For motorcycle fans on the west coast of the USA, there?s one event you can?t miss: The Quail Motorcycle Gathering in sunny Carmel, California.
The 2016 show was the most successful in the eight-year history of the Concours d’Elegance. The manicured lawns played host to 400 display bikes, with an upgraded Custom/Modified class to cater for the growing custom scene.
As sponsors of this class, we were gratified to see strong interest from visitors and builders alike. After casting its eye over the show, Cycle World noted in its report, ?Maybe the most invigorating were the customs,? with the builders being ?brilliantly in command of a boundless, fertile artistic space.?
Photographer David Goldman was on hand to capture the magic for us. Here?s a personal selection of favorites.
Kawasaki W1 650 by Mike LaFountain of Raccia Motorcycles, customized to echo the iconic Matchless G45. This machine took Mike seven years to complete.

?The Bean? by Revival Cycles?a heavily modified Kawasaki W650. The tank is a homage to the classic Ducati ?Jelly Mold? design but the forks are decidedly modern Yamaha R6 units.

Devin Henriques of Cognito Moto showed a pair of stunning builds, leading with this CB750. The tank is from a later model CB750F, the wheels are 18-inch Sun rims, and the forks are from a Suzuki GSX-R 750.

Cognito?s second machine was this equally beefy Yamaha XS650, topped off with a lovely quilted seat from New Church Moto. We love those straight-shootin? pipes ...