While working on the promotion for Going Nowhere I received these beautiful shots from one of our invited builders for the the Going Nowhere bikeshow. This is the super radical Mutant from Ironwood Custom motorcycles. Check our Going Nowhere instagram to check all the invited builders.
"My first project completed in 2013 was an authentic 1979 Honda CB550. I turned this one to brat style in my living room with parts from Dime City Cycles. Step by step, year by year I’m still learning from each build and developing my own style. Now 25 customers are enjoying a genuine Ironwood motorcycle. Some with just some minor mods, other full rebuild corner benders.
When I have time I build my own projects like the Mutant. Till now for me it was mostly about improving the looks so my goals for coming period are to become more all-round like the ones I look up to (Revival Cycles, Diamond Atelier, ER Motorcyles CRD and Blitz...), of course influenced with my own touch & signature. I want to improve my building skills and apply more custom parts instead of installing off-the-shelf items. Next to this I’m amped to do high-end projects like box fresh motorcycles.
Since this year Eric and Sam joined the team, together we customize, conceptualize & realize motorcycles to one-of-a-kind vintage machines, piece by piece! Also friends like Paul & Rik are here quite often to support. Happy we moved to a bigger venue in January 2017 and grew and became more mature. The brand Ironwood Custom Motorcycles is now out there, next up is launching merchandise, upgrade the website and continue building cool rides!
Doing this wrenching thing full time now for 6 months and we are getting bigger projects with new bikes. I felt it was time to really do what I love to do, also suddenly passing away of my dad last year to brain cancer inspired me to quit my day job. He worked 30 years in Automotive. This, out of the blue, loss (he was not ill at all before) was a big life changer for me, it opened my eyes that life can stop in a heartbeat. He was 63, we were very close and supposed to go to Vietnam together for some weeks but then he was gone. He just missed the birth of my little brother’s son, my new house, my new shop and my first born in October '17. Life can be tuff for sure but now I’m even more focused and determined!
Regarding the actual built
When I started my 12th R-serie rebuild it was all about making a rad one-off machine. Most of our projects are BMW airheads on commission. This had to be something else. Freehand but still drivable/ride-able. Also because BMW R's are now the most customized bikes you see online I wanted to have a more stanced BMW racer... Kinda Glemseck look, vintage on the colors, raw on the metals and aggressive like the street fighters from 10 years ago. We chopped the fork tubes and lowered it with 60mm. The wheels got coated like the frame and equipped with old radial Shinko tires. They are more round than Firestones so they handle just a little bit better. The rear end with short custom sub frame was lifted a tad by using a longer custom made Hyperpro shock. This stance gave the bike its razor sharpe look & feel. The Integrated led indicators in the tail, Akrapovic seat pipe, a lot of custom alu parts, small Zundapp gas tank, Brembo brakes, crazy piping on the exhaust, tankstrap, really low clip ons, relocated rear set completed what I envisioned in the beginning."
photo credits: Paul van ML
Mods & specs:
· CBR600rr Akrapovic seat pipe
· Custom piping welding by @pisanggoreng1980
· Zundapp gas tank with BMW Monza gas filler cap
· New tank emblems and new petcock
· Porsche 356 vintage green paint-job inspired by @singervehicledesign cars
· DNA leather top pod filters
· DNA breather filters
· Tarozzi rear sets
· Integrated Highsider led blinkers rear
· Custom CNC aluminium triple tree with integrated Motogadget scope speedo
· Front lowered with 60mm
· Shinko E270 tires 4.00x18
· NGK sparkplugs
· Motogadget front indicators
· Big Brembo brake discs
· Brembo brake pump PS16
· Custom led rearlights integrated in CNC bracket
· Oldskool valve headers
· Fehling clip ons
· Bates headlight
· Custom CNC aluminum fork brace
· Custom seat alacantra and leather by @millerkustomupholstery
· Custom leather tankstrap with Leatherman tool holder by @millerkustomupholstery
· Custom leather grips by @millerkustomupholstery
· New control units and throttle
· Oil temperature gauge
· Relocated ignition lock
· Lithium battery
· Hyperpro emulsion rear shock
· Engine checked and painted black
· Frame sandblasted and coated black
· Wheels coated black
