake discs coupled with Brembo monobloc calipers. The Hyper Scrambler's boldly provocative appearance belies its practicality and reliability. It is as functional as it is radical: with a 137-mile range it is designed to be ridden daily without compromising either safety or legality. All necessary DOT/ECE-compliant lights, blinkers, switches, mirrors, and horn have been subtly and discretely integrated into the design. At the core is a modified 803cc fuel-injected L-twin Ducati motor stripped bare with transparent clutch cover, exposed timing belts, and underslung QD box exhaust and bellypan: a singular machinistic element that celebrates the mechanical. The motor is suspended from a modified 2015 Ducati Scrambler chassis. The characteristically skeletal trellis frame—a signature element of Ducati motorcycles—is paired with a single-sided swingarm and a custom tubular subframe that supports the Ohlins monoshock and slimline seat. Narrow LED strips, embedded into the tubework, double as both taillights and blinkers. The entire chassis is highlighted in Rosso Corsa, a proprietary neon orange colour used on Ducati's own MotoGP racing bikes. Inverted Showa 43mm BPF forks are custom-anodised to match the frame. A bespoke electronics package—including lithium battery, programmable Motogadget module, and remapped ECU—is hidden in the tail alongside the deceptively capacious 3.6-gallon gas tank. The tank sits atop the exposed neon frame and continues the tapered form of the seat, narrowing toward a custom LED headlight, creating a single cohesive form. Low flattrack handlebars hold custom controls and switchgear. Brembo master cylinders are operated by one-of-a-kind brake levers with integrated blinkers. A modified top bracket incorporates an LED display that indicates speed, mileage, and revs. The Hyper Scrambler was designed and built by Hugo Eccles, owner of Untitled Motorcycles San Francisco. Founded in 2010, Untitled Motorcycles' principals, Hugo Eccles and Adam Kay, were early proponents of the custom motorcycle scene and co-founders of London’s The Bike Shed. UMC’s work was featured in 'The Ride' (Gestalten, 2013), the new-wave bible written by Chris Hunter, founder BikeEXIF, and Cycle World editor Paul d'Orleans. The HYPER SCRAMBLER is a Limited Production motorcycle available in different Ducati-inspired colours that reference the company's rich 90-year history. Clients can specify different colours, materials and components. For sales, specifications and enquiries contact hello@untitledmotorcycles.com
Abhi Eswarappa, the founder of Bike-urious.com, stops by the garage to show Jay the Ducati UMC-038 Hyper Scrambler and introduce him to the designer and builder of the motorcycle Hugo Eccles.
http://www.motogeo.com/ MotoGeo heads to see the new V4 Panigale, Honda Goldwing, Royal Enfield and more at the motorcycle show in LA, then we ride up in the Malibu Canyons on the new and playful Aprilia Dorsoduro 900. Motorbike: Aprilia Dorsoduro 900 http://www.motogeo.com/g8wc Moto + Adventure = MotoGeo Support us on Patreon!
Untitled Motorcycles UMC-037 VIVO. A teaser film for the new Moto Guzzi by Untitled Motorcycles.
Thanks to Untitled Motorcycles.
Bike Builder Adam Kay explains what 'Untitled Motorcycles' custom bikes is all about. He talks about the new custom scene, design, culture and riders. 'Untitled' specialise in taking 1970's and 80's bikes and giving them an individual style for their owners.
LEAP FILMS have produced a 90-second Ad for the London based bespoke motorcycle maker, Untitled. The film looks like a Bruce Davidson shoot populated by Fellini characters, as the viewer is taken on a mesmerizing journey through a desolate London wasteland. For more go to: https://www.facebook.com/LeapFilms www.leapfilms.co.uk
Untitled Motorcycles produce beautiful custom bikes for their clients. They approached us to produce a series of promo films to show off and introduce some of their latest creations. Our treatment was to move away from the common styles of the custom bike world and treat the bikes as pieces of art, in a simple grey/white space, gently rotating and reacting to the music.

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