Our annual review of the most popular custom motorcycles is based purely on statistics, and is almost always polarizing. To balance it out, I have the formidable task of picking my ten personal favorite customs of the year, data be damned.
It’s never easy, but 2021 was a year where the cream truly rose to the top. And so my short list was shorter than it’s been in the past, with a number of standout builds grabbing the top spots almost immediately. It’s an eclectic selection, and the bikes that made the cut have very little in common, other than the fact that they all wowed us.
To level the playing field, I’ve automatically eliminated any bikes that already popped up in our main Top 10. With that out of the way, here are my ten favorite custom motorcycles of 2021, listed alphabetically by builder name. Feel free to let me know if you think I got it right… or wrong.

10 til’ 12 BMW R100 The challenges of 2021 did nothing to slow down the slew of me-too boxer customs hitting the scene. So this supercharged BMW R100 from F1 works designer Ben Norton felt like a fresh spring breeze.
Operating as 10 til’ 12 (because that’s when he works on his bikes), Ben left no stone unturned on this 1992-model R100RT. The engine work alone could fill volumes; a 1,070 cc Siebenrock kit, an Eaton M24 supercharger, custom engine covers and a custom-made alternator are just a few of the highlights. Oh, and there’s a methanol injection syst...