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Kestrel by Falcon Motorcycles

Despite our best attempt to harbor a deep-seated loathing when it comes to the hoards of under-thought and over-raked custom motorcycles, and by default one-off bikes as a whole, rare occasions arise when we feel obligated to stop and take note of something beyond the wave of metallic peanut tanks. Such an occasion arose with the release of the Kestrel, a sophomore effort from the L.A.-based studio of Falcon Motorcycles.

Yeah, we know it's a shop, not a studio where one builds motorcycles, right? In the case of Falcon, the line between motorcycle and art form seems to be blurred. Founders Ian Barry and Amaryllis Knight like to think of their creations as "art that can be pulled off the wall, and ridden into town." After a childhood run-in with a pack of bikers mounted on British iron, Barry developed a preference for not only the style of the two wheelers, but also the historical importance of bikes built across the pond.

Now all grown up, Knight's obsession has sent Falcon on a quest to reproduce 10 motorcycles, which despite being completely custom will share a a few commonalities: all British and all of particular historical significance – that is, in the Knight's opinion. The Kestrel, which is based on a 1970 Triumph Bonneville, is the second in that line of creations. It will make it's debut two years after Falcon's firstborn Bullet, which was commissioned by actor Jason Lee.

Take two years and 2,000 man hours, a basket-case Bonnie, sprinkle in the right amount of panache and viola, the Kestrel is born.