The Bike Expo was a rousing success for Marco Cinquini and his team of Garage 65 with two Best of Show trophies for his new bike, Stargate (. . . and the bike ain’t even finished yet!) confirms the Italian master builder behind a covered hand). Originally, the premiere was planned for March at the Custom Chrome International Bikeshow Series, where the advanced technology will be fully functioning. What seems to be a continuation of last year’s show-stopper Kosmo Drive is in fact a high-tech masterpiece where only part of the hidden technology is visible: The RevTech engine of which only a few internal parts, cylinders and heads survived, has a completely new lower end and is supercharged.
The gearbox is housed inside the swingarm, with a cascade of gears driving the rear wheel. Frame, fork, and wheels (with centered brake discs) were handcrafted by Garage 65, winning them both Best of Show of the Bike Expo Verona (with accompanying Sturgis transport), as well as Best of Show trophy of the Low Ride Bikeshow (and another RevTech engine).
But this was only one of the highlights of an event that turned out a plethora of ideas and creativity of which the Italian scene and customizers are never short of. No less than two new frame/rolling chassis kits were presented at Verona. Bike Hospital introduced their new hardcore-style lowrider in a stunning bike that scored high in the bike show and Asso Special Bikes blew everybody’s mind with an all-aluminium rolling chassis for Harley-Davidson Dynas. In previous years, Carlo Colombo had shocked the scene with several extreme projects, including his own wheel lines and a chain-driven, offset swingarm design for both streetfighters and custom bikes, For 2011, he developed a complete frame and swingarm combination where the product’s name, ASB 199R, signifies its purpose. The ASB 199R allows the construction of Harley-Davidson customs with a dry weight of 199 kg (438lb).
At the third Verona edition of the Bike Expo, the combined force of the Italian and international custom-scene filled three complete halls — along with four other halls of general motorcycle manufacturers, sportbikes, and accessories. Big name guests included the complete Ness family (Arlen, Cory and Zach), Paul Yaffee, Russell Mitchel, Jeff Decker, and Indian Larry Legacy flew in from the US, but also European specialists like Hog Tech, School Bar Atelier, Hard Nine Choppers, Tony Leenes, Penz, NH-Power, and Riverside Motocyclettes were there to meet and greet.
The outdoor stunt shows in beautiful spring sunshine attracted huge crowds to watch trial-demo shows and Super-Moto/Minibike races at a prepared racetrack, not to forget spectacular car drifting, Freestyle Moto-Cross, and far-out Vespas with no less than five different areas offering entertainment on two and four wheels.
Although Old School-styled bikes seemed to dominate the show, high-tech bikes and other custom-styles had their share of trophies. Custom-part designers and manufacturers like Rebuffini, Kustom Tech, MCJ, and Gray Indian’s Collection are distributed all over the world while customizers like Headbanger Motorcycles develop into volume manufacturers. Never before were so many high-class, custom-built motorcycles on display in Italy. This international event with its laidback attitude towards motorcycling and custom bikes is now one of the highlights of the European show scene. BM