Last week in Essen, Germany, partners Don Cronin and Michael O’Shea at Irish custom shop Medaza Cycles , received the trophy & ring given to the 2013 World Champion Of Bike Building. They beat off a strong competition of 66 custom motorcycles in the Freestyle Class, a category of very innovative bikes, all one-off, built from the ground up on any chassis, platforms or drivetrains.
Relatively unknown until a few months ago when they also won the Irish Championship during the Carol Nash Show in Dublin,the 2 partners were unanimously voted by their competitors as this year’s most creative for design, engineering and quality of details. A rapid look at Medaza Cycles Website shows that they have a very eclectic taste, something summarized in their custom philosophy and slogan: “Building Bikes For Discerning Gentlemen And Teenage Punks”
Called “Rondine”, this year’s world champion is a one-off frame designed to cradle a 1971 single cylinder Moto Guzzi Nuevo Falcone 500 engine. Frame features an unusual combination of stretch (2″) and rake (56-degree) to which are attached a Girder front end built from an heavily modified V-Rod swingarm (!) and a one-off swingarm, resulting is a very unique bike architecture and stance.
Engine mods include rocker box de-finned, engine increase to 580 cc, lighter weight valves, pumper carb, lightened flywheel, modified lubrication system, one-off permanent magnet alternator and beautifully routed stainless oil lines. Other shop fabricated parts include one-off exhaust, handlebars, electrics box and rear peg sets in stainless, one-off brake discs and mounts to carry Harrison calipers. Both wheels (19″ front & rear) are modified V-Rod. Medaza Cycles Ireland. (photography copyright Onno Wieringa for AMD World Championship, courtesy to Cyril Huze)
you typed ‘beat off a stiff’
hahahhhaa.
bike looks killer. swingarm is art.
Very different. Interesting. Great work.
Love the swingarm, too.
Excellent…show bike.
Looks to me that the front tire is going to touch the exhaust when braking hard or when the bike will be rolling over a big bump. Although nice, I think the winners of past years had custom bikes at a much higher level.
Fantastic! Beautiful bike! What other bikes have these guys built? Hint hint hint …….
Jose, the fork is a girder style. It’s action will take up and further away from the tyre.
I really like the creativity with the V-Rod swing arm being used as a basis for the girder front end. Great vision guys!
Dunno what I wrote earlier, but the action of the girder fork will move the wheel in an arc up and away from the exhaust. The tyre can not get closer to the engine..
Just looking at it makes this old man’s back hurt.
Yep, fabulous piece of work. Very nice, nice to see unusual engine etc.
Fritz, Don Cronin built a gorgeous Moto Morini in 2009.