“The Quail Gathering” is a world-class display of motor exotica, perfect restorations and brilliant customs. It’s really not easy to win this award. This year Niki Smart with his incredible Honda XL500 board-tracker won two awards at once: the Custom/Modified category, as well as the “Design and Style” award.

Niki is well known in the automobile world. Currently a British car designer is working in the USA. He became famous as the lead designer on the Ariel Atom sportscar, plus concept cars for Cadillac.Most recently, he was a design manager for General Motors. He worked closely withthe Advanced Design team in Los Angeles.

In this project, an army of his friends supported Niki.

Specifications:

• donor: 1981 Honda XL500
• inspiration from images of classic board-trackers and experimental European racers from the second half of the 20th century.
• Hossack forks
• Vee Rubber 120-50R26 tires
• 26x3.75"wheels, modular design (aluminum hubs, carbon spokes)
• rear suspension: swingarm made of chrome-molybdenum steel,adjustable shocks under the seat
• LED headlights
• custom tank (carbon/fiberglass)
• standard Keihin carb with custom inlet system
• a compact 6V battery to connect devices and headlights
• custom seat, made in carbon fibre and Kevlar
• sprocket: 15/46

Photo credit:Bike EXIF