With so many custom motorcycle shops currently in operation across the globe, it’s become increasingly difficult to develop a unique and instantly recognizable signature style or aesthetic. Yet that’s exactly what Sydney, Australia’s Edi Buffon has managed to do over the last few years with his series of ever-more-impressive rigid-tailed bobber builds.
Working under the banner of Machine 1867, Buffon’s latest alloy-clad two-wheeler started life as an early 2000s Ducati Monster 620, though it is now a far cry from its former stock self. Constructed around a custom hard-tailed Chromoly frame, the M620 boasts a 59” wheelbase and a 38° rake. The custom framework also sports integrated foot-pegs, a one-off leaf-spring-equipped Springer-style front-end, and a custom-stitched tractor-style seat suspended over the rear tire via a bespoke spring and linkage with a set of custom brass tension adjusters. Now equipped with a custom tubular timing belt cover, the 618cc L-Twin at the heart of the build has also been hit with a coat of black paint before being treated to a custom downdraught-style Weber carb setup and an ultra-minimalistic exhaust setup comprised of a pair of ultra-short J-shaped pipes ejecting spent fumes from the right side of the bike. In addition to a hand-worked alloy rear fender that closely hugs the rear wheel, Buffon also whipped up a custom split two-piece tank for the project, with the left side item serving as the build’s fuel-cell while the right side accommodates the Monster electronics. Riding on a spoked wheel-set with an MX-style 21” front hoop and a 15” rear wheel, the hardtail Ducati motorcycle also features a custom hand-shifter, custom-machined aluminum grips, bespoke copper fuel lines, and a single rear disc brake for bringing the bike to a stop.
While one could view Machine 1867 as something of a one-trick pony, the reality is the Aussie outfit has managed to increasingly hone and refine its hallmark style over the course of the four builds that the shop has thus far completed, making us increasingly excited to see what Buffon has in store for his future rigid-framed projects.
