Starting from a stock 2005 Buell XB9S Lightning,
which we think is already a cool bike, the finished result is the stuff of
childhood fantasy mixed with huge heapings of manga. Virtually every single part
from the donor bike, with the exception of the powertrain, was either thrown out
or heavily modified, all the way down to the ingenious oil radiator/ license
plate holder. As usual, all the coolest stuff comes from Japan.
What really gets us wild about this bike though is its playful whimsicality.
Though these guys are serious about details to the point of clearly suffering
from some type of OCD, the organic qualities throughout the machine lend
themselves to a light surreal cartoonishness. And not in a cheesy Dali-esque
melting clocks kind of way. The deftness on display of HIDEMO's craftsmanship
leaves us with a machine that is a labyrinth of fluid forms, hidden compartments
and sleight of hand.