The impact of Japanese builders on the vintage/custom motorcycle culture cannot be denied. Like it or not, our friends from the rising sun have a unique style that is all at once familiar and brand new each time another machine is created. From the SR's of Brat Style to the art bikes and salt racers of Shinya Kimura, Japanese builders set a high standard for quality and individualized innovation.
Intrepid European photographer, ChopCult member and motorcycle addict Marco Donati sent these images from a recent trip to Japan, so we all get a chance to soak up the rich details in Hideya Togashi's shop called Hide Motorcycles. Thanks for sharing, Marco.
Awesome article and fantastic photos. Japan has got it going on and has for some time now! I gotta get out there and check out their underground subculture.
When there are no indigenous traditions or pre-defined DNA you are truly free to create. It's comforting to know that good style and impeccable execution is a common language. Hats off to the builders with "an eye" from the far east and beyond.
in case anyone was wondering Hideya Togashi is the man behind hidemo. not sure why that wasn't mentioned, it would seem more important in an article about hidemo than name-dropping shinya.
one cool thing about hidemo is that it's a mom n' pop business: hideya does the bike building and his wife does administrative tasks as well as their web/graphic/video design and marketing.
that knick knack chop has been on my radar for a min.... soooooo sick. it has the perfect stance. and the fact that is running two rear head on the dual carb set up gets me way stoked!!!!
in my opinion, the fellas in the far east are pumping out the best bikes right now. i personally love the blending of the cafe and chopper. saw a ton of photos from the cool breakers show in 09 and had a smile from ear to ear from all that eye candy.
I've been watching Hide for a while now. Everything seems to just gel. A real sense of style that honors the machine. Hide is one of the few builders that you hardly even notice or care what the bike is, it all seems to go so seamless and perfect.
The only other guys I've seen really getting to this level of abstraction beyond brand are Deus in Australia.
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gofastmoto
NHMike
TanDawg100
grime99
gravelveins
radical feature!
Nicko
motoguru
damned
Those great rear-tires and wheels are top-notch thinkin'!
Ironsled
steffan
JoshAdamBoyd
Boylecomm
I've been following their progress for years. Great Stuff!
BGRYN
SportsterBob
the rear wheels are killer!
Diesel
KingPynn
elTee
onigoroshi
Flarris
onigoroshi
toolmantom
PapaG
pangeaspeed
jamesgs4
autobutcher1954
revmike
The only other guys I've seen really getting to this level of abstraction beyond brand are Deus in Australia.
Well, then again, I don't get out much
~Rev Mike
johnnybx3
WingNut
Gbaggs
Thunderhead1990