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We're kickstarting this month's lineup with a 125 cc Honda wrapped in sci-fi-styled bodywork by Vietnam's Bandit9. We then showcase the impressive BMW R-series EV conversion kits by the Netherlands manufacturer LM Creations. And wrapping things up is 20-year-old Austrian Moritz Bree and his one-of-a-kind Yamaha SR400 flat-tracker that's an acid trip on two wheels.
Bandit9 EVE Odyssey
Radical is one way of describing the work of Daryl Villanueva and his Bandit9 workshop (Instagram). He refers to his work as automotive avant-garde, which translates to motorcycles that are a fusion of science fiction and art. In 2014, Bandit9 unveiled its seventh creation, the EVE. Built around a modern Honda 125 cc platform, EVE was instrumental in putting Bandit9 in front of a global audience of both motorcycle enthusiasts and design geeks.
"We've created something that, on the road, is a motorcycle but on a pedestal, it's a sculpture," Daryl says. "We wanted to create something that would sit comfortably in a contemporary art museum. Think about how an Eames or Barcelona chair has become more than furniture."
The Odyssey is Daryl's evolution of his 2014 EVE design. Although there are similarities in the styling and engine platform, the Odyssey is a huge step forward from the original. This time, Daryl and his team have built almost everything you see on the Odyssey from scratch, apart from the tried and tested Honda 125 engine.
Why a Honda 125, I hear you ask? Daryl explains: "I live in Vietnam; I see these engines from the 1950s still kicking around lugging fridges on the back or carrying a family of four. Ever see a Harley or Ducati do that for 75 years with little to no maintenance?"
For those wanting more oomph, Daryl says discussions are happening that could see a gruntier version come to fruition sometime in the future.
Daryl's Bandit9 team includes "aerospace guys" whose knowledge has been pivotal in the Odyssey's design and development. For this same reason, the EVE Odyssey has been made using state-of-the-art materials, manufacturing techniques, and aircraft-grade materials. In contrast, much of the body requires age-old hand-crafting skills to bring it to life.
"The unibody tank and frame go beyond the limitations of CNC machines and 3D printing. The beautiful brushed finish, which is frustratingly hard to capture on screen, can only be done by hand. The pattern of randomness is something a machine cannot reproduce. It's like an oil painting versus a print of an oil painting. You can tell the difference," says Daryl.
The frame of the Eve Odyssey has been designed and built from the ground up. At the rear sits a single-sided swingarm assembly supported by a monoshock. The Honda engine hangs from the center of the chassis and the fuel tank and body form part of the structure rather than being bolted to it. Hidden within the bodywork you'll find the bike's electrical components and cables, and they've even hidden the exhaust within it, which helps maintain a sleek, streamlined silhouette. To ensure a cohesive look, the front end features more alloy bodywork that disguises a telescopic fork.
Adding to the striking simplicity of the EVE Odyssey are CNC machined grips, a magnetic fuel cap, and simplified switch blocks. A Motogadget Motoscope Mini speedometer in an alloy housing sits perched on one side of the handlebar, and the lighting consists of custom-made LED assemblies.
Despite its appearance, Daryl assures the EVE Odyssey is 100% street capable. Each example will be numbered and part of a limited production run. Pricing starts at $19,500 U.S. with a three-to-four-month production wait after purchase.
LMC BMW R00 EV
At first glance, the LM Creations (Instagram) BMW R00 looks no different from your average mildly customized Boxer. But closer inspection reveals there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye. Despite having all the visual traits of a fossil-fueled Bavarian, the LMC R00 is, in fact, a 100% battery-powered EV.
Luuc Muis and the team at LMC have seemingly done the impossible. They have created an electric conversion kit for R-Series BMWs that maintains the bike's original powertrain appearance. To top it off, anyone with basic skills and a bit of know-how can now can perform this conversion using one of the LMC R00 EV kits.
What makes the LMC kit so unique is how it is installed. Rather than removing the engine and filling the void with a battery pack, The R00 kit utilizes the existing engine cases to house the electrical components. "To install the R00 kit, it's unnecessary to make any major changes to the original bike, only to remove some brackets from the top of the frame tube," Luuc explains.
As for the batteries, they're housed inside an ABS plastic fuel tank shell styled directly off the R-series tanks. The kits come with everything needed to convert the bike, including gauges, chargers, offset spacers for the drivetrain, brackets, fasteners, and a comprehensive wiring diagram. To top it all off, the system uses the existing gearbox; so by all accounts, the riding experience is very similar to the original bike.
Adding to the spectacle of this clever conversion is how LMC has dealt with the engine's cylinders. During the conversion, the engine's internals, cylinder barrels, and carbs are removed. Blocking plates are fitted to prevent water and dirt ingress and the cylinder head mounting bolts are retained. The cylinder covers are then reinstalled, giving the impression they are floating alongside the engine and retaining the classic look of a Boxer twin.
This 1992 BMW R80-based R00 EV was built in-house at LMC HQ by Luuc and his team. However, for this project, at the request of the customer, they've made several performance and styling tweaks to take it to the next level.
Starting with the handling, the R80 sports a modern KTM inverted fork and an aftermarket rear shock. Stopping power has also been overhauled using a Cognito Moto disc brake hub conversion kit and the tires are wrapped in the latest Michelin rubber. The bike's new Scrambler look has been achieved with the fitment of a custom subframe and tailored seat. A Renthal Fatbar sets up an appropriate riding position and there's a modest four-inch headlight at the front. Rear lighting has been relocated to a hugger-style plate holder and it's provided by Kellermann Atto 3-in-1 LED lights. Rounding out the mods is a tiny Motogadget Motoscope Mini speedometer sitting on the handlebar and a lick of eye-catching teal paint.
In regard to performance, a completed R00 EV offers similar horsepower to an original R-series engine, but with the added bonus of 90 Nm (66 foot-pounds) of torque. Owners can expect a range of around 80 kilometers (50 miles) in urban conditions so it's no tourer, but should be enough for your average commute. As for the system's longevity, the batteries are good for around 160,000 km (nearly 100,000 miles).
LMC plans to continue evolving these kits as technology improves. Interestingly, they are also looking at releasing them for other bikes. "We already have a DIY kit for chain-driven bikes," says Luuc. "Besides that, we are also working on a K00 kit for the K1, K100, K75, and K1100 BMW models. Plans are also in motion for developing these kits for more motorcycle brands and models in the future, to convert classic motorcycles to the experience of electric riding!"
Moritz Bree Yamaha SR400
At just 20 years young, Moritz Bree has built one of the best-looking SR400s I've seen. Moritz is an avid rider who competes in varied off-road riding events, has completed grueling adventure-touring trips and has even tried his hand at riding the infamous Wall of Death. After completing an apprenticeship in motorcycle mechanics, he opened a small workshop in the Austrian mountains. When he's not repairing or servicing motorcycles for customers, he likes to build customs for his own enjoyment and this SR400 is one of his latest works.
The SR400 was sold by Yamaha for an impressive 43 years. During that time, the Japanese thumper has amassed a huge global following. Due to its relatively basic design, construction, and affordability, it is also considered one of the most customized motorcycles ever sold, creating a vast aftermarket parts industry.
"I had the bike in the corner of my shop for a few years. I didn't even have a motorcycle license at the time," Moritz recalls. "The engine was ready, with a lot of tuning parts and an increased capacity of 630 cc. I bought it cheaply but never had time to do it. I'd also purchased some other parts with the plan to fit them, but I had too many other client projects taking up my time."
The catalyst for kicking off his SR project came when parts supplier Kedo and fashion brands Red Wing and Dickies became interested in partnering with Moritz. He describes the look of his SR as a blend of '70s interior design and the psychedelic Rolls-Royce owned by Beatles legend John Lennon. "It's my style," he says. "On my bikes, I don't care about street-legal stuff… it just has to look and ride good!
"I didn't have a concept at the beginning. The difficulty is that you can build anything from an SR, whether it's a café racer, scrambler, or brat-style bike. I was undecided at first, but my love for flat-track dictated the look. I originally drew a concept but didn't stick with it. The bike just evolved as I was building it," he recalls.
The new bodywork is completely bespoke. Moritz fabricated the angular tank and tail unit himself and his friend, Carsten Esterman, engraved the yellow plexiglass racing plate panels for a wildly unique look. The retro paintwork was laid by Christian Schaber and Sattlerei Ralf Sam upholstered the seat using a theme-matching yellow suede leather.
The engine powering this SR is far from stock. Along with a 603 cc big bore kit, it now benefits from the fitment of a hotter cam and Mikuni flat-slide carb. "She goes up on the back wheel in third gear," Moritz jokes. During the engine overhaul, Maritz added his personal touch by fabricating custom ribbed covers and drilling out some of the material on the sprocket cover.
The bike's chassis has been detabbed and fitted with a custom subframe before being repainted with a matte copper powdercoat. Moritz has tweaked the wheel hubs, added gold 19-inch Excel rims, shortened the front end by about six centimeters (2.4 inches), and fitted a swingarm from Kedo. The bike rolls on Hoosier rubber, the bars are lightweight Pro Taper Contour handlebars by Carmichael, and his sister put together the resin-encased flower filler cap.
Moritz says the complete list of mods on this bike is so extensive he can't recall them all, but one thing is for sure, this SR is as entertaining to ride as it is to look at.
