Photo: thereturnofthecaferacers.com
The fact that the custom bike market in Japan is radically different from the rest of the world is old news, so expecting the unexpected is probably the most cautious approach to it. And in case you needed some extra proof to back this saying, here's one of Ask Motorcycles’ works, the entry for the 2015 Mooneyes show.
A Honda XLR250R became the Mother Machine, keeping true to Ask's Rad Yamamoto vision of how custom bikes should look, namely long, low, and skinny. Likewise, his mastery of the lathe provides Rad with exceptional one-off metal bits and pieces he crafts from brass.
The Mooneyes 2015 judges were impressed by the stylish yet unobtrusive decorations Rad bolted to the Honda, including a bespoke brass fuel cap, washers and pivot joints, spoke nipples, and chain and cable guides.
The engine was rebuilt completely and it is in perfect working condition. The head and the covers were polished to a mirror shine, while other parts got a coat of black paint. This also goes for the cylinder, which received larger cooling fins.
Rad Yamamoto also crafted the rest of the metal parts that make the Mother Machine, the exhausts, the bars, and the rail-like rear subframe that holds the seat. He also hand-shaped the fuel tank into that beautiful, fluid piece.
The clutch is also foot-operated and shifting gears requires the rider to actuate a hand lever located behind the seat. Not sure whether this constructive solution is THE way, but Rad's machine is definitely radical and his prowess in designing linkage systems is even more striking.
The Mooneyes 2015 judges were impressed by the stylish yet unobtrusive decorations Rad bolted to the Honda, including a bespoke brass fuel cap, washers and pivot joints, spoke nipples, and chain and cable guides.
A handmade frame is complemented by multiple other in-house fabrications
Mother Machine's frame was built around the engine, using a homemade jig, and it thus serves the purpose to perfection, as we learn from the returnofthecaferacers.The engine was rebuilt completely and it is in perfect working condition. The head and the covers were polished to a mirror shine, while other parts got a coat of black paint. This also goes for the cylinder, which received larger cooling fins.
Rad Yamamoto also crafted the rest of the metal parts that make the Mother Machine, the exhausts, the bars, and the rail-like rear subframe that holds the seat. He also hand-shaped the fuel tank into that beautiful, fluid piece.
No hand controls?
If you took a closer look at the bike, you most likely observed there are no levers for hand controls. Still, Mother Machine is a fully operational motorcycle, as Rad cleverly hid the throttle inside the right grip, while the brake is foot-operated. It actuates both the front and the rear brakes, so there is plenty of stopping power when needed.The clutch is also foot-operated and shifting gears requires the rider to actuate a hand lever located behind the seat. Not sure whether this constructive solution is THE way, but Rad's machine is definitely radical and his prowess in designing linkage systems is even more striking.
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