A Yamaha XS650 from Texas, a BMW R90 from China, a Honda tracker and Triumph Bobber from France, and a Yamaha XV1000 from New Zealand. We’re racking up the air miles this week.

BMW R90 by Mandrill Garage China Isn’t exactly a hotbed of custom motorcycle activity, but with shops like Mandrill Garage building bikes like this, there’s hope. Based in Beijing, Mandrill was founded about five years ago by four friends as a side project, and has grown steadily with builds like this 1976 BW R90/6.
The bike came to Mandrill via a collector (classic BMWs are as rare in Beijing as you’d expect) who wanted it transformed into a stylish cafe racer. With Chinese law forbidding motorcycles older than eleven years from being ridden on the street, the R90 had stood for years, so a full refresh of all the internals was in order. The carbs were refurbished and fitted with velocity stacks, and a custom-made twin exhaust system made up with titanium mufflers and carbon fiber tips.
Mandrill have done well to modernize the old boxer, with a set of Ducati 1098 forks and brakes up front, and a custom-built mono-shock setup out back. The new rear end is pretty compact, thanks to a custom subframe and cafe-style seat.

Tasty bits are sprinkled throughout?like one-off triple clamps, a Brembo rear caliper, lightweight rear-sets and CNC-milled switchgear from Renard Speed Shop over in Estonia. The guys rewired the bike too, treating it to a healthy portion of Motogadget-r...