It’s that time of the year again. We’ve scoured our stats, done the sums, and compiled the 2025 edition of the notorious Bike EXIF Top 10.
For the second year running, we’ve considered data from the start of December last year until the end of November this year, which means that any bikes that popped up late in the year got a fair shake. We’ve also focused solely on our website statistics, leaving social media out of the equation.
As we’ve come to expect, the final selection was impossible to predict. There are no clear trends here—although it is worth noting that half of the bikes featured are Harley-Davidsons. So pour a measure of your favorite beverage, kick back, and enjoy the selection.
10. Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 by Wannabe Choppers
This year produced a slew of Royal Enfield-based customs, most of which were commissioned by the Indian marque itself. But only one made it into the Top 10—a gleaming Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 café racer with gleaming sand-cast aluminum bodywork.
It’s the work of Enrico de Haas, who runs Wannabe-Choppers in Germany. His vibe is rustic machines with raw metal textures that wear their imperfections with pride. So that’s the route he took with the Continental GT.
The build process melded old and new techniques together. Enrico and his team designed the bike’s key parts digitally first, and then 3D-printed molds that were used to cast the final pieces. A mid-20th-century milling machine was used to finish each item off, while bigger components, like the fairing and monocoque body, were built from smaller parts that were welded together.
With polished aluminum as a base and myriad brass details creating an eclectic feel, Wannabe’s Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is one of the most intriguing Royal Enfields to roll out in 2025. [More]
9. Metisse-inspired Vintage Motocrosser by Frontwheel Motors
We featured four custom bikes from Indonesia’s Frontwheel Motors this year, all equally noteworthy. But it was this vintage motocrosser, pieced together from Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki parts, that rose to the top of the pile.
Drawing inspiration from the iconic Metisse desert sleds of the 1960s, Frontwheel started with the 150 cc motor from a Honda MegaPro (also known as the CB150R), wedged into a Yamaha Scorpio frame. The crew modified the frame’s steering neck and fabricated a new subframe, before installing the forks, yokes, brakes, and swingarm from a Kawasaki KLX.
Other major changes included a single- to twin-shock conversion at the back, 21F/18R Excel rims, and Suzuki TS125 handlebars. The bodywork was handmade out of metal—from the skinny scrambler fuel tank to the number boards and fenders. The seat, another custom part, is a play on classic Bates competition saddles.
Finished in a fetching replica Metisse livery, Frontwheel’s VMX masterpiece turned out way better than a Frankenbike has any right to. [More]
8. Yamaha XJ650 by José Montes
Produced by a first-time custom builder, this minimalistic XJ650 stands proud among the pro-made bikes on this list. It belongs to José Montes, a Spanish computer engineer who, at the age of 47, decided to try his hand at motorcycle customization.
It took José four years to take the 1984-model Yamaha XJ650 from ratty donor bike to svelte custom. His workshop time was limited to weekend evenings and vacation days, and he was adamant about doing everything himself. As a result, he picked up a number of new skills along the way.
José’s XJ650 is a delightfully subtle take on the old four-cylinder UJM. It now wears a Kawasaki KZ fuel tank, finished in a classic Yamaha hue and adorned with the iconic tuning forks badge. A skinny leather seat sits further back, perched atop a custom subframe, while a handmade cowl holds the requisite tail accoutrements.
Finished off with parts from Biltwell Inc., Motogadget, Highsider, Koso, and Motone, José’s XJ650 has everything he needs and nothing he doesn’t. It’s an exercise in restraint, and a worthy addition to our annual Top 10. [More]
7. Harley-Davidson Street Bob by Rough Crafts
Winston Yeh has shown us that he’s just as good with European and Japanese bikes as he is with Harleys, and that he can play with color when the occasion calls for it. But this menacing Street Bob is proof that the classic Rough Crafts recipe of American muscle and brooding finishes always hits hard.
It’s quintessential Rough Crafts fare, through and through. A custom fuel tank, sporting the brand’s hallmark scalloped sides, sits ahead of a bobbed saddle and under-seat blank-off plate from Poland’s BT Choppers. A custom fender pokes out the back, with a rib across the top that echoes the tank’s design.
The Street Bob also wears a smattering of Rough Crafts bolt-on parts, plus goodies from Rebuffini, Arlen Ness, and Koso. The 18F/16R wheels are from Roland Sands Design, the brakes are from Beringer, and the suspension has been upgraded with Progressive components.
Rough Crafts’ client asked for a little more “bling” than usual, so Winston worked a tiny selection of shiny finishes into the black-on-black assortment. Finished off with Rough Crafts’ signature tank badges (handmade by 2 Abnormal Sides, as always), this Street Bob is a brutal reminder of the style that originally put the company on the map. [More]
6. Triumph Scrambler 900 by Heiwa MC
Most Heiwa MC creations use older motorcycles as donors—but shop founder Kengo Kimura is just as adept at modifying modern machinery. He knocked our socks off early in the year with this 2024-model Triumph Scrambler 900, proving that he can apply his art to just about any canvas.
Heiwa’s signature is best described as mechanical elegance. Kimura-san typically tears each bike down to its bones, before building it up again with countless handmade parts, each harmonizing perfectly with the next.
Here, he treated the Scrambler 900 to a generous front fender, a svelte fuel tank, and a flat track-inspired tailpiece, all hand-hammered out of aluminum. A second fuel reservoir sits under the seat, designed to host the OEM fuel pump. Tucked in front of it is a custom mono-shock setup, with heavy modifications to the swingarm and subframe to eliminate the original twin-shock arrangement.
Shakin’ Speedgraphix handled the bewitching grey paint job, Ya.Seat.Custom in Bangkok did the upholstery, while Kengo got the bike over the finish line with a stupendous twin exhaust system. It’s another top job from one of Japan’s most renowned workshops. [More]
5. Harley-Davidson XR750 Tribute by Motonaut
Built from the remnants of two classic Sportsters, and an array of recycled Harley, KTM, and Ducati parts, this tribute to the iconic Harley XR750 flat tracker was built by German enthusiast Michael Middeldorff. And it is perfekt.
Operating as Motonaut (a reference to the Argonauts in Greek mythology), Michael started with a 1966 XLCH Ironhead motor and a 1979 XLS 1000 Roadster frame. The frame was heavily modified, before being propped up on Ceriani replica forks and YSS shocks. A 19” Harley Hydra-Glide wheel went onto the front, with a 19” V-Rod front rim used at the back.
Michael rebuilt the almost-60-year-old powerplant, adding an electronic ignition, a Lithium battery, and a NOS Screamin’ Eagle carb left over from the 1980s. KTM and Ducati parts made up the braking system, with classic fiberglass flat track bodywork creating an undeniable nod to the past.
Finished in Harley’s signature orange racing livery, Michael’s XR750 replica made its debut at the 10th Flat Track Invitational at Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Motor Ranch in Italy. It’s not just a track bike, though—Michael has all the parts he needs to convert it for road use. [More]
4. Harley-Davidson Softail by Gasoline Motor Co.
This heavily distressed Harley looks like it was transplanted from a beach race in the 1940s, but it’s actually a modern Milwaukee-Eight Softail. It was modified by Gasoline Motor Co. in Australia, who drew inspiration from the Race of Gentlemen—an annual beach racing event for vintage motorcycles and hot rods.
Gasoline started by chopping up the Softail’s frame and fabricating a rigid rear triangle. A springer fork went onto the front, with matching 16” wheels and five-inch-wide Allstate treads fine-tuning the stance.
To blend modern performance with classic style, Gasoline commissioned Beringer to create an impossibly compact front braking system that would be hard to spot from a distance. They also fabricated twin Knucklehead-style fuel tanks, with a sprung bobber saddle adding to the retro vibe.
The Harley was finished in a period-correct paint scheme with faux patina on the tins and hard parts. But below the cracked finishes and retro-fabulous air cleaner lies a thoroughly contemporary machine. [More]
3. Harley-Davidson Pan America Kit by Powerbrick
Tim Somers and the crew at Powerbrick topped the charts last year, nabbing the top spot on our Top 10 with their interpretation of a Harley-Davidson Pan America. Tim called it “the streetfighter that Harley never released,” and the internet agreed.
That bike was never meant to be a one-off. Soon after it broke cover, Powerbrick got to work refining every inch of it to turn the parts into a bolt-on kit. When they were done, they released a pair of matching Pan Americas that once again melted our servers.
Using a Pan America 1250 Special [black] and a Pan America 1250 ST [silver] as donors, Powerbrick started by equipping both bikes with 17” carbon fiber wheels from Rotobox. The silver bike was upgraded with a custom-built rear shock from TFX, while the black bike kept its electronically-controlled OEM suspension.
Moving to the bodywork, Powerbrick installed their full front- and rear-end kits, which include brackets to lower the front fairing and reposition the dashboard, and new subframes and seats. They also added a smorgasbord of swish finishing bits, including Venhill brake lines, Samco coolant hoses, and custom-made stainless steel exhaust systems from Nius Moto.
The best part? Anyone with a Pan America and an open weekend can build one of these themselves. [More]
2. 1979 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide by Kid Custom Factory
Tasked with building a handsome bobber for a gentlemanly client, Shintaro Kido, A.K.A Kid Custom Factory, pulled out all the stops. Starting with a 1979 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide, he turned it into a compact hardtail with miles of tasteful details.
“Shintaro’s machines are by no means flashy,” said photographer Kaz Matsumoto when he brought us this story. “However, if you look closely at them, you can see the intricate craftsmanship throughout, like beautiful works of art.”
Kaz wasn’t exaggerating. Shintaro made extensive modifications to the Electra Glide’s frame by fabricating a rigid rear triangle, shortening the wheelbase, and hollowing out the steering neck gusset. A set of Harley FX forks was installed up front, but not before they had been smoothed down on a lathe.
Shintaro specced the bike with vintage ‘Seven Star’ wheels, bespoke bodywork, and a jockey shift with a custom linkage system. The man’s passion for his craft is evident in the bike’s subtle adornments—like the shifter’s knife-like handle, which Shintaro made himself after studying traditional knife-making techniques. [More]
1. Honda Dax 125 by Steady Garage
Mini-bikes are always a hit around here, and no one builds them quite like Steady Garage. The Californian outfit wowed us, and our readers, earlier this year with a sassy Honda Dax 125 loaded with radical modifications.
Using the modern re-issue of the classic Dax as a donor, Steady partnered with Honda, Vance & Hines, SMR Factory, Gears Racing, G-Craft, Chimera Engineering, and Kenda Tires to create a collaboration for the ages.
The result was a monstrous mini-bike with enough attitude to take on motorcycles four times its size. Highlights included a G-Craft swingarm, modular wheels from Chimera Engineering, and Gears Racing suspension components. A Baja Designs headlight was fitted in a custom housing up front, with a one-off seat adorning the rear.
Custom handlebars, raucous twin pipes by Vance & Hines, a hopped-up motor; the work done to this Dax could fill volumes. Affectionately named ‘Otto’ by Steady co-founder Kevin Dunn’s son, this Dax embodies the principle that small bikes equal big fun. [More]
Editor’s Note
Compiling each year’s Top 10 is a bittersweet experience, with a handful of worthy customs usually landing just outside the list. We’d like to give an honorable mention to Malle’s Continental GT 650s, ShifCustoms’ Moto Guzzi Breva café racer [above], Frontwheel’s Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 flat tracker, Rough Crafts and Faber Studio’s stripped-down Yamaha Ténéré 700, and a stylish BMW boxer café racer from 72 Performance USA [below].
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the custom bike builders and photographers who regularly feed us content, our writers, our publisher, and the advertisers who keep our servers humming. Happy holidays, and be sure to check back just before the new year—we’ll be rounding up our favorite OEM releases of 2025, before unveiling our entirely subjective Editor’s Choice Top 10.
