An M.V. Powered Custom By Shinya Kimura

Another bike from Shinya Kimura.

I don't know about the frame, etc, but this motor is a 650cc M.V. Agusta. The original M.V. was for sale some time in the early 1970s, and I recall it looking more sedate than this one, if not by much. Mr. Kimura's bikes always feature a lot of parts that are hand formed, or machined from billets, in his shop. So I'm going to classify this as a Japanese Custom Motorcycle built by Shinya Kimura.

M.V.s were big winners at road races all through the 1960s, but by the 1970s they were having trouble keeping up with the higher tech Hondas. The motor is beautiful enough to use it on the basis of looks alone, but being an M.V. it would also be smooth and strong. This bike would move right along.

You should Google this guy. All of his bikes are amazing.

Shinya Kimura Is Back!

Shinya Kimura!  About five years ago I posted a YouTube video of this guy doing a first cold start of a new creation.  The bike was amazing, and the video was compelling.  Then I lost track of his name. I've been looking for him for a while.  Came across his name today in a funny way. 

I was watching golf on TV, I know, the very definition of nothing to do.  Time on one's hands.  Anyway, it was the Hero Classic, down in the Bahamas.  One of the signs said, "Hero Motorcycles."  That sounded familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, so I asked Professor Google.  

Hero Motorcycles is an Indian outfit.  I'm not sure, but they might do business here in Thailand as Stallion Motorcycles.  Maybe, don't quote me.  Some of the designs look very similar.  On the Hero website the designer mentioned that his inspiration was Shinya Kimura.  Worth a look, so back to Google.  Sure enough!  It's the guy!

And what a guy.  Look at these things, and there are hundreds of them by now.  This Mr. Kimura fabricates everything but the tires and the motors, from the looks of it.  Just amazing stuff. 

That's art on the hoof, right there.