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1971 Desmo 450 Ducati
1971 Yamaha TR2B Race Bike
See our build on BikeEXIF.
1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati
1971 Desmo 450 Ducati
1971 Desmo 450 Ducati
1971 Desmo 450 Ducati
See our build on BikeEXIF.

I painted a set business signs for a British bike shop in Boise Idaho for trade of the Desmo motor about 20 years ago. Motor was apart-but complete. Over the last handful of years I kept acquiring the needed parts for the build.

• Magura clip-ons
• Magura levers for a dual sided front brake
• Ceriani replica 4LS front brake
• Ceriani road race forks and triple clamps
• Morad rims
• Double leading shoe rear brake plate
• Delorto 30 phf carb slip on carb
• 450 Ducati road frame
• Scitsu tachometer

Once the basic components were sourced I formed the body work and sent the plugs to GFTP for part making. I designed the paint scheme first and built the fairing to match it. Upper part of the fairing is based on a Vic Camp Ducati part. Tank and seat mimic Ducati factory parts with different proportions to make it all work together. I used our Union sand cast rear sets again. Had to fab up a center stand. Also made the front, side, and lower fairing mounts. Constructed the exhaust brackets, header and muffler, steering stops, instrument and headlight brackets, upper brake arms for the Ceriani front brake, front axle, rear brake stay, crank case breather tank, and the rest of the basics. Frame was modified by adding rear set hangers, necessary tabs, rear seat rail change, and all pick up points for the fairing brackets. Had to make a custom manifold to get the carb to fit and create enough clearance for the K&N air filter. Utilized the same rear rock guard and front fender I have used on some of the other Ducatis we have done.

1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati
1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati 1971 Desmo 450 Ducati
1965 Ducati 250
1965 Ducati 250
See our build on BikeEXIF.

Bike has gone through a series of evolutions. Originally put together from a pile of spares pulled out for one of the customs we built a number of years ago. The pile of parts left over from the resto was laying in the shop and I recognized that all the patina looked really balanced. I took that pile and assembled it into a running old survivor looking thing. That was ok for a few years until I decided it deserved more attention. I decided that the wabi sabi aspect of the bike needed to be retained. I began the search for the right Jelly Mold tank to base the new design brief around. Luke found a misfit tank off an Argentinian two stroke. I added receivers for Ducati emblem fasteners. Re-shaped the emblems to fit the tank. Welded a Ducati filler neck to accept an old Ducati cap. Fabbed up the front and rear mounting tabs. I then shaped a “jelly mold” seat to match.

• Painted and aged the new body work.
• Built clip-ons out of old Harley sprint handle bars.
• Installed our union made sandcast rear sets.
• Welded up an old rusty exhaust.
• Added an old tach drive and repop tach.
• Front wheel is off of a Montessa. Had to build an axle and spacers to make work.
• Made the front brake stop out of an old piece of aluminum laying around the shop.
• Rear sub fender and front fender is out of the mold made for our previous custom 250’s.
• Modified a Ducati 160 center stand.
• Heidenau tires front and rear
• Front rim is an unknown survivor
• Back rim is a Boranni knock off
• Interior Revolutions did the upholstery

I traded the first motor used in the bike for Desmo parts. New motor is a bit of a mystery. I bought it from a friend of the shop. He believes it was built by an old dessert racer from the 70s. Clearly “somebody” hot rodded the heck out of the thing. It has a dual plug head and judging from compression and starting difficulties – my guess is that it's bored to a 350 and has a performance cam. Bike is virtually impossible to start with a kick starter. Compression release must be used in conjunction with bump starting. Once it fires – it really goes for a 250. Luke is going to rebuild it this winter and make it little more usable for the street. Bump and run is fun – just not all the time. Luke built a new wiring harness with modern components including electronic ignition. Suspension is stock.

1965 Ducati 250 1965 Ducati 250 1965 Ducati 250 1965 Ducati 250 1965 Ducati 250 1965 Ducati 250 1965 Ducati 250 1965 Ducati 250
1965 Ducati 250 1965 Ducati 250
Union Gary Nixon Tribute
Gary Nixon Tribute Triumph Bonneville
This is what happens when you walk into Union and ask for your basket case oil in the frame Triumph to be built into a bobber...The idea of a Nixon project had been hanging around the shop ever since Bret at GFTP got his hands on an original Triumph factory race tank and made a mold of the top. Union designed and built the plug to make the tank fit the later model triumph twins. Project sat in que as an idea until just the right customer showed up. Who knew that the "right" customer would be a bobber "wanter". After a thumbs up from the customer - Union started work on all the frame mods and one off parts construction. Stock GFTP body work was massaged to fit the project. The bike features custom triple clamps, exhaust, brackets, rear sets, upholstery, wiring, and paint. Union likes it and they hope "number nine" would like it also.
Union Gary Nixon Tribute Union Gary Nixon Tribute Union Gary Nixon Tribute Union Gary Nixon Tribute Union Gary Nixon Tribute Union Gary Nixon Tribute Union Gary Nixon Tribute Union Gary Nixon Tribute
850 Norton Commando
2020 re:Acts benefit 1967 Triumph Bonneville - won by Jim Baker of Oregon
See this past Benefit bike on BikeEXIF. Sweepstakes is closed.
850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando
850 Norton Commando   850 Norton Commando   850 Norton Commando   850 Norton Commando   850 Norton Commando    
850 Norton Commando
Peter Williams inspired 1974 850 Norton Commando
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850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando 850 Norton Commando
Ducati 250
2018 re:Acts benefit 1965 250 Ducati Monza - won by K Bergquist
See this past Benefit bike on BikeEXIF. Sweepstakes is closed.
Ducati 250 Ducati 250 Ducati 250 Ducati 250 Ducati 250 Ducati 250 Ducati 250
BMW
1993 BMW R100
See our build on BikeEXIF.
There is much fascination with Bol D’or endurance bikes in the brains of a lot vintage bike enthusiasts. Luke and Mike are included in this lot.

Same old Union formula (sort of). This go around Union focused on what BMW might have done with an endurance racing R100. One of the guys rode with a friend in the early 90s who had an early R100 autobahn police special with a Hienrich tank. The look of that bike played a role in this design. Goal was also to make it ultimately work very well on the street. Contemporary BMWs embrace an asymmetrical world. This asymmetry influenced subtle features throughout the bike. Much work went into making the Showa inverted fork work with the frame and most importantly to Union – the stock front wheel. They thought it was very important that the Akront be retained for quality and spoke pattern match to the rear wheel.

A handformed aluminum tank is the center of the bikes profile. Union always wondered how much the German engineers looked at the main hoops of a featherbed frame. The shape of the tank was in their mind for a Norton frame for a long time. Tank form is dictated by the swooping frame hoops. Knowing that the tank idea would never work with a featherbed - the guys thought the idea was correct for this BMW. A hammer buck was made and all the aluminum panels were shaped and welded in house. Fairing design has some obvious Laverda inspiration. Glass from the Past made the mold and now the fairing is available on their website, in racing form.
BSA
       
Ducati 250 Narrow Case
Ducati 250 Narrow Case
Customer asked for a custom 250 narrow case Ducati. He showed us a picture of a Diana and said that he wanted it to look a bit like it. No sense in arguing with that design idea. We changed the proportions to make the motor look bigger in relation to the tank, fenders, and seat. Motor was completely rebuilt. We fabbed up a custom muffler, rearsets, and a bunch of brackets. Frame was modified to fit a custom seat. A non stock paint scheme was devised to accommodate a request for a red frame.
Ducati 250 Narrow Case Ducati 250 Narrow Case Ducati 250 Narrow Case Ducati 250 Narrow Case Ducati 250 Narrow Case Ducati 250 Narrow Case Ducati 250 Narrow Case Ducati 250 Narrow Case
1965 Ducati 250 Monza
1965 Ducati 250 Monza
See our build on BikeEXIF.
Our customer purchased a mid 60's 250 Ducati Scrambler in Arizona. When the bike arrived it came with some unexpected parts. The parts included a matching numbers 1965 5 speed Monza motor and frame in bits. The owner brought it to us and asked if we could do anything with it. His only stipulation - It cannot be red.

A rebuilt motor, newly shaped tank and seat, and a bunch of fabrication resulted in this. Fabrication included- rear sets, brackets, exhaust, center stand, parts for the mix and match forks, tank bits, and other "you name its". Customer picked it up in his super cool 1969 VW drop side truck. His only excuse for not riding it home - 20 degrees in Idaho that day.

We like the finished product - Hey, it is not red - right?
1965 Ducati 250 Monza 1965 Ducati 250 Monza 1965 Ducati 250 Monza 1965 Ducati 250 Monza 1965 Ducati 250 Monza 1965 Ducati 250 Monza 1965 Ducati 250 Monza 1965 Ducati 250 Monza
1956 600cc Model M100 Panther
1956 600cc Model M100 Panther
Brought to us by the customer in original and ready to restore state. Complete engine rebuild and renovation. Thanks to all of our UK suppliers helping source all the odd bits for this classic sloper.
1956 600cc Model M100 Panther 1956 600cc Model M100 Panther 1956 600cc Model M100 Panther 1956 600cc Model M100 Panther 1956 600cc Model M100 Panther
1967 BSA Lightning
A talented engine builder went through the motor of this one time basket case, but then lost interest as the flashier Spitfires, Rocket Goldstars, and Proddy Commandos kept his attentions focused elsewhere. An old comrade, he sweet talked us into taking on this project.

Like the builder before him, Mike started on the Bezza, but lost interest as a Bonny and Triton project turned his head and drew his affections away from this diamond in the rough. In spite of its brand new motor, it seemed that this little sleeper with a heart of gold would be relegated to watching life from its box on the sidelines of shops, until its fairy godcycle stepped in. Having captured the eye of one Caferacer TV, Union Motorcycle was asked to build a bike for one of their features.

Suddenly, everything old was new again. Pulling the Bezza to the front of the line, Union shaped a new first of their kind seat, tank, fairing, and side covers. GFTP put their name on the dance card with new molds and parts. The frame was heavily modified in concert with the with new body work. Rear sets, brackets, mounts, and miscellaneous hardware were fabbed up. No stock BSA bracket went untouched. We are especially keen on how the triple clamps, steering dampener mechanism, and fork caps all play together nicely. Countless hours on the lathe, mill, and welder resulted in every part looking period correct.
BSA
         
1973 Norton Commando
Once upon a time, there was a Commando who thought it would enjoy life as a Roadster. It would take the safe road, the expected road, mind its ps and qs. But then life happened. Nearly 40 years old, this not so distinguished gentleman is just getting started. Ever the neoclassicist, its custom bodywork was proportionately streamlined to reinvent a lighter appearance, while still giving a respectful nod to the past. A modified rear frame makes it all work, while custom brackets hold everything together.
Porter Aermacchi
In and out through the space of 20 years and as many hands, this bike has orbited our collective, waiting for the right moment to make its grand entrance. Enter one Al Porter, local UMC customer, noted restorer, doting dad. He had an old BSA Victor that he wanted to turn into a street racer for daughter Kristin, soon to be collegiate graduate.

After pitching our case: 1) We have the bike! 2) I have the perfect seat in mind! 3) I need an excuse to shape it and hand it to GFTP for mold making! Al kindly let us talk him into building this Aermacchi, every father's dream!

Bret at GFTP had already built the fairing and tank over the course of its many owners, so the bike already had good bones. Still, much more was needed. We worked side by side with Al to position all the bodywork and build all the brackets. Luke engineered and fabbed up the rear sets. He also made the custom center stand and chain tensioner. Show off! Mike shaped the seat and built the aluminum exhaust shroud for the underside of the fairing. Oh yeah, did we mention that Al rebuilt the motor? Between her busy graduate schedule, Kristin also found time to get her hands dirty.

Once we got it into a solid mock up - Al took it home - and presto! change-o! returned with paint and polish all wrapped up. His attention to detail is great. We feel this Aermacchiavellian approach to a Harley Davidson Sprint project is one of the best times we've had. We think Kristin likes it, too.
1993 Ducati 900ss High Pipe
Check out this Cinderella story: Boy meets bike, Boy likes bike, Boy crashes bike. Keep reading. It gets better. From the ashes of its damaged frame, all parts were removed. A one of a kind fiberglass tail section was crafted to work with a sectioned stock frame that was rebuilt from the rear motor mounts back. The proportions of this bike puts one in mind of the Scuderia Spaggiari Ducati and Tony Rutter's TT2. Once again, a GFTP piece was created just for this rising phoenix from the ashes: a modified 900SS front fairing to accept the headlights and turn signals. The tank is a collaboration of a 900SS tank and a late 80s 750 Sport. Custom brackets and period race parts complete the package.
Union 1978 Triumph T140
1978 Triumph T140
A customer came in requesting a mild custom. He only had a few clear “have to have items”. The bike had to use a stock tank with badges. He also said that it had to be red. Frame was stripped, de-tabbed, and modified. As always – a bunch of custom tabs and brackets had to be made. Front end was lowered and a second disc added. Total engine rebuild and new electronics are the core to the build. BikeEXIF.
Union 1978 Triumph T140 Union 1978 Triumph T140 Union 1978 Triumph T140 Union 1978 Triumph T140 Union 1978 Triumph T140 Union 1978 Triumph T140 Union 1978 Triumph T140
1978 Triumph T140   1978 Triumph T140   1978 Triumph T140                
1974 Yamaha RD60
Inspired by the 50cc Grand Prix bikes of the 60s and 70s, only good sense and cultural decorum prevent you from clapping your hands with glee and exclaiming, "That is one damn cute motorcycle!" From its humble beginnings as a basket case, this little gem was built from the ground up. A GFTP fairing was modified to complement the stock RD60 seat and tank. After a stripping and detabbing, the frame lives to fight another day. Oh, and did we mention the YSR 50cc motor? You have been served.
1993 Ducati 900ss Low Pipe
The call came from our Northern neighbors: can you build a bike for a nice chappy from Canada? Always international ambassadors of goodwill, we responded with, "Natch!"

We sourced an imperfect but sound '93 900SS and broke it down. Using the molds from the first 900SS, we reconstructed the frame and manufactured bodywork. This helped us justify the hours we took shaping the original parts. The customer wanted an encore of the paint we used on the high pipe bike, but we convinced him to go with a variation on the original theme. Builder knows best! Many of the stock Ducati parts were retained this go around.
1947 Ariel Red Hunter 350
007 likes his shaken, not stirred, and we like this Ariel renovated, but not restored. Raced in Northern Idaho hill climb events in the 50s by the original owner and his brother, it was then taken to a shop for restoration. Saving itself for something better, it was taken to another shop, then handed over to Luke. Waving a red flag in front of a Ransom, Mike bet Luke the bike would remain unfinished and never run again. Determined to get the bike up and running again, Luke hand fabbed many of the parts, including the push rods. A BSA part here, a Triumph part there, and now you have it. You only live twice.

Oh James!
1967 Triumph Tiger 100
The owner brought this project in as a complete renovation. He specified the paint and other details, but left the rest up to Luke. Up against man skills, tools, and pixie dust, this Tiger didn't stand a chance.
1950 Harley Davidson Hummer 125
After earning its keep as a hard working southern Idaho farm bike, this tough little scrapper still starts on first kick, thumbing its handlebars at retirement.  Its rubber actuated springer front end ain't too shabby either.
1966 Honda CB450 Black Bomber
The CB450 was the Japanese tentatively sniffing the collective air, testing the water for larger displacement categories. Brushing off heavy initial criticism for their styling, their mettle and their metal have endured the test of time, emerging as one of the most sought after early Japanese classics. Like Athena springing full grown from Zeus' head, this classic brought its A game straight out of the gate. Making no apologies, thumbing its nose at restoration, it's in it for the long haul.
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