De Castelli Samotracia Copper Motorcycle
Though it’s certainly not the sole or even the main reason we love them, many a custom motorcycle is made all the better by the uniqueness of its appearance. Of course, a lot of the time that comes secondary to the overall performance of the vehicle. Not in the case of the De Castelli Samotracia bike, however, as this one is most definitely a style-first moto.
A meditation on the aesthetics of movement, this geometrically-styled street bike boasts a body and front fender made almost entirely out of unfinished copper — yes, the metal. And while that’s certainly an interesting material choice, it serves a very specific function: over time, the bike will age, shifting from having the appearance of a newly-minted penny into a greenish patina not dissimilar to the Statue of Liberty. The concept of change in relation to speed and movement is further explored in the geometric “folds” found across the fairing, a design inspired by the jerking abruptness of time-lapse photography. We just hope that this beauty actually gets to see the open road, as it would be a tremendous shame otherwise.
