The Irish Italian Job - a new AMD World Champion

Sunday 12th May 2013

While innovation has always been a hallmark of the World Championship of Custom Bike Building, the 10th anniversary of the show reached a new level. Held for the first time in Europe, at the Big Bike Europe Expo in Essen, Germany, the Championship showcased motorcycles, scooters, trikes and sidecar outfits. Among the power units being employed by the 105 competitors were not only American V-twins, but also Italian singles and V-twins, Japanese multis and singles, a diesel, an engine from a Honda generator and even a 1920's boat engine. With entries from 23 countries there were a total of 122 machines in five classes.

Of the 66 bikes competing in the Freestyle class, the 2013 World Championship title was taken by Medaza Cycles' Rondine. Don Cronin and Michael O'Shea, the two Irish men responsible for the build created a one-off frame to carry the single-cylinder, 1971 Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone 500 engine. They were also responsible for hand-forming the aluminium bodywork and the heavily modified V-Rod swingarm, which is used as a girder style front fork, on the bike which previously took top honours at the 2013 Irish Motorcycle and Scooter show in Dublin.