Here it is! The bike that started it all! El Citron has just been featured on BikeEXIF! Check it out @bikeexif ! (link in bio) . .
Many thanks to Mark @lightandgears for the amazing photography, and @blackwidowcustompaint for the excellent work on the tank. Couldn’t have done the work without help from @rogerleavens along the way. . . . .
#elcitron #bikeexif #motobrix #kawasaki #s3 #h1 #h2 #widowmaker #kawasakis3 #kawazuki #lemon #yyz #toronto #caferacer #caferacersofinstagram #croig #custom #vintage #bike #classic #2stroke #oilburner #2smoker #sportbike #gsxr #suzuki
Thank you @pipeburn for the feature on El Bob! The full story just went live at !
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Once again 📸 by the super talented @lightandgears . Mark is the absolute best!
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#pipeburn #motobrix #xs650 #bobberstyle #kickonly #yamaha #nobattery #chopper #xs650bobber #elbob #hardtail #scarberia #toronto #suicideshift #footclutch #handbuilt #fabrication #yamachop #custommade #custombikes #builtnotbought #boughtandbuilt #caferacer
Airhead Reborn: 1986 BMW R80RT from Brian Kates of Toronto’s @motobrix , commissioned and co-designed by Mischa Couvrette of @hollisandmorris .
Built from a botched custom job! Photos: @veryscarygary (alley and shop) / @naomifin (warehouse). Full story today on BikeBound.com! ⚡️Link in Bio⚡️
Reposted from @bikeboundblog
The latest R100, built for @realphillebeau
A full restoration and custom build down to every nut and bolt.
#R100 #bmwcanada #airhead #custommotorcycle #handbuilt #caferacer #croig
Some surgery on the steering head tube.
I bought this Ducati M900 3 years ago, from a "friend of a friend". This will be the last time I forego due diligence. The bike was in a crash at some point, bad enough (or direct enough) to crack the steering head tube at the bottom, opening up the seat for the bearing race. The bike would pull, and was showing symptoms of bad steering bearings. Most people would write the bike off for something like this.
Luckily I was able to save the surface by creating a brass blank, and welding with the brass in place to preserve the roundness and position of the bearing seat. There is now a groove where the crack was, but the structural integrity is preserved.
#ducatimonster #m900 #900ss #Ducati #framerepair #weldrepair #tig #welding #motobrix
And just like that, the bike is done. It's hard to see at this stage that it took a ton of work to get to this point, but I always know I've done something right when it almost looks like I've done nothing at all.
I'll take some better pictures soon, but here's a few from the first few test rides, and from bringing it out of the shop in the sun for the first time.
Big thanks to everyone who helped me along the way, @blackwidowcustompaint for the paint on the tank, @air_support_bmw for the mechanical work on the heads, transmission and final drive, and @djbookshelf for the help building the engine. I wasn't always an airhead guy, and over the years it seems airheads have chosen me whether I like it or not.
Off to its proud owner @realphillebeau soon!
#r100 #r75 #r80 #bmwmotorcycle #bmwairhead #airheads #bmwmotorrad #caferacer #croig #motobrix #custommotorcycle #handbuilt
R100 Reel 3: Tabs and Bungs
In January 2023 I finished up mounts and bungs for key mechanical parts or accessories. I relocated the rear brake master cylinder, footpegs, and finished welding the frame.
#r100 #caferacer #croig #bmwtoronto #bmwmotorradca #bmwairhead #airheads #custommotorcycle #bmwcanada #madeincanada #canada🇨🇦 #iamcanadian
R100 Reel 2: Shock Mounts and Seat
In late 2022, the build continued with shock mounts, and seat pan fabrication. I like to build shock mounts with proper threaded steel bungs made on the lathe. Then they get TIG welded to a bracket that is then welded to the subframe.
The seat pan is fabricated out of stainless, with captive nuts welded on the inside. The seat can eventually be bolted into place from the bottom with short M6 bolts.
I shaped the foam using a hard EVA foam followed by a softer open cell top layer. These layers get carved with a turkey knife, and then shaped with a grinder and rasp. I'm usually covered in foam bits by the end of this stage.
Finally, @nishesniche made some suggestions about showing some dance moves. I guess COVID was still around back then? I don't remember much about it.
#r100 #bmwtoronto #caferacer #croig #bmwmotorradca #torontomotorcycle #bmwairhead #airheads #caferacer
R100 Reel #1 - Disassembly and subframe:
I've decided to post a recap of the latest BMW project for @realphillebeau in a series of reels. I've made videos about the bike before, but between running an architectural metal shop, and other responsibilities, things took quite a bit longer than originally planned.
This first reel is from January to April 2022, and includes the first few stages of the project. I stripped the bike down to the frame and sand bent some steel tubing to make the rear subframe.
I wish I had taken more videos at the time, but I've also included a glimpse of some of the other projects I was involved in that spring.
I'm aiming to finish the project by the end of February, and will keep posting reels until then.
#r100 #bmwmotorrad #bmwairhead #custommotorcycle #caferacer #croig #recap #throwback
