Got a bike you'd like to flaunt? Send prints or high-resolution digital files (300 dpi, please) of you and/or your cruiser to Motorcycle Cruiser, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 or evan.kay@primedia.com.
Matt Janeway, Zephyrhills, FL
2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic
A nonprofessional bike builder, Janeway transformed a "cosmetically challenged" (i.e. seriously beat-up) motorcycle into this retro-bobber custom. Fenders were reshaped using a hole saw and Dremel tool, with parts coming from sources like a Harley-Davidson police bike or fashioned by Janeway himself. The bike came with Cobra exhaust pipes, which were heat-wrapped and given different heat shields. However, the pice de rsistance is the paint work, done by Janeway with Dupli-Color Truck, Van and SUV spray paint.
Paul Chauvin
2005 Triumph Rocket III
"My 2005 Rocket III is a culmination of a longtime dream to customize the giant megacruiser. The list of extras includes Corbin Beetle bags, Progressive shocks, Kryakyn grips, highway pegs and rear bullet LED signals, Triumph freeway bars and windshield, Rivco risers, undertank blue LED accent lights and an insane paint job. I have been riding for 23 years and nothing has come close to the fun this bike provides."
Steve Carr
Buell X1
Carr sent in his photos of this eye-popping one-off-dubbed "Midnight Express"-and we stopped the presses to include it. That's a Buell X1 motor taking center stage, along with a Buell front end, wheels and brakes. The rest of the thing's suspended on a rare MCWorx frame (the softail version of the company's Streetfighter unit). Carr also had the stock Buell/PM rear wheel widened to 8.5 inches so he could mount a beefy 240mm Metzeler doughnut.
Richie Belyski, South Carolina
2000 Yamaha Road Star
"When my girlfriend said I needed to do something with my spare time, I bought a 2000 Yamaha Road Star, stripped it down, put on a 250 rear tire, raked the front end, did all the usual engine mods and added pipes, forward controls and an air-ride rear suspension. Then I had it repainted, added a chin spoiler, more chrome and redid the seat. Now my gal isn't complaining, while other folks just can't believe it's a Yamaha."
Martin Burnette,
Spokane, WA
1999 Yamaha V Star 1100
At first glance, you think, "Oh, just another pretty paint job and lots of chrome." But while Burnette added a few shiny bits, like the Baron Radi'us handlebars, he hand-polished the fork legs and stainless-steel fasteners, replacing some with chrome nut covers or acorn nuts. The paint was sprayed by Burnette himself, who learned that skill more than 30 years ago.
Tom Luke, South Beloit, IL
2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak
Mr. Luke doesn't care whether a motorcycle is "metric" or "American," hence his own genre-crossing BIG twin. The list of mods is extensive, including a custom wet-nitrous kit; Thunder Mfg. Big Bore cylinders, cams and air cleaner; a BUB Jug Hugger exhaust; and a Power Commander III for the EFI system, plus a slew of tasty bolted-on, chromed or polished pieces. Then there's the custom paint-a beautiful green-on-green "fade" flame job with a toothy, sunglasses-wearing piranha on the tank.