Photo credits: Paul van ML
A relative newcomer to the custom motorcycling scene, Arjan van den Boom (what a name!) and his crew at Ironwood Custom Motorcycles in Amsterdam, Netherlands, have been churning out commissions since setting up shop in 2012. What you’re looking at here is number 12 on that growing list.
Based around the bones of a 1985 BMW R80, Arjan and company most definitely had a whale of a time with build number 12 as it was an in-house project and was not commissioned by a paying customer. “It was all about making a rad one-off machine,” Arjan told Bikeexif. “Most of our projects are on commission—so this had to be something else. Freehand, but still rideable.”
Photo credits: Paul van ML
While the name of the game is to impart one’s identity on to the canvas provided, Arjan was fixed on retaining the motorcycle’s original monoshock and single-sided swingarm. As for everything else, the tone was clear from the start. “Vintage on the colors, raw on the metals, and aggressive—like the street fighters from ten years ago,” claimed Arjan.
In order to achieve a lean-forward stance, the forks were shortened by 60 mm and a longer, custom-made Hyperpro shock was installed. Next up is the inclusion of a Zündapp fuel tank with a Monza cap along with a leather tank strap that features a custom pouch for a Leatherman multi-tool.
Photo credits: Paul van ML
The powerplant was kept stock with only a black powder-coated treatment and a set of ‘peanut’ valve covers rounding up the list of mods to the engine itself. Elsewhere, a custom 2-to-1 exhaust setup exits under the seat via an Akrapovič muffler from a Honda CBR600RR. Speaking of the seat, it is comprised of a mix of Alcantara and leather and was stitched up by Miller Kustom Upholstery.
Up front, the brake discs have been swapped out for larger units while a new master cylinder from Brembo is featured. The tyres are 270 Super Classic units from Shinko. The Bates-style headlight hides modern LED internals along with a pair of Motogadget indicators. At the rear, LED taillights are to be found while the rear indicators are cleverly integrated into the frame rails.