Creativity is a tug-of-war between what the client wants, and the designer’s need for freedom. Building custom motorcycles is no different. In fact, some builders won’t even take on a job if they don’t have complete creative control.
Martien Delfgaauw of Berham Customs in Berlin is a little more easygoing than that. But even he was put off by the brief for this Yamaha XT 600.

Rather than bend necks and drop jaws, this stealthy scrambler had to do the exact opposite?blend in.
The XT’s owner supplied this brief: ?I?ve got a 2002 XT 600 that I?d like you to turn into a good looking bike. But it musn?t look like a custom bike. It should look stock, somehow, and has to be completely unobtrusive, with a matte black paint job.? ?Also, it mustn?t look new. It has to be perfect for the city, but also off road and long tours. A huge tank?s a must. It has to be comfortable, and it has to be lowered so that I get my feet on the ground properly. Currently it?s not running?some electrical issue. Are you up for it"?

Not surprisingly, Martien was less than enthusiastisch.
Berham create purpose-driven machines all the time. But even then, they go to town on the details?ditching air boxes and installing Motogadgetry everywhere. And none of that was going to be possible here.

?It was too much of what you don?t want to get in a brief,? says Martien. He also had his hands full launching a line of parts for classic BMWs, in collaboration with KRT Framework. ...