Some of the Coolest Bikes at the 2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show

Jalopnik had boots on the ground once more in Austin, Texas, at the 2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show and MotoGP at COTA. Stylish Chippewa boots on my part, if I may say so, though I’m not sure what kind of boots Elizabeth Blackstock wore. Maybe a pair of Corcoran jump boots. Regardless of how fly the boots were, the point is two pairs were on the ground in Austin for what could possibly be the best weekend for motorcycle fans in America: a world-famous motorcycle race during the day, and a huge motorcycle show at night.

But first, let’s get this slideshow out of the way so we can move on to bigger, better things — from a closer look at a new EV concept bike from Zero and Huge Design, builder profiles at the Handbuilt, a closer look at the MotoGP grid at COTA, and, finally, a first ride review of a Zero SR/F, which showed me all the highs and lows of EV ownership.

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So, here are just a few of the cool bikes from this year’s Handbuilt, sponsored by Revival Cycles and BMW Motorrad. But it’s not just beemers in this roundup. This year it was a red, white and blue Honda homologation special that stole my heart. Ah, Big Red. May your curiously American (and Texan!) liveries live on.

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Honda

• Builder: Gordon Salisbury

• Model or Build Name: Honda RC30

• Build Location: Texas

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Honda

• Builder: Christopher Savoldi

• Model or Build Name: CB750 Long Bike

• Build Location: Texas

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Ducati

• Builder: Joe Ramos

• Model or Build Name: Little Blue Monster

• Build Location: Texas

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Suzuki

• Builder: Isiah Booth

• Model or Build Name: Orange Peel

• Build Location: Texas

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Suzuki, Cont.

• Builder: Isiah Booth

• Model or Build Name: Orange Peel

• Build Location: Texas

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show

• Builder: Nick Rutherford

• Model or Build Name: Terake

• Build Location: Missouri

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Kawasaki

• Builder: Kyle Seifert

• Model or Build Name: Aki

• Build Location: Texas

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Honda

• Builder: Jesse Spade

• Model or Build Name: Holy Guacamole

• Build Location: Georgia

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: MTT

• Builder: Daniel De Clute-Melancon

• Model or Build Name: MTT Turbine 420RR Superbike

• Build Location: Louisiana 

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Harley-Davidson

• Builder: Roy Martin

• Model or Build Name: Gremlin

• Build Location: Colorado

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Honda

• Builder: Cody Bisnett

• Model or Build Name: CL200 Scrambler

• Build Location: New Hampshire

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Harley-Davidson

• Builder: Cabana Rognsvoog

• Model or Build Name: Road Trip

• Build Location: South Dakota

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: BMW

• Builder: Mitch Witkamp

• Model or Build Name: Flying Brick

• Build Location: Utah

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: BMW, Cont.

• Builder: Mitch Witkamp

• Model or Build Name: Flying Brick

• Build Location: Utah

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Yamaha

• Builder: Norman Sanders

• Model or Build Name: Yamaha XS700

• Build Location: Texas

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Harley-Davidson

• Builder: Charlie Giordano

• Model or Build Name: Voodoo Doll

• Build Location: Massachusetts

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Harley-Davidson, Cont.

• Builder: Charlie Giordano

• Model or Build Name: Voodoo Doll

• Build Location: Massachusetts

2023 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show: Harley-Davidson