AMD European Championship Of Custom Bike Building Mainz, Germany - Hot News - September 2007

This past March, Hungarian custom shop Sapka Muvek took home top honors at the annual AMD European Championship of Custom Bike Building, held in Mainz, Germany. More than 100 bikes from 18 countries, including the U.S., Russia, and Japan, competed in the Freestyle class, which was judged by the builders themselves as well as 15 experts with extensive motorcycle industry experience.

Sapka Muvek's '41 Knucklehead-based bike "The Time Machine" was inspired by author H.G. Wells and filled with innovation-much of it garnered from the automotive world. Of note were the wheels that featured handmade wooden spokes attached to custom hubs enclosing Fiat drum brakes. A stretched frame, attached to a single-sided frontend, was made to accommodate an automatic tranny that can be started by hand via a left-side telescopic crank. Aside from taking home a trophy, Sapka Muvek received a 124ci S&S motor for its victory.

Second and Third Place honors went to Frenchmen Art of Racer and Riverside Motorcycles, respectively. Art of Racer's "Rock 'N Bike" is highlighted by a detailed Sportster motor in a frame lacking any downtubes. Riverside's "Crosser" comes in as a mix of '20s-era board tracker and motocrosser packaged in a single-sided rigid frame. A RevTech motor and BSL exhaust system were given to the first and second runners-up. The top three winners also received some cash for their cross-Atlantic trip to this year's World Championship of Custom Bike Building in August.

Sturgis, SD, will play host to the fourth annual event, taking place at its new permanent home on Lazelle Street. As of press time, more than 90 competitors and 120 bikes were confirmed for this not-to-be-missed show. The Championship is the focal point at Champions Park-the all-new custom bikes, parts, and accessories gathering place in the heart of downtown Sturgis. Many high-profile vendors have already committed to the new facility, including S&S Cycle, Custom Chrome, Pingel, Weld Wheel, DNA Specialty, Engenuity, and Lyndall Racing Brakes.

For more information relating to the European event and the upcoming Sturgis show, log on to www.amdchampionship.com